Clay Pipe Fragment. I realise I haven’t written here for a while. The truth is it has been a difficult year – one of relocation, disorientation and upheaval – the loss of all that was familiar and ‘normal’ which, if I’m honest, has given rise to feelings of anxiety, depression and isolation. Along with it has come, almost inevitably, … Read More
Mick Lindberg – Textile Artist
‘In Her Head The World Was Green’ – Detail of a Textile ‘Art’ Bag by Mick Lindberg I discovered Mick Lindberg’s beautiful textile art at the start of my Instagram journey. I am fortunate to count her among my most constant and supportive ‘Insta-Friends’. Mick’s love of textiles and stitch were inherited from her Swedish mother and grandmother. Her … Read More
Street Art – ‘Miss KK’
‘You are much lovelier than you think’. Paste-up ‘doll’ by Miss KK. As an artist I am always observing, taking in the world around me, looking for details – small, inconsequential, easily overlooked and often to be discovered in out of the way places. This, coupled with a personal interest in graphic design, illustration and mixed media work, may well … Read More
Instagram – Contacts and Creative Inspiration
Paperclay shoes from an installation entitled ‘Not all things go to plan’ by Alison Bournes. Some months ago I gained a new follower on Instagram. This artist had started making shoes from porcelain paperclay and I assumed that, rather than being a coincidence, there must be a link to my own ceramic work. A series of direct messages revealed … Read More
I must go down to the sea again ….
Old family snapshot – Three Generations – ‘Paddling’ It’s September. This is the time of year when, according to a ritual of our own making, we take an autumn trip to the ‘Far West’. I often long for the sea. And I know I am not alone. The August edition of Toast’s online magazine featured a piece entitled ‘The … Read More
Angel Roofs of East Anglia
Angel – Roof detail from St Peter Mancroft, Norwich (photo by Michael Rimmer) Those of you who follow me on Instagram will know of my interest in ecclesiastical architecture and, in particular, Angel Roofs – medieval timber structures decorated with ornate carvings of angels – a preponderance of which are to be found in East Anglia. The money needed … Read More
Sara Fanelli
‘Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly’ – mixed media illustration (from ‘Sometimes I think, Sometimes I am – by Sarah Fanelli) I stumbled across Sara Fanelli’s fascinating work completely by accident a few years ago in the Tate Modern Bookshop. I was looking for a present for a godchild and picked up her fabulous book entitled Mythological … Read More
‘A Leaping Hare’
‘A Leaping Hare’ – a curation / assemblage from mud-larking finds I am passionate about the countryside and the animals and birds with whom we share our rural habitat. We see numerous rabbits but in all the time I have lived in this area of North Kent I have never seen a hare. So whenever we take a trip … Read More
Kevin Crossley-Holland – An East Anglian Poet
‘Watercolour’ – from: Poems from East Anglia by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Published by Enitharmon. I am an avid reader of poetry (and occasionally put pen to paper myself). Poetry seems to enable us to capture images and emotions so sensitively and concisely – a few well-chosen words, cleverly combined and arranged into lines or verses, can express so much more … Read More
Snowbound
Self-Portrait with Snow As I write this I am sitting warmly indoors looking out at a snow-covered garden to the fields and river beyond. The bare tree branches are swaying in the cold easterly wind and a thick layer of snow carpets every horizontal surface. ‘The beast from the east’ has struck and left we rural folk incarcerated – … Read More