creative talent revealed contents editor Gill Kaye editor.ingenue@gmail.com sales & marketing Roger Kaye roger.ingenue@gmail.com 07583 944546 subscriptions subscribe@ingenuemagazine.co.uk online www.ingenuemagazine.co.uk
World famous for her gifted, sometimes flamboyant and unorthodox playing, cellist Gabriella Swallow is appearing with the Jess Gillam Ensemble at one of Horsham Music Circle’s spring concerts on Saturday 13th May at St Mary’s Parish Church, Horsham.
www.philipgatward.com
Greetings dear reader, and Happy New Year!
A new year, a new start. A change for the better?
Artists are trend-setters, visionaries. They carry the ideals of a culture and lift it above the mundane, the bleak, the daily treadmill of mere survival. Art is powerful. When art gets into the hands of a dictatorship it becomes weaponised, corrupted.
Then there's the more subtle, insidious erosion of art and culture by unimaginative, short-sighted leaders whose extent of vision... what am I saying, there is no vision. Mere bean-counters who sit among the crumbling ruins of their former glorious culture clutching their abacuses. I recently read that Glyndebourne will no long be able to tour following cuts in Arts Council funding. In the fifty-plus years since the launch of the Glyndebourne Tour it has been able to bring worldclass opera to parts of the country otherwise lacking the opportunity to experience it, as well as being responsible for lighting the touch-paper beneath the careers of many emerging artists. Hideous. This, of course, is a high profile example of smaller such tragedies unfolding across the country. All have ramifications for those whose livelihoods depend upon them.
However, coming back to my initial point, the artist is, in some part, a rebel – looking deeper, unpicking the fabric of the obvious to shine a light on the subtleties of life, making them more visible, richer and easier to experience. Who has not, at some point, read a book based in a foreign country and thereafter yearned to visit it; or looked at a painting of a familiar environment and seen, for the first time, something the artist had noticed and highlighted; or read a poem and recognised the experience of a fellow human being. In these times of increasing individualism, the sharing of creativity is a thread to knit together the 'ravell'd sleave' of society.
Then there are those brave souls who go one step further to change conditions in life. A London couple, an artist and a film maker, turned their rooftop into a bedroom, sleeping there for twenty-three nights through some of the wettest winter weather, their protection from the elements only a plastic sheet, to raise money to turn their street into a 'solar panel power station' (check out www.power.film).
In this very issue two of the opera companies featured have, despite all odds, come from their beleaguered homeland, Ukraine, to bring us epic stories of love, loss and the resilience of the human spirit.
Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra, in their mission to make music broadly accessible across their community, have introduced further ticket concessions. While all across our region hundreds of creatives are busy creating, teaching and inspiring others.
So, to those creative souls who continue regardless, who disagree with the suppression – overt or covert –and keep envisioning a better world, who keep creating in spite of all – I salute you!
–Gill Kaye, editor
"if it's not in ingénu/e ...it's not happening!"
What better time to revisit those intentions to learn something new, to revive a dormant skill, or to brush up on an existing artistic practice that needs a fresh look. And how better to proof oneself up against the nonsense that life throws at us than to turn off the news and immerse ourselves in creativity and aesthetics. An evening spent learning a new creative skill is like a gym workout for the soul. We are fitter and more resilient as a result.
Moorhouse's classes continue full swing into 2023. Her wonderful painting and drawing classes are for mixed ability, whether a beginner, someone returning to being creative or even for someone who wishes to simply further hone their skill.
The group dynamic of the courses offer people a chance to explore and expand painting practice – encouraging people to be brave and take risks. Karin loves teaching but recognises that pushing people outside their comfort zone is not the way to go, but rather to help them enlarge, explore and expand their painting and drawing skills. Over the years she has taught in several art
colleges and last September took a further leap moving into her new studio at The Mill Studios near Arundel.
Courses include Oil Painting, Life Drawing and Elements of Drawing and all courses follow the practice not only of group discussion, interaction and outings but also coupled with the benefit of a lot of one to one tuition, giving student the best of both worlds.
Karin has exhibited many times at The Mall Galleries London and has been part of mixed shows at Pallant House and Oxmarket Galleries in Chichester, Dragon and Kevis House Galleries in Petworth and has been a regular participant in the annual Arundel and Brighton Festivals and Gallery Trails. Her work is in many private collections and she has run painting workshops in Mallorca, Italy and France.
