On the Grapevine

Who know's where the time goes?

2011-12-03T17:31:00.001Z

Not just the timeless words and music of Sandy Denny but an all too familar feeling. Can it really be over 2 months since my last scribblings here? Well that remarkable late burst of summer and an extended autumn seems finally to have given in to slightly more seasonal weather with the temperature easing down to what is laughingly referred to as normal. Just remember, twelve months ago we had snow and very low temperatures but, despite the sensationalist predictions for a repeat performance - it hasn't got here yet.

The lights have been on around the Green in Burnham Market for two weeks - it really did feel a bit too early - but for whatever reason, they're not on at this end of the village. We do, however, have a nice green tree.

Can't really claim any credit for this, but just by chance, we managed to get a brief fix of early seasonal cheer with a visit to Copenhagen. Bit chilly, a Christmas Market and some fantastic food and a little drink. A very civilised place. I shall be back for more.

Slightly closer to home, but still to the east, I spent a very enjoyable evening with Gerard and Jacqui Stamp at the 'soft' opening of The Gunton Arms. Restored and reinvented from its former slightly off-target existence as a country house hotel, it looks set to transform various lives at Gunton. The man behind it, Ivor Braka has already restored much of the Park to its former glories and having it's own pub - for that's what is - is just fantastic. Good to see so many friends there for its first night including Diana Parkin, Helen David and of course the man who started the whole restoration at Gunton - Kit Martin. More surprisingly there were others like me who have gone to the dark side (West Norfolk) but thought it worth the journey. Which, of course, it was. The beer's great - Yetmans of course, and the food was good. Not surprising given the chef's pedigree but it was first night. Oh and there's a piano which was suitably christened by Gerard, who despite these distractions continues to paint. Amongst recent works, two in particular stand out.

The first of these, of the Duomo di Orvieto in Umbria is by anyone's reckoning a staggering achievement. From those who know his work, to visitors who know nothing about what has gone before the reaction has been overwhelming. Favourable, that is. Which is good, because we are planning a major exhibition for Autumn 2012 which will include more paintings from Umbria. Our current thoughts are to open the exhibition in London and then for it move to Norfolk.. and possibly even further afield.

There may be other delights in store as well.... Watch this space as they say.

The second is equally remarkable - but this time for it's simplicity. Much, much closer to home Saltmarsh Creek is a return to a the Norfolk coast. Andrew Ballantyne, author and Professor of Architecture at University of Newcastle summed it up. There is a touch of melancholy - but it is the serenity of the space and the light that holds your attention. My thoughts entirely. It's a big picture but it's going to look stunning on someone's wall - and in these strange times, it reminds you that we are so lucky to have these spaces just down the road.

Here comes summer!

2011-09-29T13:14:00.000+01:00

Just a couple of months back I wrote, "Strange old summer we seem to be having. The wall to wall sun of April is but a distant memory and the routine seems to be days of quiet where nothing much happens weatherwise. More like early October than late July" Now it's nearly October and like the rest of the country - with apologies to our followers in the north and west - it's more like late July. In fact, better than that. It's simply glorious and looks set for a few more days at least.

Today being Michaelmas Day (by the New Calendar), it's traditionally the last day of harvest and, most importantly in our neck of the woods, it's Nelson's birthday. 253 today to be precise. Hard to imagine, but they must have had days like this as well. It being Thursday it's also Market Day in Fakenham, a much derided and under-valued town. Wandering round the stalls today it's hard to see why it is so un-appreciated. Fantastic fruit, veg, food and plants - and it's got every conceivable piece of ephemera, tat, curiousities - call them what you will. Most importantly it attracts people. Real people who live here and roundabout. You could live happily just coming here once a week and very prudently as well. As a lapsed architect and urban designer, Fakenham on Market Day has got what every urbanist world-wide aspires to - life! Real people, all shapes and sizes, not just the trendy uber-cool beloved of students and designers, doing real things; buying eggs, dog-biscuits, bulbs electric and bulbs horticultural, cheese, and a few old toys for good measure. You couldn't imagine it could happen but it does, week after week. I know it's quiet between times, but it's a market town and that's what it does!

It also has possibly the best HSBC branch in the world, but don't tell anyone.

On a similar note, spurred on by the weather no doubt, we also have possibly the Best Post Office in the World at North Creake and the Best Bit of Norfolk Coast in the World at Overy Staithe and to be fair, one of the Best Churches in Norfolk at Norton but as before.... shhhh!

Eating, drinking and music

2011-08-31T17:57:00.000+01:00

Knowing how good the Wiveton Bell can be, I just couldn't wait to find out how The Duck Inn at Stanhoe is getting on under their care. Pleased to say Bank Holiday Saturday lunchtime found it pleasingly busy - and crucially service was good! Beer and food more than up to scratch, probably better than my last visit to Wiveton. Hope they keep it up, for as I've said before it's a perilous business being asked to suggest places to eat round here.

