Wearing the insignia, a narrow red ribbon, is optional in everyday life but expected at official gatherings.
I had the special honour to receive the order of the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur from the hands of the French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in the magnificent décor of the Hôtel Matignon.
Here’s some pictures from both my studio in the countryside and from atelier training at the Art Academy in Stroud (Gloucestershire).
Nature studies. Exercises in observation, looking for the light, for volumes, for shapes, structures and shifts of plane. Both meditative and exhausting.
In May 2024, I again had the immense pleasure of participating in the open ateliers weekend at Fort Gorgast.
Ossip Klarwein, the man on the right, is a mysteriously underrated architect.
When you go to the National Gallery, you cannot miss Whistlejacket. The life-size portrait of a racehorse owned by the Marquess of Rockingham is a daring painting by George Stubbs.
The fabulous gallery spaces at Fort Gorgast were the setting for my first exhibition. Michael Gauss’ photos capture the magical spirit of the building that is part of Forte Cultura. Many thanks to him, and to all those who joined us for an unforgettable party!
From the pictures above, which one would you prefer? The classical portrait rarely depicts its model smiling.
While the last paintings are still being framed, I am already very much looking forward to the opening on 20 May.