Superblog from Devon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.