Purely by chance, this was followed very closely by a return to The Hunny Bell. What a great pub. Just shows what hard work can achieve. Having said that I've always preferred the bar to the restaurant in terms of atmosphere. Last time, they had jazz in the bar; Three in a Bar to be precise, who we liked so much we booked them! This time, I don't know who they were, but again very good. I've heard far worse fiddle playing in much more august venues. It would be fascinating to know whether good music boosts their sales? I doubt it but I very much hope I'm wrong. The only problem for me is that its 17 miles away.

Done different

2011-08-29T13:46:00.000+01:00

Of all the quotes dragged up about Norfolk, the two that most people know are firstly what most think is the county motto - "Do Different" and secondly Noel Coward's "Very flat, Norfolk". Well as most of us know the latter of these isn't exactly true whilst the former is in danger of going the same way as more and more is 'discovered' by the weekend supplements. However, Norfolk does remain different for those who care to look and in a final quote "Once you get to know Norfolk, there is no better place to live" in the words of the late John Timpson.

So what prompted all this navel gazing? Well not actually the current exhibition by Kevin and Ann-Marie Ryan, but more the reaction to it. Just in case you haven't seen it or don't know their work, they are - like most - incomers, and have lived in a quiet corner of high Norfolk for the last 20 years. Their palettes are dominated by intense colour - orange, brown, red punctuated by the occasional intense blue, whilst their compositions are singularly lacking in either horizontality or any obvious reference to big skies.

So - not flat, and very different. And people love it. Which just goes to show that the Ryan's are firmly in the Timpson camp and that there are plenty out there who understand and can look beyond the Norfolk being peddled by the Sunday supplements.

Summertime in Norfolk and further afield

2011-07-27T13:36:00.000+01:00

Strange old summer we seem to be having. The wall to wall sun of April is but a distant memory and the routine seems to be days of quiet where nothing much happens weatherwise. More like early October than late July.

The start of the month found us revisiting old haunts around Crickhowell - that most English of towns in Wales on the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons. And so quiet. Lunch amongst the ruins at Llanthony with only 5 others in the pub!

We followed this with a trip over the Gospel Pass to the Bookshop Centre of the world - Hay on Wye. Forty years ago, Hay felt like a fierce little border town. Now it's upmarket coffee, clothes and of course - books. We relieved them of a few - but why are English booksellers so grumpy? No smiling welcome or even interest. It surely can't be that miserable an existence. Reassuringly the friendliest face was to be found in the pottery. Fantastic food - rounded off with a return to The Walnut Tree at Llandewi Skirrid, good weather and loads of calm and relaxation. All very seductive.

Slightly closer to home, our annual pilgrimage to Southwold was met with rain and a very unappealing sea more in keeping with winter than July.

Again very few people about - but that was not surprising! The town stays much as it always was and still slightly puzzling, as the hinterland is hardly attractive. We will of course return!

Monday found us wandering round Holt with friends. It's not that long since I visited and its only 20 miles away but it seemed like quite a few things had changed or were in the process of so doing. It seems odd to find shops closed for 'refurbishment' in the middle of the summer holidays, but then again maybe that is the time to do it. I just hope they're finished by when the sun returns!

The curious case of The Squid at The Hoste and other tales

2011-06-25T19:18:00.000+01:00

It really is very difficult to keep up to date with the comings and goings on the local food/drink front. As soon as it seems safe to suggest somewhere, the wheels drop off. Or on the other hand having firmly fixed somewhere as a no-go area it emerges that all is well, and that it is serving the most fantastic food again.

However, there are some you can depend on and last week a return to two old favourites, The Hunny Bell and then The Hoste. A visit from one of our favourite print makers MAX ANGUS, prompted a trip to Hunworth and it didn't disappoint. The beer is good, the staff friendly and the food as good as ever. Even better, there was live jazz in the shape of the very excellent Three in a Bar, of whom more will be heard later.

The following evening found us slightly further afield - in Wimbledon. At home, actually. But not, if you see what I mean, as we were in The Fire Stables celebrating a friend's 25 years of continual working with one company. This kind of thing must be getting increasingly rare in these days of constant change and mobility. Unsurprisingly, we have eaten and drunk there on previous occasions and again it came up to expectations. Always horrified by noise levels in London restaurants - it must be age - but was particularly impressed with the chap serving us who could be seen clearly checking his order against the number at the table (a lot) to make sure everyone was catered for, before heading for the pass. Obvious - but often not done. Food was very good and happily recommended - but maybe best left until after the end of the tennis.