Karin is looking forward to either welcoming you as a new student to The Mill Studio or to saying 'Hi great to see you again' in 2023. For full details visit https://moorhouse-art.com and for more about Karin go to www.karinmoorhouseart.com.
top: Karin Moorhouse, untitled, oil on linen; inset: Karin Moorhouse; left: The Mill Studio
At our Billingshurst studio we aim to enjoy our selves. This is not difficult when in the midst of good company, with a choice of great art courses on offer.
Art Junction has an open door policy, plenty of space to create, and excellent tutors to help you find and make sculpture based on your own ideas and designs. Whether it’s abstract, figurative, experimental, collage, large or small, we’ll get excited with you to make it happen if we possibly can.
Complete beginner? No problem, we can help you get your project off the ground.
Starting from late February our programme of Masterclasses kicks off with some great courses working with professional tutors and models. As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, weekly life drawing and painting will be back up and running for both tutored and untutored sessions.
Don’t miss our Summer School this year! This consists of an exciting range of intensive two to five full-day courses in both drawing and sculpture throughout July. Plans are in progress now for courses ranging from Abstract Garden Sculpture to Life Size Life Drawing with Figurative and Portrait Sculpture on the list. Keep an eye on our website for details, dates and times.
For any practising sculptors out there, please note that we offer a resin casting service at affordable prices. We also teach resin casting for those interested in learning the process.
Need to fire something? Our large kiln has space
to fire large hand-built ceramic sculpture, such as the life size labrador ‘Clemmie’ by
only).
Looking for space just to work? Contact us as we may be able to help.
If any of this piques your interest why not join us? We’d love to see you!
For all details visit www.artjunction.uk
top: ‘Clemmie’ Elizabeth Ring; below: Sculpting the Life Figure below left: 'Garden Sculpture' by Michael Joseph, tutor for Abstract Sculpture for the Garden Masterclass
Elizabeth Ring (bisque firing
LCAStage Academy is an award winning performing arts school based in Oxted, Surrey, and provides a range of performance classes and workshops in singing, acting and dancing, including technique training, one to one sessions, and a range of performance opportunities for young performers aged 3-18.
LCA Stage Academy, established in 2015, teaches students who are successful in their auditions for a place at several universities studying areas of Performing Arts and in leading drama schools such as The Brit School, Arts Educational, Performers College, Bird College, Urdang, Central School of Speech and Drama and The National Youth Theatre.
BOOK YOUR FREE TRIAL SESSION!
Contact us for more information about classes or holiday workshop times and prices: 07714 276241, email info@lca-stage.com, visit www.lca-stage.com and find us on social media. Join the LCA Family today!
award-winning gardens, an inspirational setting for creativity.
Eco-friendly and sustainable
From Eco-materials and dyeing to creating items from recycled objects, there is a wide range of courses with a focus on sustainability.
• Creative mosaics with found ceramic materials, Joanna Veevers, 26-29 January 2023
• Natural dyeing – further techniques, Isabella Whitworth, 5-8 February 2023
• Plastic smithing – jewellery with waste plastics, Bronwen Gwillim, 19-23 February 2023
A choice of courses focus on techniques from around the world and influences from other cultures.
• Contemporary Japanese woodblock printmaking, Wuon-Gean Ho, 20-23 January 2023
• Katagami stencilling with indigo, Rob Jones, 19-22 February 2023
• Bojagi: Jogakbo pieced and stitched wall hanging, Sara Cook, 23-26 February 2023
See all courses at www.westdean.ac.uk
the chance to celebrate the New Year with more studio time, new skills or the opportunity to advance your studies.
If you are an artist or maker feeling the need for an extra spark of creativity, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation offers hundreds of immersive short courses for all abilities. Whether it’s to build your confidence, deepen your knowledge or even start your creative journey from scratch, expert tutors will guide you to develop your skills. Be inspired by the unique college environment with Surrealist connections surrounded by
plenty of one-to-one time with the tutor to ensure you get all the personalised support you need in creating an exciting piece of unique artwork. If you already have experience in art, but want to try something new or polish up some skills, our group classes are for you too!
For more contact: leticia_artist@hotmail.com or 07713 625975 or check out @leticia.silva_artist and @artclassesinwestsussex on social media.
Art courses, workshops and events in the South Downs area run by local Midhurst-based artist Leticia Silva dos Santos.
Enjoy spending time with like-minded people while picking up some new artistic tricks. You'll come away with new skills, and the confidence to use them to make art you're proud of.
Open to ALL skill levels, whether it is your first foray into the arts or your tenth.
