MAY 2025

Thursday 1.5.25

Today we have Lou, CEO of the charity Linc and Luke coming for lunch and to visit the studio. Luke recognised me at Laurence and Jackie’s garden party for Linc the summer before last  and came up and introduced himself. Twelve years ago I’d given him an art prize at Gloucesershire College and after that he went on  to the University to study graphic design and now works as the designer for a firm in Gloucster who because of him produce all the design work for Linc. Such a delightful young man he tells me he also won a London design award for a very clever packaging design that covers Christmas and Easter

Just after lunch John arrives with new miniature frames which is rather fortunitous as Lou is able to thank him as CEO of one of the beneficiaries of each year’s charity Christmas Open Studio. So he joins us when we go over to the studio where most of the paintings also have frames that he has constructed.

After they have all gone we walk down to vote in the local election.

Friday 2.5.25

It’s now heads down taking the images to the very edges of the canvases which have to be taken out of their frames to paint the edges   of white gessoed canvas them so that if the painting moves or the wooden frame shrinks over many years, the image will continue rather than exposing a small white band of  canvas.

Saturday 3.5.25

I’m also having to paint the parts of the frames that were not captured in the photographs for the catalogue, continuing the painting over all areas of it. So my house studio is filling up with easels holding frames or canvases.

Sunday 4.5.25

I’d also done moe work painting the inner frame on The Infant’s Journey With The Animals as the Portland Gallery are having an exhibition “All Creatures Great and Small” July through August.

Monday 5.5.25

It’s the May Bank Holiday today which also coincides with the 80th anniversary celebrations of VE Day. John my framer has gone with his son Andrew to Normandy to vist the beaches. I remember my Dad who had been in the RAF and flew out over the Atlantic with his crew to collect the weather conditions which were particularly important at the time of D Day. We put my painting Waiting on social media.

Richard has been busy clearing his downstairs workshop at the back of the house in prepration fo John’s bandsaw and some new sheving.

Henrietta rings in the evening; amongst the other news is that Isaac has been fishing in Falmouth, which I think is a first time for him. Whilst she’s speaking Kev and Samuel arrive back from football

Tuesday 6.5.25

R’s new shelving arrives. He’s busy trying to assemble the rather complex Meccanno-like kit. This evening Paul is coming to see if my large 68 x 68 inch canvas will fit into his van in readiness for collecting the exhibition next week for him to take to the Portland Gallery in London.

Wednesday 7.5.25

Inivitation from Jo, head of Art at Cheltenham College, inviting me to open their summer exhibition towards the end of the month. And long letter from dear Myrtle who is now in her mid nineties, as bright and articulate as ever; she was head of Art at the National Star College when she brought the students to see my exhibition at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum in 1986. She and Rachel, who was head of English there and is ninety, both now live at a convent near Stroud.

Richard’s making good headway with reorganising the workshop. Yesterdat he assembled and filled a new set of shelves which has given more room to his litho press and all the rollers that sit on the stand across the wall.

Thursday 8.5.25

Still working on the right outside of the frame of The Runaway.

I replied to Jo that I’d be touched and delighted to open their summer exhibition but that I do have two other commitments towards the end of the month - on the 29th as patron of Cheltenham Open Studios I will be speaking at their launch and on Friday 30th will be attending the University degree show particularly to select a recipient from the graduating students for my award.

After I’d finished doing the day’s account book and online banking there’s a news flash to say that white smoke has begun to arise from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel. So we look at the BBC News coverage on the laptop. And there in St Peter’s Square were thousands of people waiting and waving excitedly at the unexpected late in the day flurry of white smoke billowing out of the chimney which means that a new Pope has been elected in only three rounds of voting. Thousands more people fill the surrounding streets making their way towards the square. I had wondered if it might be the Cardinal from the Phillipines or one of the African cardinals. But after the hour long wait the doors of the balcony opened and a French cardinal appeared to say We Now Have A Pope, the first American, Robert Prevost who has chosen to called Leo XIV the first Augustan monk who has spent most of his adult life in Peru working as a missionary and was made bishop then archbishop then cardinal in 2023 all by Pope Francis. Although he spent his childhood and early years in Chicago, his father was French/Italian and his mother Spanish so in his first address he spoke fluently in Latin, Italian and Spanish. He hopes to build bridges and continue the work of Pope Francis. His face looks compassionate but perhaps a little nervous and caring but somewhat surprised by the huge responsibility of the role he is about to undertake.

