What Stilts, A Grave and a Cornish Love Story Can Teach Us...Plus NEW PRINT BUNDLES and a FREE GIFT!!!
Settle in with a cup of tea and a quiet moment. Here’s a collection of tales and inspirations from this week.
1) Lessons on Stilts (and in Art)
2) Bundles of Prints – Little Collections with Big Impact
3) Equal at Last - A Story of Second Chances and Pride
4) Lamorna on Screen; From Lamorna’s wild coast to the auction house; why this film feels personal.
5) And lastly...new print bundles offer. Spend £150 and get a bundle of 3 art prints worth £120, for FREE!!
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Lessons on Stilts (and in Art)
Last week I was sitting in a café, idly people-watching, when my eyes drifted across to a group of children learning to walk on stilts. The adults with them meant well, but they were showing them the wrong technique and you could see just how much harder it made the challenge.
In an instant, I was taken back to my own childhood weekends on a local farm ("Ernie's Farm" in Banbury), where stilts were one of our favourite games. When you were taught properly how to get onto the stilts by balancing up against a wall then putting each arm around each stilt, balance came naturally and it was such fun; but get it wrong, and every step felt like a wobbly battle.
It occurred to me how true this is in art, too. With the right tools, encouragement, and guidance, creating can feel joyful and freeing. Without them, it can feel heavy and overwhelming leading to giving up. I rented a pop-up shop a few years ago and so many people who saw me painting 'in the moment', sidled up to chat, with the conversation leading onto them showing me the art they'd produced. Oftentimes it was art they'd never shown to anyone else!
That’s one of the reasons why, at some point in the future, I plan to offer art workshops. I don’t yet know whether they’ll take place here in the U.K., online or abroad (or all three!), but I do know this: when the time comes, they’ll be all about making art feel possible, enjoyable, and deeply rewarding.
More details to come in a later letter once I have a more concrete plan in place.
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New bundles of 3 unframed prints -£120 per bundle or FREE with orders over £150. |
Now we're into September already, (and Christmas is slowly edging closer - I know, I know!) I wanted to share something special that makes gifting art simple, thoughtful, and meaningful: new bundles of small prints.
Each bundle includes three prints for £120 just right for giving as individual presents, or for creating a little collection at home. There are three bundle themes from my best sellers to choose from:
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Seascapes – bringing the calm of the coast into your home.
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The Contemplation Collection – quiet, soulful moments rich in thought.
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Winter Animals – featuring a robin and two stags, full of seasonal charm.
And here’s something even better: starting September 1st (for a limited time only), if you place an order of £150 or more, you’ll be able to choose one of these bundles as a FREE GIFT.
That’s three prints at no extra cost; yours to keep, or to share as presents!
So whether you’re planning ahead for Christmas gifts, or simply looking to bring more art into your own life, these bundles are a beautiful way to start.
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Equal at Last
A Story of Second Chances and Pride.
In Wendron churchyard near Redruth lies a grave that holds an extraordinary story of both inequality and opportunity.
It belongs to Thomas Johns, a Cornishman who died of consumption in 1861, and Evaristo Muchovela, a man from Mozambique who likely arrived in Cornwall as an enslaved servant. By today’s standards, the thought of one man “owning” another is abhorrent. And yet, within the injustice of that relationship, there was also an unexpected legacy: Johns taught Evaristo a trade.
After Johns’ death, Evaristo used those skills to build a life for himself in Redruth as a respected cabinetmaker. For seven years he earned his place in the community, until he too died of consumption, the same illness that had taken his former master.
As Johns had wished, the two men were buried side by side. Their gravestone reads:
“Here lie the master and the slave.
Distinction’s lost and caste is o’er,
the slave is now a slave no more.”
It’s a haunting epitaph; a reminder of the cruelty of the past, but also of the dignity a person can find when given a chance.
It reminded me of something from my own life. A few years ago, I received a call from a woman I’d only briefly met whilst I was helping out in a charity shop. She was studying for an art degree when, through no fault of her own, she ran out of money and was made homeless. With no family to turn to, in desperation and with no one else to call, she telephoned me.
At the time, my children had just flown the nest and I was living in a house with empty bedrooms (and, I admit, feeling pretty lonely). It was a no brainer! I drove to collect her and was astonished to learn first-hand how broken our system can be.
Without an address, it’s almost impossible to get a job; and without a job, it’s almost impossible to secure a home.
I gave her a room, an address, and the stability she needed. She gave me companionship. Over the next three months she found a job in a local hospital, then a rented home and finally a car. Slowly, her pride and her independence returned. Today she is thriving, and we remain good friends.
It taught me something profound: there but for the grace of God, go I. Sometimes, all a person needs is the right chance at the right time; whether it’s a trade, a safe place to live, or simply someone who believes in them.
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A Film Recommendation –
"Summer in February"
I’ve long been fascinated by the Lamorna artists’ colony. Their lives, their loves, and their determination to create in the wild beauty of Cornwall never fail to inspire me. Among them, one artist I particularly admire is Laura Knight.
At a time when women were banned from life drawing classes, she refused to accept the rules. Instead, she boldly employed a nude model 'en plein air' (outside, in the open air) defying convention, so she could pursue her art. That courage and refusal to bow to the status quo is something I deeply respect.
When I worked at Lay’s Auctioneers in Penzance, I had the privilege of seeing up close many works by artists of the Lamorna colony. I couldn’t afford to buy any, of course, but simply handling those paintings, glimpsing the brushstrokes, and feeling their presence was thrilling. It gave me a personal connection to these artists and their stories.
That’s why I was so drawn to the film "Summer in February" (I've also read the book).
It tells the true story of the Lamorna artists, focusing on Sir Alfred Munnings, his wife Florence, and fellow artists including Laura and Harold Knight. It’s a story of art and passion; of love in its many complicated forms. Florence, caught in her own struggles, eventually takes her own life, a tragedy that casts a long shadow over the story.
But alongside the drama, the film captures what I love most: the wild Cornish coastline, the creative spirit of Lamorna, and the artists who lived and loved there in the early 20th century.
For anyone who loves art history, romantic storytelling, or Cornwall itself, Summer in February is a moving, unforgettable watch.
Summer in February (2013) is available to stream on Apple TV.
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P.S. While I prepare for a new studio, space is precious. I’ve decided to release a few of my earlier originals, and I’d be happy to consider thoughtful offers. If one speaks to you, please feel free to email me with an offer.