Our classes are beginnerfriendly, and tailored to provide
above: Isabella Whitworth, Natural Dying at West Dean CollegeLocal jewellery designer Katherine Lawrie has been teaching jewellery design and making, whilst working in the craft professionally for over twenty-five years. Based near Arundel in West Sussex, her spacious airy studio is fully equipped for learning.
Katherine’s style of teaching is student focussed, allowing the attendee to learn core skills while the more advanced progress at their own pace. All sessions are design-led. Katherine encourages her students to design their work from the outset, rather than using the work of others to inspire.
Sessions can be attended as a one-off or as a continued learning journey.
Katherine can supply silver and gemstones to work with at an additional fee, and is happy to advise about purchasing materials and tools to enable progression.
Katherine’s jewellery is all handmade in sterling silver and gold, and is inspired by natural forms and textural qualities.
Her predominant technique is roller texturing, an unpredictable technique using rolling mills and natural or manmade materials. The object disintegrates leaving the surface of the metal with an ethereal texture, which in conjunction with semi-precious stones and beads creates a body of work with sensitivity and subtlety working in sympathy with the wearer.
Visit www.klawriejewellery.co.uk/workshops for further information.
Ihave recently been amazed at the positive effect even just one private session of a couple of hours can have on someone’s art. This is partly because I tailor the session directly to what the person in front of me is wanting to achieve with their art. No lesson is like any other lesson. It is completely directed to you and your artistic dreams. That is why time at the start is spent just talking. Then I can understand what you want help with more clearly and you can produce something that gives you a sense of achievement and renewed enthusiasm, Nothing makes me happier than to see my student leave with a real smile and a determination to do more art.
I can do this because I have been teaching privately and in groups for over twenty years and I, personally, draw and paint across a wide spectrum of styles and media. One lesson can make a huge difference.
Currently I am offering a three-hour individual lesson for £50. Call me to discuss on 01892 870067 or email me: weekendarting@gmail.com for a chat.
Make and Making is the brainchild of Sarah Brangwyn, who is passionate about the sharing of skills in a warm and friendly environment. Having run face to face courses for the last ten years Made and Making now also run a number of online options, from weekly craft clubs to courses, and one-off workshops and off-site retreats which regularly sell out.
They really do have something for everyone, covering not only the usual, and unusual, sewing and patchwork classes but also various other skills including crochet, art and basket weaving sessions to name but a few. Their intention is always to offer people the chance to learn and develop a skill. If lettering is your thing you could try modern calligraphy, brush lettering or even chalkboard lettering.
Their face to face classes run in the grounds of the South Downs Nursery in Hassocks so they have ample space, ample parking and are moments way from bus stops and Hassocks train station.
Online sessions restart in January with a beginners patchwork course, a selection of one-off project based sewing workshops, their eight-week craft club called Mid Week Makes and a choice of Zentangle courses.
There are no excuses for feeling bored or without inspiration with this wonderful small business on your doorstep or computer!
www.madeandmaking.co.uk
Progressing on from small beginnings as a pop-up gallery in 2019 directors Alan Humphries and Kim-Adele Fuller are very pleased to announce that Montague Gallery has now permanently relocated to smart new premises at 28, Portland Road, Worthing within the fabulous new pedestrianised regeneration area.
“We pride ourselves on the quality and variety of affordable work for sale in all genres – paintings, prints, photography, linocuts, wood and metal, textiles, stained and fused glass, ceramics, and jewellery. We also have a fantastic selection of original cards for every occasion.
“The new larger premises are bigger and better. The two floors will enable us to bring an even wider selection of outstanding work from even more artists and makers, plus an exciting programme of workshops and courses for people to come and learn and enjoy in our light and airy upstairs studio.”
The current workshops on offer are mostly half-day relaxed and friendly sessions, and no previous skills or knowledge are required, all materials are provided, and you will not only leave with your creation but a newfound enthusiasm to do more…
Come alone or with a friend, don’t be worried as you will always find lovely like-minded folks.
If you want to plan a date for a fun experience with a group of friends, family or work colleagues please contact us and ask as we can put on a special date for you. Please see our website reviews.
Check our What’s On calendar of events and book online: www.montaguegallery.co.uk. We currently have Fused Glass, Pastel Pet Pawtraits, Linocut Fabric Printing, Calligraphy, 3D Papercuts, Needle Felting and Watercolour Workshops but more are being added all the time.
You will also find updated information about our more than forty-four current exhibiting artists and an online shop.