Later in the evening get call from Wallace. He’s looking forward to my exhibition at the Portland which he has previously told me is his favourite London gallery. He told me lots of stories including one about when Lady Astor showed him her collection of paintings, amongst which he saw a beautiful Emil Nolde and she replied that it was also her favourite.

Friday 9.5.25

Nice e mail from Jo who is pleased with my choice of painting to exhbiit with them as it is one I had shown there many years ago when I was invited to be part a Music Festival fringe exhibition ‘Five Gloucestershire Artists’; Reggie Dent who was principal of the art school, Gordon Ward who had taught me there and Trevor Challenor and Nigel Temple who was a member of the RWA

The bespoke envelopes that were specially made to fit the new size of catalogue arrived today. They look and feel very good.

Saturday 10.5.25

The weather is still beautiful so I’m able to have my brunch in the garden each day, where the air is full of the perfume of the lilac, honeysuckle and the hawthorn or May blossom. When my father was a boy he said that boys would often bring May blossom for his mother who would reward them with a piece of bread pudding. Something that my Mum was also brilliant at making as well as bread and butter puddings. Now most mums also work - I don’t think many  make bread puddings using up the stale bread whereas now I imagine it gets put in the food bin for the refuse collectors.

Still working hard at finishing off the edges of the canvases, bottoms of the frames etc. Only four days to go before Paul comes to collet them to deliver to the gallery.

Sunday 11.5.25

I’m working hard to get the paintings all ready including finishing touches to And so it came to pass, moving from the studio upstairs in the house to the one across the Lane and back again.

Monday 12.5.25

I’m very aware that Richard needs to pack the paintings so I’ve been varnishing some of the works with a removable matt acrylic varnish especially on more delicate works like The Temptation and still adding a little more to the painting The Duel…

Tuesday 13.5.25

… which is the last to be varnished.

Still finishing off small edges and parts of paintings and varnishing them. Decide I need to stay up until I’ve varnished The Runaway, The Library, Chicken and Egg and Tea With The Bear. So it’s just after 6am when we turn out the lights.

Wednesday 14.5.25

Finishing off the hare before his top coat of removable matt varnish but call it a day at 3am by which time I‘ve written on all the backs and Richard has packed everything in readiness for Paul to collect them at 8.30 tomorrow …

Thursday 15.5.25

… which he does promptly and we hear from the gallery about 12.30 that they have all arrived safely

We have Lucy, CEO of Artshape and Harriet one of the main mover and shakers there, coming for lunch which Richard has prepared, particularly to talk about a wonderful old church hall that they are hoping to buy which they will also let other health and wellbeing providers use. It will need a lot of renovation and toilets put in etc so a lot of fund raising. But it has great potential and is in an area where they could do a lot of good. Artshape is an incredible orgnisation that works with every age group from feeding youngsters with food and activites during holidays to working with people with Alzheimers. They particularly work with those not in work or education and those with mental or physical health problems. It’s so exciting to hear Harriet talk about a giant puppet over six and a half feet tall that is manipulated from within. She and her brother Matthew went on a course to learn how to build them. She has also built a brilliant collection of  masks for carnivals and festivals. She seems to have endless energy  and her enthsiasm is infectious.

At about 4pm I return to the studio to finish painting the frame, particualrly underneath, of the Boy Shepherd. As always it takes much longer that I had anticipated. Luckily for me the varnish is fast drying as it is in the early hours that I apply it and Richard still has to fix the panel back in but will wrap it just before Paul comes to collect it at 7.30

Friday 16.5.25

Two of the paintings have already been earmarked, The Leopard who changed his spots to Trev with his wife Jill had asked if the gallery could let them have a pre preview and the other Protecting the Libray had been reserved until Monday by dear Margus.  Sure enough when we are sitting in the garden having our tea, lovely Caroline rings and is interested in the very same piece Protecting the Library. They also like A Delicate Art but would need to see it first

I’m now working on a new painting for the Portland summer exhibition

Saturday 17.5.25

Continue working on Encouraging the Zebra for the Portland’s All Creatures Great & Small exhibition which starts in July thru August.

