Setting up 18 studios, Long Eaton, Nottingham

A little update…. It’s been 18 months since the last post and life has settled down after a bumpy ride. The good news is the cost of the service charge has been reduced and it is finally being administered in accordance with the lease. We have a working relationship with the Directors, not exactly best buddies, more a respectful understanding. Jem was seriously ill for several months last year and it was difficult to focus on my practice. So professionally 2013 was a quiet year – though I was awarded the Exhibition Prize for my sketchbook at the Rabley SKETCH 2013. http://www.rableydrawingcentre.com/sketch-2013.htm… This year has been crazy though. In February I participated in ‘Supermarket’ , Stockholm, Sweden by invitation of Mary Ellen of Art on Armitage, Chicago. Me and Alison Whitmore plus 5 artists from Chicago had a wonderful time. We also caught up with GoCart Gallery artists and reminisced about our exchange a few years ago. Through Mary Ellen we made connections with the organiser of an artist-led event in Athens and subsequently we applied for a booth at Platforms@Art-Athina. HMS were selected and I am curating a show of 7 HMS artists. 3 of us fly to Athens In 10 days time. All done on a shoestring. We are also excited to be catching up with Mary Ellen who is also taking part. http://www.art-athina.gr/parallel-programme-2014/p… Last night was the opening of my exhibition ‘Perfume and Savage’ at the Angear Centre, Lakeside, Nottingham. Late in the day I decided to make 4 canvases approx 4 x 6 ft. Then one of the paintings was longlisted for the John Moores which made a tight deadline a bit more stressful. I was of course hoping it would make the final selection, but it didn’t. I still had to make another just in case… There was room for a fifth on a wall where I was due to make a drawing in June. It was decided a temporary wall will be built to accommodate the large scale drawing nearer the time. http://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/Exhibitions/ViewEve… and see David Manley’s blog for a review http://davidmanley.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/is-god…