NEW For 2023, we have a five-week painting course with well-known local artist and tutor Marcus Finch: Contemporary Style Landscapes and Seascapes in Acrylic, running from 10th January on Tuesday Mornings.
Finally if you are an artist or maker looking to exhibit or seeking a new venue to hold classes, please fill out our ‘New Exhibitor Application’ or ‘Art Instructor Application’ form on our website where you will find all the Terms and Conditions for your information.
This is a gallery run by artists and you will always find a warm welcome and a friendly chat from the artists themselves who are always there to help.
www.montaguegallery.co.uk
has it all!
RozNathan is a natural history artist whose practice explores the natural world using water-based paints, inks and various mixed media. Her work is exhibited regularly in Sussex Open Houses and Studios.
A qualified art tutor, with many years’ experience of teaching a range of subjects and media, Roz is now offering her courses as face-to-face studio sessions again alongside her continuing Zoom courses.
New Spring Studio courses starting week beginning 9th January 2023 are at East Dean Hall, which has brilliant facilities – a large, warm, light space and free parking outside. Come and experiment with Gel Plate Printing or try Portrait Painting or two different slots of Personal Projects sessions, within a creative and supportive environment – refreshments included.
You can alternatively learn in the comfort of your own home with friendly, fun, live Zoom courses –Paint and Pastel Landscape, Botanical Winter Colour, Personal Projects – relaxed, enjoyable group sessions including close-up demos, discussion of techniques and approaches, and encouraging feedback. They’re easy to join, and exclusively recorded.
Alternative online options include monthly live painting demos; mentoring and one-to-one personal project support sessions available soon.
For testimonials and details on regular Studio or Online Courses, Day / Weekend Workshops, Summer Schools, Art Group Demos or future Painting Holidays, see Roz’s website: www.roznathanart.com. Contact roz.nathan@hotmail.com, 07913 080061 and via social media
Printmaking Workshop; below left: resulting prints from the workshop
"Entering SAOG Studios is like going through a portal, it is impossible not to be changed by the experience ..."
AsSacred Art of Geometry Studios enters its eighth year at its current Emerson College home in Forest Row, East Sussex, we are looking forward to a stellar 2023 programme which is nothing short of spectacular! We have weekend and weeklong courses scheduled right through to mid-autumn including several Studio staples such as Art and Craft of Labyrinths, Mandalas of the World, Golden Ratio and Alchemy of Pigment and Pattern where participants learn the craft of creating paint and ink from mineral and plant, alongside many new course offerings (see Schedule Highlights on the next page).
SAOG Studios' has rapidly established itself as an internationally recognised centre of excellence in the sacred and contemplative arts.
Our unique courses and expert tutors regularly attract students from both near and far.
The benefits of being part of the Emerson College community are numerous including the possibility of on-campus accommodation and the delicious lunches provided by the Emerson gardens and kitchen. Our neighbours, Tablehurst Biodynamic Farm, recently won the BBC best UK food producer
award which came as no surprise to SAOG students who frequent the farm shop and cafe for provisions!
We look forward to welcoming you to SAOG Studios for a course during 2023 and to share with you the many wonders and delights that the Studio and surrounds have to offer. For full details and bookings please visit www.sacredartofgeometry.com
SAOG Studios 2023 programme highlights: Geometry of Morocco and Al-Andalus 13 - 15 January.
Dance of Earth and Venus 3 - 5 March.
Art of Mughal Floral Illumination 10 - 12 March. Mandalas of the World 27 - 31 March.
The Alchemical Art of Astrology 12 - 16 April. Art and Craft of Labyrinth 21 - 23 April. Inks and Ochres: an introduction to foraged colour 26 - 28 May.
Chartres, Story and Sacred Geometry 7 - 18 June. Stone Carving: inspired by the beauty of nature and medieval foliage designs 14 - 16 July.
Islamic Geometry and Tile-Making 18 - 22 Sept. Sacred Geometry and the Art of Hexagonal Weave Basketry 30 Sept - 1 Oct.
Recent course reflections from Sacred Art of Geometry Studios students:
"I have learned so much and my confidence in working with pigments has developed beyond any expectation; and my love affair with geometry has been kindled."
"Thank you so much for fuelling my curiosity and providing opportunities to create such truly beautiful patterns! I will most certainly be back for another course!"
"The inks and ochres course has been a wonderfully nourishing, joyful and dynamic learning experience for me. Thank you so much."
from top: Alchemy of Colour; Celtic Pattern; Paint making
sound clips. When I’m working one-to-one with a writer I can edit or revise their work live, the medium is extremely versatile. And of course we now have writers from across the UK who would never have had the chance to join one our workshops.”