Back in Norfolk a slightly alcoholic evening lead us from a small number of bottles in the gallery to a second visit to Burnham's recently re-opened second hostelry, The Nelson. It's still early days and there have been reports of good lunch-time food, but this time we erred on the side of caution and went up west. Delighted to find a table free in the bar at The Hoste, all the old favourites came up trumps... however an excursion by one of our number into squid territory proved interesting. Not quite sure how it is described on the menu - but apparently it was not what had been expected! It looked absolutely fascinating and beautifully presented as ever, but call me cautious, I will be sticking with the Shredded Duck or my very good friend - the ever faithful Whittome Burger!

Birds, pots and a £5 note

2011-06-19T14:09:00.000+01:00

Never actually made it to the Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey (that's in Devon for all you Anglians) until this year. Thoroughly enjoyable and a really good standard of work on show. High spot for me was the fantastic wire work of CELIA SMITH, a very good friend of printmaker JULIA MANNING. Celia's birds really are quite special; having admired them from afar, I really couldn't resist them in reality and can't wait to see them happily at home here in Norfolk.

Having cunningly missed the rain by going to the preview reception on the Thursday evening, I rounded off the day investigating the merits of a very satisfactory single malt with my old mate RICHARD GODFREY. Devon really does seem very seductive at times!

It is very easy to regard North Norfolk as quiet, but it's only after an undisturbed night's sleep in the heart of the South Hams, you realise just how noisy Burnham Market is - particularly when you are hard on the street. Breakfast in the garden, complete with freshly-baked bread and surrounded by evidence of Richard and Chris's other skills - colour (a riot?) and burgeoning plant growth made it hard to believe that Devon too has been very dry this spring, whilst the new fence replacing the one blown to bits by the winter's gales is testimony to Richard's carpentry. Inevitably, we ended up in the studio, picking out new pots for the gallery and consuming rather too much coffee. It's a hard life.

Moving on, Totnes exerted its usual magnetism and left me wondering just why this town is so vibrant - if a bit hippy - whist Norfolk's market towns still seem to struggle. Having said that, I don't think I could live there... it's just so full. Even out of school holidays, the roads are packed and it certainly feels like everyone's rushing to get somewhere. A quick trip back to the Bovey Tracey fair revealed further delights and established new connections - particularly on the pottery front. Dodging some hefty downpours - they certainly still seem to do these on a more dramatic scale in Devon than we do - ended the day with my good friend Robin Tolson, chewing over the technicalities of what the Judiciary wear on high days and holidays!

Having spent a good few hours looking at pots and talking about pots and potters - it seemed not a bad thing to head for the hills and blow a few cobwebs away. Right on the western edge of Dartmoor, it seemed only appropriate to have a proper Devon ice-cream, if only out of respect for our wonderful printer RICHARD CLOVER's continuing exploration of the art of the cone back in Norfolk. Another downpour of biblical proportions gave way to Turner-esque light over Cornwall and a quick mile and a half walk up the nearest Tor. Not seeing a soul anywhere other than those esconsed in their cars in the car park, it came as a somewhat puzzling if pleasant surprise to come across a crisp £5 note lying on the path. Lots of hungry sheep, a few ponies and a brisk wind - but definitely no people. So where had it come from? Just another of life's little mysteries, I guess.

All that Jazz

2011-06-07T11:45:00.000+01:00

One of the very few disappointments about being here in the Burnhams, has been that I arrived just too late for The Balcony. By the end of 2007, the focus for Jazz here had moved to The Hoste. Not knowing much about what had gone before, I couldn't believe my luck that, under the direction of Reg, each summer was punctuated by cool concerts in the Moroccan Garden featuring musicians like Ian Shaw and Sarah Jane Morris. However - people kept talking about The Balcony.

Finally, last Saturday, jazz returned to The Balcony and this time I was there. Two fabulous musicians - KIT DOWNES and LEWIS WRIGHT. The two of them have been playing together, Kit on piano and Lewis on vibes, for over 10 years having met as members of the Norwich Students Jazz Orchestra. Since then they have moved onwards and upwards developing their musical relationship playing in Clark (son of the great Stan) Tracey's Sextet and other groups. The current duo project is their latest collaboration with new music written by both Lewis and Kit - and on the basis of Saturday's showing this looks likely to run. What great music! The understanding and synchronicity (is that a real word?) seemed seamless. Improvised or scripted? Difficult to tell - but just great. And on the doorstep, too.

If you want to get a flavour of Kit's jazz piano their are two albums readily available from Amazon and the like - 'Golden' from 2009 and 'Quiet Tiger' released earlier this year.

