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Just another late night quickie after a productive evening in the studio. I am having some joy rescuing some of the unfinished pictures from my last days in Hastings. I seem to know what to do with them now. Well it is nearly 2am and I have to teach at 9.30am - so off...

I have been a bit lethargic since I got back from Chichester and have not been very productive this week. I am not being too hard on myself as I have been burning the candles at both ends now for over two months. Anyway just a quickie to let you know that my work is...

In between teaching and making art, I had time to squeeze in a couple of mad social engagements this weekend. On Friday went to see a production of Carmen by Chisinau National Opera at the New Theatre Oxford with my friend Lucy. When I was about ten, I was once in a...

This week i moved out of student halls and into my new room in a house share with Rachel and Michael. Rachel is the rowing correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and has been very welcoming to me as I settle in. I have done a fair bit of socialising of late and it is...

Another quickie to say that the new intake of foundation students are here at Brookes. 60 of them so far and so far it has been us talking at them with all the induction stuff and endless bureaucracy. We take them to London tomorrow and I am also finally moving into a...

Just back from seeing Crash, a movie written and directed by Paul Haggis. it is the most mature, grown up and wonderful film I have seen in a good long while and I would thoroughly recommend it. Built in a similar style to Magnolia and perhaps some of Robert Altman's...

I spent a highly enjoyable weekend at Billy and Ohna's house in London (as part of my homeless weekend series). On Saturday, I made a beeline for the Tate Modern to see the Frida Kahlo exhibition at last. It was truly wonderful to see just about all her paintings in...

Staying in Halls this week while I wait to move into new home. Last night I saw Unleashed at the movies (also known as Danny the Dog). Ludicrous mix of martial arts, london gangster (set in GLasgow!!) and romantic morals. But very enjoyable with that and just what you...

Just a quickie. Spent a lovely week staying at Claire and Richard's family home in Oxford while I looked for a new place to stay. They were so kind and made me feel extremely welcome as well as feeding me wonderful food. Went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...

(It is now exactly one year since I started this blog. I am still not sure why I am doing it or who it is for. I meant it to be a place to put information about my work in progress, but it has perhaps become more like a personal diary and from time to time I have...

Spent five days last week back in Oxford. I was trying find a new flat before I came up to Edinburgh to teach on the Summer School. My luck ran out as i got a bad back as soon as I returned and found it difficult to get around. But thank you Anna so much for driving...

Limassol is in many ways a lot like Hastings. It is an old forgotten town with many parts run down and peopled with an eclectic mix of types. It has a seafront and a pier where locals and visitors hang out. Fisherman fish and people come to find solace in the sea....

Finally found a reliable internet cafe here in Limassol in Cyprus. Not much to report these last days. My day is: wake up 6am, cyprus coffee, studio 7am - 12 noon, market 12 - 1pm, hammock 1 - 2pm, swim in harbour 2 - 5pm, dinner 8pm, cards and wine till late... Above...

Work in progress this week in the studios This is the slowest internet cafe connection ever!! Bloody thing!! I have many pictures I want to post but the connect just want to it. Will put them on later I promise.(Pictures added 21st July) Well my service taxi in Pafos...

I am sitting an internet cafe in Paphos. The same one I used all the time when I was here in 2002. I am a bit of a nostalgia fiend so it is nice to be here again. Had a great weekend here and it has got me thinking how much serendipity there has been for me on my trip...

I have now been in Cyprus for five days. I am a member of Staff at the Limassol Studios in Limassol, which is part of the Cyprus College of Art. It is not exactly a real teaching job as I am just there to provide support to a group of student, while we all make art...

I have always thought of those that take the position never 'to suffer fools gladly' are a terribly dull and rude lot. For, to my mind, it is the fools, the dafties and the eccentrics who are the people you would rather be trapped with. The fine educated people of...

One of the lovely things about being an artist, is that you can use the excuse of visiting galleries and museums to get you out of the house and call it research. Then you can find a whole range of anonymous pubs and cafes to sit, ponder and read the paper in....

I expect you are all wondering why there has been no blog for a while...?! So engrossed in new painting? (not really) Having a great new social life in Oxford? (not yet) Nothing really to say? (more like it). I am typing this as I try to recover from a mystery virus...

No more 5.45am starts for me! I am now here in Oxford at last. In a new home and new studio!. Feels great. Last week was particularly tough as instead of going home to London and getting an early night, I had couple a late nights due to having a social life, which I...

Sorry if my blog is a bit repetitive just now. I am afraid that my life has been a bit that way these last weeks. But, now I have only one week left before I move to into a house and a new studio in Oxford. Cant wait. I spent this weekend back in Hastings, packing up...