Find out more about Bourne to Write’s online creative workshops at www.bournetowrite.co.uk or call Roddy on 07758 367479.
“To the writing groups – especially Roddy Phillips and fellow writers in Bourne to Write. Thank you for accepting me and always being free with your praise and feedback when I just needed to believe this was possible. You not only cleared a space for me but encouraged me and forced me to produce the next instalment, giving me the impetus I needed.” –Shevlyn Mottai, author of Across the Kala Pani, published by Penguin Random House South Africa.
pandemic has proven to us all that it's possible to connect and engage with others virtually. Bourne to Write’s live online writing workshops offer a learning experience that is fun and friendly without leaving the comfort of your home. Anyone with access to a computer can benefit from expert tuition in creative writing and share their work in a safe space.
“Many of our writers are now published, some in this magazine and the confidence that creates can be so important for a new writer. We also publish our writers' work online every week and on Amazon.”
With two Zoom workshops a week, Wednesday evening and Friday afternoon, Roddy finds the format increasingly fruitful.
“The online format has opened up new potential for the workshops,” said Roddy, “it's given them greater depth, I can share our writers’ work onscreen, whether its written or recorded and I can play video and
Still Life, the latest anthology from the Bourne to Write workshops, in which the writers respond to covid-19, available on Amazon.
Music is the Music Hub for Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, bringing high-quality, inclusive music and arts education to the South East. Alongside instrumental and vocal tuition, Create Music offers a variety of specialist and accessible short courses throughout the county.
New for 2023, we are launching a range of fiveweek courses for Key Stage 3 students. Kicking us off in February 2023 will be Stephanie Rae, teaching songwriting. Students will learn how to create and record a song from scratch, from writing lyrics to creating song structures and catchy melodies. They will also be able to use programmes like Logic or GarageBand to listen back to songs and take home a piece at the end of the course.
Orchestra 360 (o360) is our inclusive ensemble for children with special educational needs or disabilities, their siblings and parents/carers. We already have groups in Brighton and Eastbourne and will soon be offering activities in Hastings, Rother and Wealden. This spring, o360 will be working
with Dyskinetic, led by disabled artist Kris Halpin to explore the intersection between music and disability and to develop the use of accessible technology in creative music sessions.
Returning for 2023, our Music Summer School will offer over thirty courses for all young musicians. From instrument specific workshops to full ensemble playing, rock and pop and dedicated composition courses, there’s something for everyone this July. We even have courses for young people who have never picked up an instrument before, so this is the chance to try out learning with Create Music.
Find out more about how Create Music can support your music education at www.createmusic.org.uk
left: Create Music Summer School singing; opp: Create Music students creating music
can then be explored.
complex
be introduced, including stone setting,
box making and reticulation. Or those with more advance skills can create their own learning path. All classes are design led, and the individual should steer their own learning to achieve their personal goals. Available on Sundays, weekday mornings and evenings
ArtSpring artists have been visiting the Kent and Sussex coast for inspiration.
During autumn 2022 we had an opportunity to exhibit in Whitstable at the Horsebridge Arts Centre and this provoked a flurry of beachside trips to soak in the stretch of coastline from the moody beauty of Faversham Creek round to the coastal luxuriance of Camber Sands. It wasn’t just painters and printmakers who were affected by the atmosphere – our glass artists, ceramicists and jewellers too were absorbed by waves and coastal splashes.
There is nothing finer than a solitary day focussing on colour, light and movement, especially if you are en plein air with just the sun and wind for company. What better way to 'get lost'? All sense of time disappears in a flurry of activity.
It is especially rewarding when this work is picked out
by a grateful customer who wants a little bit of our coastline to take home to remind them of a special day.
For more details about ArtSpring Gallery, its artists and their work visit the website www. artspringgallery. co.uk
opp page clockwise from top: Colin Anderson, Sheerness Tower; Hilary Shields, Beach Ripple in stand; Sarah Weatherall, Mermaid necklace; Anne McArdle, Blue Wave earrings; Nick Hebditch, East Cliffs Hastings
ArtSpring Gallery is an artist-run cooperative art gallery in Tonbridge, showcasing a collection of high quality fine art, jewellery, glass and ceramic work by local emerging and professional contemporary artists.
Chalk Gallery is run by its group of sixteen members who produce art in a diverse range of media including paint, print, glass and ceramics.