Awaydays

2011-05-31T12:24:00.000+01:00

Having escaped the clutches of the gallery for a couple of days, Saturday afternoon found us in deepest Northamptonshire, celebrating - too well and not wisely - Alison's Godfather's 80 years on the planet. Not satisfied with creating a delightful home woven into the fine weave of the village, he has also cunningly contrived to have as a neighbour, garden designer Johnny Amos. Whilst the planners (bless their hearts) decreed that the neighbours should not be allowed to enjoy views of this, Johnny very generously invited us all to have a look.

Within what is really quite a small plot, he has created a truly wonderful garden with an intricate series of interlocking spaces. And the plants ... just beautiful!

Sunday morning found us taking the air in one of my childhood haunts - Stratford upon Avon. Growing up less than 20 miles away, it has always amused me that people travel from the 4 corners of the earth to pay homage - whilst we only went as a last resort if nothing better could be found. Much remains the same... but the Theatre has changed - for the better. Quite a revelation and very much worth a look if you're in the area. 47 years ago, as a family we visited the Exhibition celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and tucked away inside the new theatre is a wonderful exhibition, FOLIO, of prints produced at that time by amongst others - Frink and Tilson. This runs until October and is free!

Making the most of our brief sojourn we eventually - the road signing is absurd and should be ignored - found our circuitous way to Compton Verney. This stately pile, the work of Robert Adam, found itself in near terminal decline as the 20th century progressed. However it is now home to a gallery (the work of Stanton Williams I think) and a collection that is of international standing. Definitely worth a visit - and a pleasant way to pass an hour or two.

Heat of the moment

2011-05-30T18:49:00.000+01:00

Clearly I am in the wrong sector. I am reliably informed that at the Boat/Boot sale at Overy Staithe this afternoon I offered to sell two items at £2 each or £5 for the pair. Oh well it's all in a good cause.

Another Bank Holiday!

2011-05-02T15:30:00.000+01:00

If it's Friday or Monday it just must be a Bank Holiday - or so it seems! Can't quite remember a normal week as it feels like everybody's been on holiday or celebrating or... for weeks. Equally the sun continues to shine which is fantastic unless you want the garden to grow - and at the moment there is just no sign of rain in the forecast.

In the gallery, NICKY LOUTIT's exhibition got off to a great start with a really well attended private view and some pleasing sales.

It's been really encouraging to see that Nicky's highly distinctive paintings have been so appreciated and that there is a market for serious art in these slightly strange times. The exhibition has received some deserved coverage in the press and there have been a number of visitors who have travelled considerable distances to view it. It runs for another two weeks, so there is still time to see it - and they really should be seen, reproduction only conveying some of their quality. Since its opening it has been visited by over 200 people which is not bad for a small gallery competing with wall to wall sunshine and a royal wedding!

Speaking of which, in the same time we have celebrated two family birthdays, one on the Welsh Borders looking out over the sublime landscape of Hergest (Mike Oldfield) Ridge

and one one closer to home here in Norfolk, which got pleasingly entangled with the Royal Wedding!

I suspect the next few days are going to seem rather quiet by comparison!

Burnham Market Horse Trials

2011-04-16T11:59:00.000+01:00

Apart from The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market is now probably best known for the Horse Trials. But as with lots of things, the closer and the more convenient an event is, the less notice you take. That has now been put to rights - courtesy of my good friend GERARD STAMP, who not only paints rather well but has a very competent horsewoman in the shape of his daughter, Eleanor.

Prompted by a phone call, I closed up a bit early yesterday and went up to Sussex Farm just in time to see Eleanor complete the Show Jumping and the Cross-Country. Found watching the former almost too tense when you know the rider, but enjoyed the cross-country; Eleanor's mastery of the water jump looked complete from my uninformed perspective. Pleasingly this seemed to be the official view as well!

As with most things in Norfolk you always meet someone you know - in this case, quite remarkably, NICKY LOUTIT whose exhibition opens with us next Thursday. Rounding the visit off with a very agreeable pint of Wherry at The Hoste, my only regret about this unexpected interlude was that my timing ensured I just missed Sarah and the wonderful Brays Pork Pies who were leaving the Trials just as I arrived. My pleadings on the internet last night were obviously to no avail - there was no special delivery this morning! Maybe I will have to go back, after all.

A summer Saturday!

2011-04-09T15:27:00.000+01:00

I know it's not, but it does feel like it. Last night at Gunton, following an evening excursion to the miraculous Mr Clover at Acle to collect posters for Geoffrey Robinson's exhibition in Norwich...

and more advertising for the studio.

Seriously tempted to stay and sample the new Gunton Apple Juice, but headed west on what must be the best 30 mile drive in the country. Does Norfolk look good at the moment? Oh Yes! The garden is easily 3 weeks ahead now, with flowers, birds and bees - one of which stung me yesterday, just to prove the point.

