Khatia.
Pastel pencil on paper.
Khatia Buniatishvili

In 1988, after seeing the play ‘Common Pursuit’ in London, I met both Stephen Fry and Rik Mayall backstage. A completely by chance meeting.
They were both positively lovely. Mayall was, in particular, everything I’d hoped he’d be. Funny, urbane, and profane. A comic genius.

This evening I shall raise a glass or two to lost souls.
It is my birthday.
However, it is also a good day to think of others, to reflect upon how fortunate one is to have part of them woven deep within one’s inner core.
A new drawing, too.
Happy Friday, one and all….🌻

I’ve been trying out some new Derwent charcoal pencils. Dark, and white.
Scraping powder from the pencils with a blade, and applying with a dry soft bristle brush.
A bit messy, and new for me, but rather satisfying.

Sometimes it is better to be in
Than out.

Snuggle deep into my nook, my love
Until I fall asleep;
Then leave me, offer no goodbye
Lest I may wake, and weep.

Pencil on paper.

I was asked to draw Julia Sawalha many years ago, commissioned by a mad fan of Ab Fab.
I got there, eventually.
The recipient still loves Ab Fab, which is obviously quite a relief.
Pastel, charcoal and coloured pencil on Bristol board.

I was asked to contribute a drawing for a charity auction, thought I’d get down with the kids, so chose a Tik Tok celebrity, whilst unaware what Tik Tok was.
I chose a photo by the very talented Fabio Furlotti. The drawing raised £1,300 for kids charities, which is very humbling

I feel blessed to have seen so many charismatic singers live on stage. One, who I was fortunate to see three times, was Phil Lynott, and Thin Lizzy. When I heard he’d died at 36, in the first week of 1986, it pretty much floored me. A candle that burned so bloody quickly. Damn.

My wonderfully talented cousin, Syd Moore has a new book out in a couple of weeks. Of course, I would never condone being biased, but…..

Noel.
Oil pencil on paper.
Boosh.
noel fielding

I produced this seven years ago, when I drew voraciously. With a limited palette, in this case a pencil, and a colouring pencil.
I gave it to someone who sold it last week for silly money. They needed the cash. I’m told I should be pissed off. I’m not.
Life’s too fucking short.

Window.
Oil pencil and pastel on paper.

From 2022.
The wonderful actor, Eddie Marsan.
Polychromos pencil on board.
Eddie Marsan

An old one, of a young one, so to speak.
Acrylic, Polychromos, coloured pencil and highlighter pen on board.
Apparently, it’s in the eyes.
♠️

Charlotte took her own life nearly 8 years ago.
I once told her she was like a mustang - beautiful, wild, and free-roaming. She bat her eyelids, rolled her eyes, and told me I was a verbose wally.
Today would have been her 40th birthday.
Happy Birthday, where ever you are…🥃