We are always delighted when new members join our team and bring fresh new work to the gallery walls. Along with the guest artists and the rolling nine-week exhibition programme, it’s one of the reasons visitors love to drop in and see what’s new.
If you haven’t visited Chalk for
above: Katharine Rabson Stark, Smoke-fired plate, stoneware clay, burnished and waxed; inset: Katharine Rabson Stark; right: Sally Smith, Pots and Patterns 4; inset: Sally Smith
opposite top: Alej Ez, Heron Print Royal Pavilion Orient Nights, digital pigment print; inset: Alej Ez; opp bottom: Irina Hoble, Slow Growth; inset: Irina Hoble
a while then let us introduce you to these four friendly faces who joined the gallery in Autumn.
Alej Ez’s creative explorations with pen and ink, litho and collagraph lend a particularly stylish and contemporary finish to his finished digital prints.
Katharine Rabson Stark’s smoke fired ceramics, inspired by the countryside of the Weald, sit harmoniously alongside the other artworks in our gallery collection.
Sally Smith’s joyful colour palette and eye for pattern when creating still life paintings of characterful objects will add sparkle to your day.
And finally, Irina Hoble, whose expressive and dynamic abstract paintings would make a perfect statement piece in any home.
As you can see there is plenty of fresh inspiration to be had the next time you visit Chalk Gallery in Lewes. We are open Thursday to Sunday, 11-4pm every week. www.chalkgallerylewes.co.uk
4NS 07748354879. Open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm
https://www.facebook.com/The-Lighthouse-Gallery-109961087991355
For this edition we speak to Tonbridge based artist Christine Highland who is currently exhibiting her artwork at the Birchwood in Flimwell and online on ARTSY.
Christine works in an abstract graphic style in a variety of mediums, including acrylics, pen, and ink. Her signature style combines her love of line and pattern and a long-time interest in maps.
“I enjoy working with colour and creating my own palette. My designs are contemporary, and I am inspired by mid 20th Century design and artists, in particular those that work with pattern, colour, and shape. My early career as a designer is evident in my process and is most apparent in the minimalism of my monochrome pieces in pen and ink.”
Please can you tell us about your background and upbringing?
My parents were upholsterers and furniture restorers. Antique furniture was my first love.
I created my own history scrapbooks which included drawings of furniture etc.
left: Christine Highland; above: Christine in her studio
What is your earliest memory associated with art?
Looking at my much older sister's story books and studying the images as they were more interesting to me than the stories, Alice in Wonderland etc.
Please could you tell us who or what has had the most significant influence on you as an artist.
Mid Century art and artists have become hugely influential in my work the last ten to fifteen years.
Where are you finding your ideas and inspiration for your artwork right now?
Researching 20th Century design.
What motivates you?
Creating new colours and using them in a balanced way.
Please can you talk to us in detail about the creation of one piece of your artwork?
My maps which are often done to commission are a unique design to me using my own pattern designs that I have created. I cut out a map and use it as a template to draw round in pencil then go over pencil freehand with a pen. I then fill in with my own pattern designs in ink and usually in my signature colours of red and black on white paper.
Please could you tell us about the piece of
What’s the Story? – Artists and gallery owners talking about their unique journey
artwork you are most proud of, and why?
Ziggurat which was my first large piece which created a lot of interest online and locally and was sold very quickly when displayed during lockdown. The purchaser bought it to hang in her bedroom so that it was the first thing she saw on waking as it was so joyful.
What’s the best thing about being an artist?
Having fun in a studio on your own with paints.
What is the most important thing to know about you?
Colour is a huge part of my life; I think carefully about what colours I wear and endeavour to balance one colour with another. It is an everyday part of my life.
You can view Christine’s artwork at Birchwood, Flimwell: https://birchwoodrestaurant.com/
You can view and buy Christine’s artwork on ARTSY: https://www.artsy.net/artist/christine-highland
For general art news and inspiration, follow @pureartsgroup on Instagram or join their mailing list and receive a free PDF download on the seven essential artists' tools.
If you are an ambitious and motivated artist seeking to join a dynamic artist community, get in touch and book a free 30-minute discovery session.
Email: lesley@pureartsgroup.co.uk
Littlehampton Museum
Littlehampton Museum
Manor House, Church Street, Littlehampton. West Sussex. BN17 5EW. 01903 738100 E: museum@littlehampton-tc.gov.uk
Manor House, Church Street, Littlehampton. West Sussex. BN17 5EW. 01903 738100
ingénu/e magazine – south downs and high weald : issue 38 32
E: museum@littlehampton-tc.gov.uk W: littlehamptonmuseum.co.uk
https://www.littlehamptonmuseum.co.uk/
younger visitors, the mini stage invites you to be a star in your own production, with a range of costumes and props available to use.