Interesting visitors - Hertfordshire, Heacham and Helsinki... and the Old Rectory, for good measure. The big question is..... Silver by Nature? or Don't Push it? Difficult.

It's Spring!

2011-03-24T13:33:00.000Z

Spring has most definitely sprung here in North Norfolk. My guess is we must be a good few weeks ahead of last year, with a number of herbaceous plants well into growth. Only hope they're not in for a nasty shock in April!

In the gallery, it's MIKE BERNARD who is in favour - though ironically it's the London pictures that are grabbing the attention. We even had a visitor who enjoys the same view from his London pad as Mike's Butlers Wharf picture portrays and was somewhat surprised to find it in a Norfolk gallery.

On the food front, sounds like The Duck Inn has found it's feet again, with a couple of good reports - so time for a new look I think. As an avid fan of the wonderful BRAY'S pork pies, I was somewhat disconcerted to find an advert for 70% discount on burgers on their blog. Having contacted the wonderful Sarah, it seems like they can't see it - highlighting the hidden hazards of blogging!

A good friend

2011-03-16T16:39:00.000Z

Last weekend saw an unexpected and untimely trip to Lympstone in Devon, to celebrate the life of a good friend, Carol Tolson, tragically cut short in an accident.

Many of my exploratory visits to artists in the west country in the early days of the Grapevine were based around our friendship with Carol and Robin, and business and pleasure became pleasingly intertwined. How many of our Devon artists realised my visits coincided with our vain endeavours at Exeter School Quiz Nights, I wonder?

Saturday's memorial service was a deeply moving tribute to Carol and the packed church bore eloquent witness to a life filled with music, love - and a little bit of chaos - that contributed so much to the lives of her family, her community and her friends.

Contrasts

2011-03-02T14:31:00.000Z

In the words of the great Michael Flanders, "Welcome March with wintry wind, Would thou wert not so unkind!" Clearly the weather has not changed much in the fifty plus years since he penned these words, the first days of March being dominated by an extremely chilly breeze from the North East. Overall, though we seem to have to got away fairly lightly after such a snowy start to the winter. In fact the last weekend of February sort of sums it up. Saturday saw my reader and her friends getting throughly soaked on Brancaster Beach, whilst the following day saw glorious sunshine and clear blue skies for much of the day. Monday, unsurprisingly we were back in the world of the gramp. That's grey and damp to those who have yet to visit The Boathouse at Overy Staithe.

These contrasts have been evident on my close season travels to artists old and new. Renewing my acquaintance with Shopshire (almost as good as Norfolk) saw a hoar frost followed by glorious afternoon sunshine, topped off with one of the biggest moon's I can ever remember hanging over that strangest of hills, Clee Hill above Ludlow. Importantly this trip finally brought the wonderful of work of SUE CAMPION to the gallery. You can find more about Sue on the other Grapevine blog, http://norwichgrapevine.blogspot.com/.

My first trip west of the year included staying with my very good friend GEOFFREY ROBINSON to select work for his new exhibition with us in Norwich. Again, contrasts. The intense colours and clear outlines of his work couldn't have been more different than the grey swirling mist of the Hampshire coast.

Heading on west, I am never sure how to deal with Bournemouth. Whichever way you go, it does seem to go a long time, but eventually you find yourself in that other miraculous county, Dorset. The bare, high land of Thomas Hardy west of Dorchester - and onwards towards Devon. Astoundingly wet, but still wonderful. My final visit on this trip was the studio of MIKE BERNARD on the north coast. Mike has still to return to Norfolk, but he has found his old sketchbooks, and we have just a taste of what is to come.

And just to complete the saga, leaving the wet of the south and west behind, I returned to North Norfolk on one of those truly remarkable days when the light just makes you glad to be alive.

Slip sliding away

2010-12-31T16:37:00.000Z

Having spent the last few weeks on ice, you almost miss it now its gone. Particularly as the crispness (!) of mid-December has been replaced by all encompassing mist.

Despite the cold, life in Burnham has continued pretty much as usual; on a parochial note the gallery has actually seen an increase in visitors over December last year. It obviously takes more than a bit of snow and -10˚ here in the garden to put people off!
Having finally got to Christmas, it did briefly appear that the traditional family Christmas at Gunton might elude us, being - fortunately only temporarily - defeated by glazed ice on the final approach. Judicious lightening of our respective loads and a slight change in the atmosphere produced a happy ending.

Correspondence with artists around the country suggests we have been lucky but there is still January and that month that follows. Maybe the 4x4 will still be needed!