Sunday 18.5.25

‘Phone Nathan who has a cold so isn’t going up to stay in the flat this weekend. Sounds like poor Bea is going to need treatment for her lame leg. I thought he was off to LA tomorrow but it has been postponed for a couple of weeks, working on a film for Tiffany’s. Henrietta is in Morrocco

Monday 19.5.25

We address more envelopes in readiness then I return to the Infant Journeying with the Animals which is also for the Portland’s All Creatures Great & Small exhibition

Tuesday 20.5.25

So pleased and happy when Florence e mails to say that Trev has confirmed his first choice from the exhibition The Leopard Who’s Changing His Spots and dear Margus has also confirmed his first choice of Protecting The Library

The catalogues arrive in the afternoon. Luckily we’ve addressed quite a lot in advance so it’s just a matter of putting the invitation and price list in after writing a little note as so many of them are our friends. Richard cycles down to the post with both panniers and the front basket all packed with catalogues in their nice white envelopes.

Wednesday 21.5.25

Very excited when Richard tells me that Waiting - The Passage of Time has been reserved. Later the yellow reserved spot has turned into a red sold spot. E mail from Florence to say it is John, who is a veternary surgeon and bought a small work of mine on a similar theme from the Brian Sinfeld Gallery some years ago.

R notices that two other paintings have been reserved, The Temptation and The Duel

Later we drive up to London on this warm sunny afternoon to the Chelsea Arts Club as it is the AGM of the SPG. We surprise ourselves by arriving in good time. It’s a lovely meeting though tinged with saddness as a couple of members including Ann Heat who painted the most beautiful empathetic pictures of her cows, have died. Being comparitively new to the group I don’t think I had the pleasure of meeting her but so enjoyed looking at her paintings. At the end of the meeting Linda says thatRichard can come in now and as there seemed to be an extra fish ad chips that no one claimed I asked the waiter if I might buy them for Richard who brings them in for him and says there’s no charge. Earlier I had claimed my free bottle of champage as the Club had used one of my images for their Christmas card, particularly to celebrate Linda’s recovery from her recent fall whilst stretcing a canvas and badly broke her hip. She hadn’t put her hand out to break the fall as she had broken her wrist last year but her consultant said it would have been easier to re-heal a wrist that was broken for the second time than it would be to do the  hip. But she’s done remarkably well and looks as glamorous as ever - Linda chairs the Group.

Thursday 22.5.25

Very nice piece in the brilliant Cotswold Life. Wonderful Candia the editor is always so supportive.

The Temptation and The Duel have turned into red spots

Lovely e mail from Edward and Alyson saying that they are doing their home up  and would like to reserve Tea With The Bear ….

Friday 23.5.25

…which Florence does. Later in the day she emails to say that another dear collector, John, has reserved The Runaway and both pieces have red spots on by the end of the day.  She says this has been a very good first week on the runup to the opening of my first exhibition with them.

Richard photographs and sends of the two paintings I’ve been working on for the Portland’s mixed exhibition in July All Creatures Great & Small and Florence says these paintings fit the subject perfectly

Saturday 24.5.25

Henrietta ‘phones and thanks me for their anniversary planted basket and chocolates. They are just on their way to stay at a country house hotel in Kent to celebrate their anniversary.

Sunday 25.5.25

Work late to try and finish the two paintings for the Portland’s summer show. Still working on details on both Encouraging the Zebra and Journeying with the Animals. Still addressing the large catalogue envelopes

Monday 26.5.25

It’s Bank Holiday Monday and I’m making hay while the sun shines, starting three new paintings, one being for Linc for their Polo Day auction, another for COS who always ask if, as Patron, I’ll exhibit a work in their ‘taster’ exhibition.

Tuesday 27.5.25

Richard receives a ‘phone call from the brilliant Dr Matt who was one of our neighbours and a good friend of Nathan’s when they were boys. Its very touching as his wife Elaine who he had commissioned a painting for as a special birthday present a couple of years ago, had asked him if they could have one when the catalogue arived. Luckily their first choice was still available though the other one they liked went on Friday. Richard says he will contact the Gallery.

John pops in to say that it will be tomorrow that he comes with a team from the theatre to deliver some of his woodworking machinery that he’s had in store in a barn and is now going to put in our workshop as a motorway slip road is being built over where the barn is.

Still beavering away on the new small works. Richard rings from Cheltenham as he’s just noticed there is a reserve on the large And So It Came To Pass oil painting which now means that eight have already gone and one is reserved.

