MOVING HOME & WINTER INSPIRATIONS

EDINBURGH TO YORK

On the 19 January 2022 I moved to York after twenty-five and a half years living in Edinburgh. It was both exhilarating and edgy. Moving house is one of life's greatest stressors; but it's also a thrilling new adventure. I needed to move, I needed new experiences and opportunities, and, as much as I loved Edinburgh (most of the time) it was time to let go.

"Let your home be your mast and not your anchor."

— Kahlil Gibran

Hello old York — the little apple, and hasta la vista Edinburgh.

I am open to possibilities and closer to London for visits!

ART

Annie Morris: When A Happy Thing Falls — Yorkshire Sculpture Park Intense vibrant, pigmented, sculptures and tapestry. This exhibition made me feel joyous and alive!

Turner in January — National Gallery of Scotland. The exquisite works in the Vaughan bequest range from early wash drawings of the 1790s, to the colourful, atmospheric and wonderfully expressive late works executed on visits to the Swiss Alps during the 1830s and 1840s. They are always amazing to see. This was the last time I worked at the National Gallery too. Monday 17 January was a sad day. Goodbye brilliant gallery and colleagues.

Pictures of the floating world: Japanese Ukiyo-e prints — York Art Gallery. They are exquisite and thought provoking.

Derek Jarman Protest! — Manchester Art Gallery. This is simply brilliant! It is beautiful, challenging, warrior like, moving and intense. I have been an admirer since seeing Jubilee as a sixteen year old! I must see Prospect Cottage one of these days.

Eileen Agar: Angel of Anarchy — Leeds Art gallery

The Expressive Mark — The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Leeds

This small but intense look at the influence of Abstract Expressionism on British artists had a big impact on me. I especially loved Low Tide by Peter Lanyon. I only discovered Lanyon through David Bowie in 2016 when I visited Sotheby's in London to see Bowie's art collection prior to the auction. Bowie had bought Lanyon's Witness and it instantly resonated with me.

Van Gogh: Self-Portraits — The Courtauld Gallery

Francis Bacon — Royal Academy of Arts

Louise Bourgeois: The Woven — Hayward Gallery

Rose Wylie: Car and Girls at David Zwirner Gallery — How I love Rose Wylie's work! Computer Car makes me feel happy!

BOOKS

Imagine John Yoko — The definitive inside story of the making of the legendary album.

Nina Simone's Gum — Warren Ellis

Smiling in Slow Motion: Journals, 1991–1994 (The Journals of Derek Jarman, 2) by Derek Jarman and Neil Bartlett

MUSIC

Cat Power — Covers

Lester Young — Lester Young With The Oscar Peterson Trio

Ringo Starr — Beaucoups Of Blues

The Beatles — Past Masters

Brian Jonestown Massacre — Aufheben

Serge Chaloff — Blue Serge

Neil Young Crazy Horse — Barn

Keith Jarrett — La Fenice

Angel Grenades Exist Herb Men! — My latest homemade compilation painting CD

Michael Rother — Dreaming

Jah Wobble — Fly

FILM/TV

The Beatles Get Back — Peter Jackson. I watched all 8 glorious hours totally captivated and fascinated by the creative process. Brilliant observation of pure talent at times silly, infuriating, fascinating and beguiling. I gladly got lost in it.

Scrooge — Albert Finney 1970. Watched it yet again on Christmas Eve. Beautiful and uplifting.

Wings of Desire — Wim Wenders

Winter Walks — BBC

Liquorice Pizza — Paul Thomas Anderson

The Beatles: Get Back — The Rooftop Concert — Peter Jackson

The Duke — Roger Michell

LIKES

York Minster against a blue sky! New life. Manchester Art Gallery. The Whippet Inn, York. City Screen Picture House, York

QUOTATIONS

"Don't Cry Because It's Over; Smile Because It Happened."

— Dr. Seuss

"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet."

— Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life