The last few days have seen visits by a number of our regulars - customers and artists - and as usual new work has appeared. Some of it has sold already, which provides yet further proof that if you like it, don't delay.

2010 was not without incident - but has generally been good to us. Long may it continue.... Happy New Year!

Autumn Thoughts

2010-11-12T12:08:00.000Z

More friends, more visits and more weather. Just a couple of weeks ago friends from London ended up staying in Wells whilst visiting their daughter at UEA and celebrating their wedding anniversary. Taking pity on them following a typically tiresome journey up, I collected them from their B&B, The Old Custom House on East Quay, to go out for dinner. It was only the following day, when they popped into the gallery on their way to Norwich, that it transpired the view from their room was pretty much the same as one of our best-selling cards.

I have to say that this fact had escaped me the night before. My only defence was that it seemed very dark and I was concentrating on parking on the quay and not in the harbour. Anyway, the dinner was good - vension from Stody - and well worth a drive through darkest Norfolk.

Following a brief trip to London for a fantastic Charity Event - www.adamshats.org - and a rare day at home, it was back to Norfolk for the opening of our latest exhibition in the Norwich Gallery. This features the work of ALAN BENNETT - not that one - but a very talented artist now living here who paints trees and heathland. If you get the chance its well worth a look. On previous occasions we have shown his bigger works, but this time there's something for all walls and budgets.

My return seemed to signal the true onset of Autumn here. Monday was foul by common consent. It was improved considerably by a visit to the wonderful DUCK INN just up the road. Fantastic food accompanied by music from NICK HAYWOOD who has also been known to make beautiful buildings for your garden and can also turn his hand to painting. The transformation from the Duck's previous incarnation as the idiosyncratic Crown is remarkable. This the first of music/casserole nights on Mondays looks like a must for the next few weeks!

Perhaps prompted by a weekend of indulgence, the delights of Brancaster Beach are back in my schedule on a semi-regular basis. This week I have been rained on, hailed on and yesterday almost blown over. So much better than sunbathing I always think.

Paintings, Pots and Visitors

2010-10-31T13:23:00.001Z

It's always good when artists and makers new to the gallery meet with approval. The last two weeks have seen just that with both JOHN HANNYNGTON's pots and NAOMI CLEMENTS-WRIGHT's paintings being warmly received. John's pots provoke varying reactions, those who like the organic pieces seemingly ignoring the more traditional work and vice-versa. Similarly those who appreciate Naomi's interiors don't seem to register her still-life work. Which all confirms what we have come to know - that you cannot predict response. Suffice to say that we are very much looking forward to building on the foundations of this their first show.

Artists and friends who visit often ask whether life isn't a bit quiet in North Norfolk. Well... not exactly, which goes some way to explaining how fast time seems to move on. One of our favourite artists, GEOFFREY ROBINSON, who has shown with us since the beginning, needs no convincing of the delights of North Norfolk. Despite living within sight and sound of the sea in Hampshire, Geoff fell deeply in love with Burnham Market when he stayed here during his last exhibition. He didn't actually move, but he did find his way back here last week with some fantastic new paintings.

A day out with friends from Yorkshire prompted a visit to the Far East - well Horsey to be more exact. Its all too easy to forget just how big and varied Norfolk is. Just like Brancaster, Horsey has sand-dunes and a beach that goes on forever. But the sea is bigger and there are real waves. They also have seals on the beach, where they come to pup each year. And a proper pub, and a proper brewery close at hand. Fantastic! But... I suspect time may go just that little bit slower, so I'm not thinking of heading east just yet.

The following day saw sanity restored with lunch at Brancaster and all the wind and rain you could wish for. The kind of real weather you expect in the west (Cornwall) but not so frequent here. Put the wilds of Penwith to shame!

Tripped Up?

2010-10-22T14:13:00.000+01:00

Just like the birds, our artists come back in the autumn! Presumably, they like many of us prefer Norfolk when it's just that little bit quieter. Very good to catch up with everybody's news. It also leads to eating out a bit more often... and it's then that the changes that affect every pub and restaurant come to light. The pub that I have glowingly recommended over the summer months may have lost its chef, or been sold to someone else or...

TripAdviser got more than its fair share of coverage a few weeks back, with Hoteliers alleging abuse. Whatever the truth in this, it can cause problems. One of our artists decided not to book into the most obvious choice here due to something he'd read, and booked into another establishment a little further afield in Blakeney. Asked to join him and his wife for supper, I think we were all somewhat surprised to find at 7.30, the menu shrinking before our eyes. Given that I believe this is a daily menu, we were taken aback to find that even at this early hour there was only 1 of each of two of the main courses! We might have forgotten this - putting it down to an unforseeable early rush, but strangely the same thing happened with the wine list - with an apparent shortage of Chardonnay. Oh well. What we eventually got did taste ok. I can only hope that breakfast was not similarly afflicted.

