Gallery News

Gallery News

Gallery News

Gallery News

PAP

I like my house. It's a lovely house, in a lovely city. And, facing west, it has a fantastic view ... almost ... if it wasn't for that house opposite. There's a hint of the view from the bedroom window, but it doesn't really cut it. So when the woodwork on the front gable started falling off and we had to put up some scaffolding to get it sorted, the extra 10 feet made all the difference - the view was revealed. Getting over my fear of heights I spend far too much time painting the woodwork so in the end all I manage is this quick sketch before the scaffolding has to come done.

Mmm nice - if only we could convert the loft and build a balcony ...

Gallery News

PAP

26/06 The Bath Prize has morphed into the Bristol Prize, but the premise is the same and the location I've been given to paint is ... Welsh Back. A tree-lined (in part) cobbled street with riverside restaurants and houseboats galore it's got a lot going for it so why am I painting this pug ugly office building? It's even got a big 'To Let' sign so there's not even a chance of selling it to an occupier. Why indeed, Mr Passerby? The answer lies over 30 years ago, before this building was here, when there was a construction that actually went with the surroundings, when it was Mail Marketing (Bristol) Ltd - a company owned and founded by my Gran and where, as a child, me and my family would drop in on occasion to visit said Gran, where I had my first holiday job stuffing envelopes, where I worked with my brother one summer staying in some flat in Clifton and drinking beer and Umbongo.

Both Gran and building are long gone now, but not forgotten and so here I stand painting this pug ugly office building. Is that okay? WELL, IS IT MR PASSERBY?!! IS THAT A SATISFACTORY ENOUGH EXPLANATION FOR YOU!!!

Huh, sorry, where was I, ah yes, the Bristol Prize and how this might not be my year ...