Nov 01, 2026
Sissinghurst pink border, 100x80cm oil on canvas. I think I am nearly there with this painting. I have been working from sketches made earlier in the year.
I hope you are well and adjusted to the darker evenings. I have had quite a productive past month working on several commissions as well as the painting above. With a short half-term break to Portugal, I managed to catch up on lots of books and I’ve also been to a few gigs recently so I am feeling quite culturally fulfilled. There are lots of exhibitions to see at the moment too.
I am going to run another of my Artist Workshops days where we do a deep dive into one particular artist, this time it’s the Post-Impressionist Andre Derain. See details below.
New exhibitions
Hokusai: Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), the Japanese woodblock printer is best known for The Great Wave. It is a stunning image of an enormous sea about to swallow up two boats of souls with little hope against the might of nature. What many people don’t notice, when looking at this, is the calm and solid presence of Mount Fiji in the background. Whatever happens nearby, nothing can touch the mountain.
The Great Wave is only one picture in a series of 46 (it was originally 36 but public demand led to Hokusai creating 10 further images) and all 46 are present here. This is the first time in the UK all of the images have been presented together and it should be a real treat.
Dulwich Picture Gallery until 17 January
Constantinople to Istanbul. One City, Two Empires
Aya Sofia, Constantinople published by P&D Colnaghi, London 1852
This exhibition examines the importance of this magnificent city over 1,600 years across the Byzantine empire (AD 330-1453) and the Ottoman (1453-1922). There will be artworks, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, manuscripts and much more looking at the influence the people in this city had across a wide network of countries.
You can rely on the V&A to mount fascinating exhibitions on interesting topics, I love the fact they have chosen a specific city. I have only been to Istanbul once but I was bowled over, I look forward to this show.
V&A, South Kensington opens 7 Nov
Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery
As the evenings draw in, who doesn’t love a bit of murder mystery in the company of Hercule Poirot or Jane Marple? The British Library’s new exhibition is about all things Agatha Christie and contains letters, notebooks, photographs and belongings.
The British Library have recreated atmospheric spaces and have dotted hidden clues through the show for aspiring sleuths to work out a further mystery for themselves. Time to get those little grey cells working.
British Library until 20 June 27
A Call to Art: William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites
This show’s main focus is to examine Morris and his inner circle with particular attention paid to the female contributors, notably Kate Faulkner who designed textiles and wallpapers, some of which are still commercially available today. On display are paintings, stained glass, tiles and handcrafted furniture with work from Morris himself, Burne-Jones, Rosetti, Siddal as well as others who worked at Morris & Co.
I find I need to be in the right mood for the Pre-Raphaelites and I think I probably prefer their design work to the paintings. If I’m in a kitsch mood, however, I’m all in.
The Fitzwilliam is in Cambridge (50 mins on train from Kings Cross) and is a fabulous museum with lots of other fantastic art and artefacts. Easily worth the day trip.
Fitzwilliam Museum until 3 May 27
I will be running another artist-themed workshop on Thursday 14th January. This time we will be looking at Andre Derain (1880-1954), an artist painting with so much colour he can’t help but bring brightness to Winter. Email me if you’d like to book a spot. I can also make a voucher if you would like to give it to someone as a present.
There is no need for any experience, this will a fun and colour-filled session.
Bayeux Tapestry update and top tip
If you didn’t manage to secure a ticket to the BT at the BM in the second ticket release, fear not. I didn’t either but I did manage to go last week. It seems that the BM are have extended the opening hours of this exhibition but obviously did not originally sell tickets for the evening.
They are releasing the odd batch for the following week. Get yourself onto the BM mailing list on their website. If you do wait for the next big batch, I would recommend an evening ticket as the rest of the museum was closed and it all felt very VIP.
Kate’s Knitalian
A super fun pop-up has landed in Ham Yard, just off Great Windmill Street in Soho. It is an Italian deli but with everything either knitted or made from fabric by artist Kate Jenkins.
Last year we had the felt Fish&Chips from Lucy Sparrow, this year it is Kate’s Knitalian. This will be colourful and joy-filled as well as technically seriously impressive.
Kate’s Knitalian Until 5 Dec