Another two weeks to go of this sub existence of getting a coach everyday from London to Oxford. I would be lying if I said it was not getting me down. Did not go back to Hastings this weekend as I need break from all this travelling. Instead, just wandered aimlessly...

Well I have yet another very tiring week commuting from London to Oxford, now with the added pressure of looking for a place to live after work. And this without a car or much familiarity with the layout of Oxford. Have pity on me. Saw a couple this week and one might...

I think the two images of me on my new Brookes staff card and swipe card taken two weeks apart demonstrate, how the toll of getting up at 6am to catch a coach from Victoria to Oxford each day, and then returning to Kentish Town about 8pm is effecting me. It was an...

Well I am now at the end of my week in Berlin and I must say I am completely saturated with visits to museums and galleries, walking, U-Bahning and S-Bahning, eating, drinking beer and keeping students enthused!! But Berlin is a great city and I would like to take...

Well this is my 5th day in Berlin and I am completely knackered from all the walking to museums and galleries. Too many things to mention as I type this from the Hostel staff computer. (German keyboards are all over the place, so finding it tough just to type this.)...

Just a quickie to say that this is my second day at Oxford Brookes University. I am commuting from London at the moment using the Oxford Tube coach service from Victoria(for those of you who love to read about my travel arrangements). There are no students around yet...

Well today is my last day living in Hastings before I start my new job in Oxford on Wednesday. Although I will be coming back for weekends until I can find a place to stay in Oxford. So, today I packed up my studio with too many works unfinished, alas. I am afraid...

This is especially for those of you who like to read about my travel arrangements, which have been many and varied this year; On Sunday I trained it from Hastings up to Tunbridge Wells where I met Suzie and Erin who drove me back to Emsworth where they live near...

Just a quickie to say that after all the excitement of last week, I have just be down the studio, trying to complete my garden painting and I think it now only has a couple of days to go - but you never know with painting - everything can still go wrong. here it is as...

Well I told there would be a break between blogs as I went into my 40th Birthday period which is still ongoing. I am 40 today, but I began celebrating this over a week ago as I began my travels north and then south. I will try to give a flavour of my week - but I am...

It seems that being offered a job in Oxford has changed my energy this week and I have found it quite difficult to knuckle down to the painting (which is a little worrying). And so far, this week, every bit of work I have done has little artistry and invention. I...

Well I am still in London today as I am working in Rochester tomorrow and friday and it seem silly to go back to Hastings for one day. So,took the opportunity to have a look around Cork Street. And what agood time to go as there were severalshows which interested me...

Well I had a nice day yesterday at Oxford Brookes University for my interview. There were 4 other candidates and we each had to do a 15 minute presentation in front of staff and students and then later a more formal interview. I had a few hours to kill between...

Not much to report except that I have been down with a nasty tummy bug over the past few days which has laid me very low and hence have done not much work. I actually could not walk as the bug had made my back so weak I could hardly stand up. Well, today I seem a...

Big man and the bonfire parade.Just when I thought that maybe I was becoming a bit disenchanted with Hastings, along comes the amazing Hastings Bonfire Night. I went to this last year, before I had moved to Hastings and it was the first glimpse for me of...

This week has been a good solid week in the studio. I go for my swim, go for a coffee and look at the sea and then get down to the studio. This week has been about planning and developing. And a little bit of printmaking as I am teaching print at Rochester. So, I did...

Just a quickie to say that have spent the weekend in London to babysit my nephew Harper. Did manage to fit in a couple of shows: Glenn Brown at the The Serpentine and Valie Export at Camden Arts Centre. If you are in London you must go and see Glenn Brown....

Well now I have got that Chichester thing off of my chest in my last blog, its back to a normal blog about what I have been up to. This has been a week of yet more traveling on the train, two flights and another job interview. I have been doing a number of days...

I was hoping to have new pictures of recent paintings up by now, but over the last few days I have couragously struggled on with the Battle for Chichester Cross painting. It went from bad to worse as it got more a more confused in colour and tone. However, today, and...

Who would have thought I could get 9 paintings from Hastings to London for a mere £17 on the train and taxi. I was so relieved to get them there safely to the John Martin Gallery in one piece. John Martin seemed pleased with the work, but we shall see if they sell at...

Have not blogged for a week or so. No need to feel guilty. Honest. It's not like I have a following who simply must hear about what I am up to. Have had a fairly mixed week since I got back from Scotland. Not got back into any real rhythm in the studio,...

Why is it when you get a few days to yourself, instead of getting on with stuff, your mind and body seize up and you can't get round to doing all the stuff you thought you should be doing??? Or is it just me. Or is it just me. It has taken me two days to complete two...

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