Discover the secrets behind old theatre myths, as well as the Society’s connections to many parts of Littlehampton, from the Bonfire Society to the Windmill. Will you be a hero or a villain, do you suit pink or green?
The annual ‘Archive Art’ exhibition at Littlehampton Museum is a chance to view some more of the Museum’s collection of 600 artworks, which, for the rest of the year, are hidden away in the archives.
The range of works on display reflect the diverse nature of the collection, with maritime oil paintings presented alongside Pre-Raphaelite style engravings.
70
This fun, vibrant and theatrical exhibition provides VIP access into the Society’s fascinating archives, featuring colourful programmes and daring costumes.
Learn how the Society was formed, what happens when the curtain closes and what it truly takes to put on a production. Has it changed much since the 1950s? For
One highlight of this year’s show will be the oil painting ‘Maternité’ by Reginald Bottomley, which has undergone transformative conservation work this year, revealing hidden details and colours. Visit www.littlehamptonmuseum.co.uk for more details.
below: Painting of the River Arun by unknown artist, signed RB
The winter issue of ingénu/e is published after the Winter Solstice, the 21st December. My happiest day of the year! After Solstice everything lightens and brightens. Spring and longer days are on the way.
I’m working towards my first Open Studio and exhibition of 2023, during the Trail which covers an area west of Arundel to the west side of Chichester and from the coast up into the Downs, happening over the last two weekends of April, and the first May Bank Holiday Monday.
My land and seascapes are smooth and blended, or
in the textured marks of a painting knife but always in oil or acrylic. Not realism but contemporary scenes for you to dream about. Feast your eyes to see what you love about the world around you. The colour palette varies from soft hues to vibrant colours – whatever you love about colour. The emphasis is on your ideas and visual enjoyment.
Find me at PO22 8NJ, the Barn in Hoe Lane, Flansham; a hamlet just off the A259 easily located between Littlehampton and Felpham. A hidden gem for you to explore. It is light and airy with easy courtyard parking.
You can contact Susie Olford by email at smoart@btinternet.com and discover more details about the art trail at www.chichesterarttrail.org
pictured: Susie Olford, Red Eyes to the Light, oil on board
Since I became a keen walker (around eight years ago) the message I promote in all my paintings has changed.
England is a very small country and is already somewhat overcrowded. Landscapes and wildlife suffer for this but rather than reflect the harsh realities of our butchered landscapes and beleaguered wildlife, I prefer to see the magic that is still there behind them.
Nature is a life force and if you seek out the less well trodden paths you will have seen this easily. I edit out the old mattresses, barbed wire, discarded bottles and other crimes and focus on the magic that stands behind landscapes and animals.
This is not just fanciful thinking on my part, as by trying to capture a moment of magic on my canvases I hope to encourage others to have the same urge to conserve nature that I feel. Who has not felt better by walking in a meadow or woodland? (Especially during covid when many people discovered such joys for the first time.) There is magic out there and I try to capture a little bit of the joy it gives me in every
painting that I make. I hope I am succeeding!
Finally, as this is the winter edition of this magazine, here are a couple of my favourite winter scenes. One was inspired by the rookery very close to where I live in Forest Row, the other was after a wintery South Downs walk near Amberley last year (can you spot the white stag?). For more info plus originals and prints visit www.gillbustamante.com
bottom: The Winter Spell; inset: Messengers of the Gods
from top: Encounters Open House; Artwork by Judy Dwyer; Alej Ez Open house. Photographer Syl Ojalla
Registration for the Artists Open Houses May 2023 festival opened online on 6th January. All artists and makers living within the 01273 telephone code area are eligible to take part as a host open house.
If you live outside this area, you can still take part as a guest artist, exhibiting your work in someone else’s open house. Sign up to Artists Seeking Houses on the AOH website at: https://artists-seeking-houses.aoh.org.uk, where host artists can invite you to show work with them.
Artists at all stages in their careers, from art students to well-established artists and makers, are welcome to be a part of the Artists Open Houses festivals. It’s a great place to be seen, connect with new audiences, buyers and industry
professionals – and have fun exhibiting with your friends in your own home.