Ironically, I suspect that the dodgy review that lead to this was just that - dodgy!

Where did August go?

2010-08-31T17:48:00.001+01:00

Can't quite believe that it's September tomorrow. Just four weeks ago, summer still seemed stretched out before us, and yet today with fantastic blue skies and finally - no wind, you can almost hear the change of season.

August has been surprisingly good with lots of visitors and some good sales. Amongst new arrivals in the gallery have been paintings by PIERCE CASEY - a wonderful man, originally from Southern Ireland with a fantastic feel for colour and composition. His paintings are currently on show in the Norwich gallery, but will be heading north very soon. People often ask how we find our artists? Serendipity.. and a little help from our friends - in this case Burnham Market's resident artist ANDREW RUFFHEAD. I'm looking forward to putting these two old friends back in touch.

In contrast to last year, we've gone easy on the one-man shows this year.. until now when we're making up for it with the return of GERARD STAMP. As well as some of what he has become so well-known for (even HM The Queen now has one), there are a couple of stunning landscapes, including what surely must be his best interpretation of the Saltmarsh yet, and a new departure - paintings of the fishing sheds at Brancaster. If you haven't seen it yet, its on for just another 10 days or so.

Superblog from Devon

2010-07-22T20:40:00.004+01:00

Put to shame by my friend RICHARD GODFREY, whose blog http://richardgodfreyceramics.blogspot.com/ not only looks nearly as good as his pots - but includes a really good video of him at work on his new landscape pieces.

I can vouch for the landscape too......

- just fantastic! And all this to the accompaniment of Barney Bigard... Crawfish Blues, oh yes!

Paul Whittome

2010-07-08T21:57:00.001+01:00

For those of us who live or work in Burnham Market, the start of the month brought the sad news of the untimely death of Paul Whittome. As a newcomer to the village, nearly three years ago, I very quickly became aware that Paul - through his commitment, drive and personality - had with his family and team, created in The Hoste Arms something very special - a unique mix of pub, personality and professionalism. Somehow he has locals, dogs, children and all the rest, all mixed up and enjoying the same front bar - at the same time blending this into what has become one of the country's most memorable hotels. And you feel welcome. Creating this natural buzz and vitality isn't easy and to succeed is rare and remarkable.

Like many, I barely knew him - but when we did meet there was always a friendly welcome and - always - a sense of drive and direction. In the gallery, a substantial majority of our visitors, stay, dine or at least drink at The Hoste. For many, The Hoste is synonymous with Burnham Market; it is the focal point of their visit and we, like many of the other businesses in the village, have much to be grateful to Paul and his team for.

To establish such an institution - for that is what it has become - and along the way to effectively secure the viability and vitality of the village, is to my mind a truly remarkable and worthwhile achievement. A life well spent.

Saturday Lunchtimes in Burnham

2010-06-12T15:33:00.000+01:00

Saturday lunchtimes have become something of a social institution in the gallery. First in today was BRIAN HINTON whose characterful paintings are very much in tune with the mood of the place. Those who frequent the restaurant at The Hoste sit alongside Brian's paintings of Jazz musicians and it gives us great pleasure to be selling his new work. The subject has changed but his people are very much his own - characterised by curves and good humour. Next up - but not unexpected - was MAX ANGUS, bringing two new prints which we are, as ever, delighted to show.

Difficult to believe, but Max has only been showing with us for two and a bit years, but has become very much a regular. As ever, they are very competitively priced - and absolutely ideal for anybody who loves or lives (hopefully both!) in Norfolk.

Last in, MICHAEL CHAPMAN with a typical Chapman - Receding Tide at Holkham. He does get the atmosphere and the light just right, but then I suppose he should do. He has been here some time and as I am realising really does understand the place. So much so that the paint was barely dry on his last delivery before it sold.

News from Norwich

2010-06-04T15:05:00.000+01:00

For all the latest of what is arriving, happening or is about to happen in our Norwich Gallery - visit our other blog, imaginatively titled NEWS FROM THE GRAPEVINE GALLERY. Work in either gallery can be viewed wherever suits you best.

Glorious Devon

2010-06-03T12:13:00.001+01:00

Rounding off my all too brief trip west, I stayed overnight in a fantastic 1930's Showman's Caravan in the garden of another good friend and talented artist - SUE DEAKIN. If you imagine a classic timber built yacht with all its bespoke joinery and fittings and cross this with a Pullman railway carriage, you just about get the picture. Absolutely beautiful - and surprisingly cosy on a night of one of the latest Devon frosts for many years.