Wednesday 28.5.25

Today is a very busy day as the Imperial War Museum are sending carriers to collect After The Eleventh which they have recently acquired. These men are so hugely professional they arrive in a beautiful large grey van with a crate already made. They fix four brass plates onto the back of the painting, two on each side, through which they screw it to the back boards of the crate so that the canvas surface of this corrugated painting will not touch against anything. They then fix cotton tapes over the top of th box and cover with a layer of polythene so that you can still see the painting through it. It’s all very exciting as whilst they are doing this, John appears at the studo door  as he has just arrived in a similarly large van with three very able bodied men who are going to carry his woodworking machinery into Richard’s workshop at the back of the house (which also houses his antique litho press that I bought for him may years ago from dear Ken Oliver who had taught me etching and lithography when I was a student at the art school).

After all this excitement when we are dealing with correspondence a lovely e mail pops through from Professor Masa who has just written his twelth book, saying thank you for the beautiful catalogue and that he and Keiko would like to buy the painting A Delicate Art as it has so many resonances for them - of course they are the Japanese friends who have sent me flowers through the Japanese florist who is friend of theirs who I too have got to know and wrote about in the catalogue.

Thurday 29.5.25

Don’t get very much done in the studio today as am preparing to go into Cheltenham for the launch of the bi-annual Chetenham Open Studios.

Another lovely e mail from Professor Masa in Osaka, Japan who has decided he and Keiko would also like to to have the newspaper painting The Sixth and Seventh which he says they find fascinating. I’m so very touched that it is going to live with them. He’s also contacted their friends Ritsuko and Dan who are in America at the moment but are back on the 14th and wonder if they might be able to meet me in the gallery. So we’ve now arranged a mutually convenient date.

As we go into Richer Coffee for the launch of COS25 we bump into Martin who used to be Cheltenham’s LibDem MP and in 2026/27 will be Mayor of Cheltenham. He tells me that he and Shona are coming to my opening at the Portland but beforehand are going to the opening of a sadly departed cousin at the Whitechapel Gallery. The place is as usual crowded and this year’s COS which encompasses the University and artists from the studios at The Wilson.

Friday 30.5.25

Today it’s in to the University, the new Arts Campus at The Park. A lovely sunny evening and as we enter we are greeted by the Chancellor, Lord Michael Burchard  who says “It’s PJ Crook isn’t it?” he then proceeds to tell me how much it means to the students and how important it is to have alumni come and that he spent much of the afternoon reading about my work and how much he likes it. I say it is generous of him and he says it’s not generous and I say “well, you must see a lot of art” and he says “only at degree shows” but that he will be going in to see my London exhibition. We then go and join the people at the VIP launch and in the speeches a little later from with the photography ehibition stand where Michael proceeds to tell them how much money the arts bring into the country and points me out saying how fortunate they are to have me there and proceeds to tell them what a stellar career I have had and that if he went to Japan being a lawyer nobody would know who he was but people in Japan would know me. I’m really surprised and touched at this wonderful acknowledgement. Olivia then whisks us off to look at the fine art degree show so that I can choose the recipient of my award. As we enter I’m confornted by a large and magnificent figurative painting of a bar scene; it has a greater maturity than some of the ocassional figurtive work I’ve seen there. Tabby has also made a film bringing to life the characters in the painting. Olivia escorts me round the whole show and there are some splendid huge abstract paintings and some challenging sculpture all of a very high standard. The show looks brilliant in its new dedicated building on this campus for the first time. But ultimately I’m drawn back to Tabby’s painting and film and Olivia agrees she would be a good winner especially as she’s young and unlike many of the maturer students and I’m delighted to find she comes from this region having grown up in Longlevens, been to school locally and now lives in Cheltenham. We then rush off to the prize giving cermony but arrive just after it has finished so I guess it will be at degree ceremony that I make the award. We then find Tabby and go back for some photos in front of her exciting painting. On our way out we meet the chair of the governors who introduces herself although I think we met at last year’s degree ceremony. The reason we’re rushing back is I have to finish a small painting for Linc’s auction at their polo day next Friday

Saturday 31.5.25

Still working on the three paintings, one for Cheltenham Open Studios, another small one for the Portland exhibition and the one for the Linc charity auction.

It has been such a busy month.