Harvington Hall

In many ways, for Alicia and myself, this was the highlight of our year, returning to our former home in the west’ … well the West Midlands anyway! For those who’ve never seen it I’ve included a little piccy. Beautiful isn’t it? We met a lot of old friends, were blown away by the improvements made since we left, sold lots of pictures, took lots of commissions, and got ourselves invited back for the Artist in Residence weekend in September.….

…… no wonder we were laughing!!

Two photos of myself and Sherida who runs the Hall and organised the event for me, in the Great Chamber, wondering where all these lovely people had come from, and then realising they had come to watch me make an exhibition of myself. ( By the way that’s Terry who performed the opening for me lurking in the doorway!)

Me to Sherida..” But who’s the owld ‘un up on’t wall watchin’ us?”
For the answer to that question you’ll just have to visit the place wont you?
For the moment though let me make something absolutely crystal clear… she certainly isn’t one of my portraits. I have enough trouble sleeping as it is!!

It took a little while for the crowd to settle down and watch my informative and utterly brilliant demonstration, But then… …. what can you expect when the wine flows freely… old friends meet up after years apart…and the ambience and setting is so evocative?

“ There are some people at the back who are not listening!” (Really the most appalling people get into these events!!) “ That’s much better. Now I will continue…” So I did…and nobody left early… or shouted “gerrrorfff!”, …or suggested I hang onto the day job!

We were at the Hall over the May Bank Holiday weekend and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks to Sherida for arranging everything, to Terry for opening the exhibition for me, to Anne, his wife, for accommodating us in their lovely house in Belbroughton, to Paul and Pam ( Diabolus in Musica) who not only provided us with beautiful music of the period ( loved the ‘fanfare’ Paul!) but also took the piccys I’ve used in this report. But mainly of course a really big THANK YOU to everyone who came to see us, bought pictures, commissioned , gave us hugs and kisses ( and sometimes all three!) or in any way helped make our visit so memorable You are all something really special and because we love both you and Harvington so much I’m going to sneak in another piccy …

As we say in Ireland “ Thanks a million!!”