With an hour or so to spare, I headed as far south as Devon goes, for a fleeting trip to Dartmouth. Drifting along Foss Street, browsing in other people's galleries - role's reversed for a change - I had one of those extraordinary moments that seem to come with this business. Peering into what appeared to be a little bit of France - apparently some kind art workshop - I found a face I knew staring back at me! STUDIO DIX NEUF is the new home and business of two friends, Lys FLOWERDAY and Gilles BOURLET, who I had no reason to suppose were not where I thought they were - in Norwich. Our Norwich customers will remember Lys' wonderful prints and drawings were shown in the Grapevine some years ago - but here they were in deepest Devon, having moved over 18 months ago.

The studio is beautifully presented and it just looks so good. Fascinating to discuss gallery strategy - door open? or door closed? etc. The questions are the same wherever you are. I have always liked Dartmouth - but now I have a real connection! If you're in Devon - GO THERE!

Half an hour back up the road, a quick visit to LEA PHILLIPS studio, restocked Grapevine with her very popular (and affordable) mugs and jugs - but this time in new colours, just right for the Summer.

Out West - Part 2

2010-05-25T11:47:00.006+01:00

I love Cornwall - but these days it's so easy to get there, I fear it's lost some of its mystery. A lesson for Norfolk perhaps; just maybe we'd be better off without the completion of the A11. Anyway the upshot of this is that less than 2 hours driving from Richard Godfrey found me in Penryn, meeting up again with one of my current favourites, PATRICK HAUGHTON.

Very much part of the St.Ives tradition, I think his work is just fantastic. His studio look out towards Falmouth and the Carrick Roads, but the biggest influence to me in his current work is the time he spends each year in the far west of France. If you want to know more about Patrick's work, you need look no further than the web-site of another of my favourites GEOFFREY ROBINSON, who made a short film http://www.geoffreyrobinson.com/patrickhaughton.html about Patrick's work not long ago.

Over lunch it emerged that we shared a number of mutual friends in and around Falmouth - and somewhat bizarrely Patrick was re-united with a lost and much loved scarf! Very good to see Patrick and Suki again and I look forward to entertaining them in Norfolk; - it seems Patrick has his eye on a visit to the RAILWAY INN - http://www.hostearms.co.uk/Railway - here in Burnham Market.

A long delayed trip out west - Part 1

2010-05-21T19:05:00.003+01:00

Before opening the Burnham Grapevine, I seemed to head west down the A303 fairly regularly. So it came as something of a surprise to find that it was nearly 11 months since my last visit. As usual it brought unexpected delights.

Arriving to stay with my good friend and potter extraordinaire RICHARD GODFREY in glorious Devon, I was invited to join Richard to a brief recording session (twinning arrangements have a lot to answer for) at a house in a magical setting overlooking the river close by Newton Ferrers. I knew Richard was also a talented musician - but he turns out to have something of a voice as well. Back at home, I was introduced to Devon Blue - a cheese new to me but one which is truly superb and a worthy rival to Binham Blue.

To business. A new group of Richard's wonderful pots was acquired the following morning - plus the real pleasure in finally meeting MIKE BROMAGE a truly unique talent who I am sure we're going to hear much more of if I'm not very much mistaken. Mike has just published his 2nd book of drawings and cartoons of his wonderful birds. Simply fantastic.

All too brief a stay... but further delights lay further west. And as it turned out - east.

Gone to the Dogs

2010-04-29T13:21:00.001+01:00

A puzzling absence of the usual enthusiasm for biscuits by my neighbour's dog - at the opening of a doggy themed art exhibition became clear later. They certainly looked like dog biscuits... but apparently they were ginger - and meant for the humans. Never mind, didn't seem too put out.

An unexpectedly full Indian restaurant lead to us eating at The Kings Head at Letheringsett. Frequently passed, but last visited many moons ago, this is one of Chris Coubrough's expanding empire. Very welcoming, plenty of room and good food and already added to the Grapevine list of places to eat. Amused to see that like all of us, it's easy not notice the seemingly obvious; the till receipt proclaiming them to be in in Letteringsett.

A spring evening at Overy Staithe

2010-04-26T19:22:00.000+01:00

The sun's out..... England and in particular Norfolk is at its most seductive. The tide is high, Harry the dog is well-behaved. It's just fantastic.

Burnham Market afternoon

2010-04-26T14:45:00.003+01:00

The sun is high in the sky - and the swifts are back. Not so many as last year.. yet. Let's hope there are more on the way.

Just had an interesting new painting in - very different to anything else in the gallery but I have high hopes.

Talking of birds, lots of nice new Birds (and a whale) by Terri Smart have also arrived. These ones are ceramic, but equally fascinating and very affordable. I think my current favourite has to be the Lapwing.