Visitors love to buy work at AOH festivals, especially at this time, supporting local creatives who are such a crucial part of the Brighton & Hove economy. And there couldn’t be a greener, more carbon neutral way to shop, walking the local area, selecting direct from artists and makers; no delivery, no transport and no cash going into the hands of oligarchs!
For further details and to find out more about registering for the AOH 2023 May festival visit www.aoh.org.uk
all artists and makers!
Join us and showcase your creative talent to art-lovers from across the south east and beyond.
This summer, hundreds of artists and makers will come together during a 17-day event that celebrates the wealth of artistic talent our region has to offer.
South East Open Studios (SEOS) is an established and popular event in the arts calendar in Kent, East Sussex and south London. Each year SEOS provides a unique opportunity to get people to visit you at your studio, look at your work and hear the stories behind it.
During SEOS, we open up our studios, hold collaborative shows and exhibit our work to make it available for visitors to acquire. Whatever your choice of medium, if you’re a local artist, this is your chance to join an exciting and influential movement that's providing artists and makers with a vital platform and strengthening visual arts across the region.
SEOS 2023 takes place from 2nd to 18th June and features a wealth of talent across a variety of media, from painting, printmaking and pottery, to ceramics and sculpture, jewellery making and silversmithing, glass and woodwork, textile art, digital work,
illustration, mixed media and more.
Jane Cordery, Tenterden-based contemporary artist, commented: “It is a golden opportunity that comes around every 12 months. Taking part in SEOS offers what most aspiring artists would love. I have the opportunity to exhibit in my own chosen setting with interested visitors coming to me, with major promotional support taken care of and other local artists supporting by helping to promote me through word of mouth and zero commission.”
Are you an artist or maker in the South East? Join us! Visit our website for more information, sign up to the mailing list and get ready to register –SEOS 2023 registration open now!
Visit www.seos-art.org, contact us at marketing@seos-art.org, and find us on social media @seopenstudios
AshdownPottery left: Polly Hosp, The Guardian Angels top: Lorna Green Handbuilt stoneware vasesCelebrating the centenary year of the South Coast’s biggest gallery
Towner Eastbourne is pleased to announce a programme marking its centenary; TOWNER 100.
A series of major exhibitions will take audiences on a journey through the Towner Collection past and present, as well as offer the chance to witness the world’s leading prize for contemporary art in Sussex for the first time, and to experience a large-scale presentation of one of the UK’s best loved sculptors. Some highlights will include:
TOWNER 100: The Living Collection – until August
Free Admission in Gallery 1
Towner’s Collection comprises over 5000 artworks that individually and collectively reflect and reveal the history of Towner as a public art gallery in Eastbourne since 1923. Sited in Sussex, Towner’s Collection features many landscapes and seascapes that draw inspiration from this unique location. From 1923 the collection was housed inside Towner’s first home, an 18th century manor house, which shaped the collection for almost ninety years. In 2009 Towner moved into a purposebuilt modernist style gallery where we celebrate its centenary. This celebratory display offers Towner and its communities the occasion to look back to appreciate the past and the opportunity to look forward, engaging with the present as we envision its future.
TOWNER 100: Unseen – 11th February to 14th May
Free Admission Gallery 2 & 3
100 years on from when the Towner Collection began, there is a moment to reflect on what an art collection is, who it is for, and what it says about a town, a community or a time period. Taking inspiration from Towner Eastbourne's unique coastal location where the channel meets the South Downs, the exhibition will draw on these themes and include painting, moving images, prints, illustration, sculpture, installation and photography.
Leap Then Look – Play Interact Explore
7th February to 5th March. Free admission Studio 2. Play Interact Explore is an exhibition of interactive artworks and resources developed in collaboration with community groups in Eastbourne and Brighton. A lively, exciting and curiosity-filled space designed to support and encourage visitors of all types to take part in playful exploration and critical thought through making.
Barbara Hepworth, Life and Art 27th May to 3rd September (tickets now on sale from £6.50)
This exhibition, which has garnered rave reviews across the country after visits to Wakefield, Edinburgh and St Ives, will display some of Hepworth’s most celebrated sculptures including the modern abstract carving that launched her career in the 1920s and 1930s, her iconic strung sculptures of the 1940s and 1950s, and large-scale bronze and carved sculptures from later in her career.
Turner Prize 2023 28th September to 14th January 2024
Free Admission
Towner Eastbourne will host the Turner Prize, the world’s leading prize for contemporary art, as the centrepiece of our centenary celebrations.
Visit www.townereastbourne.org.uk for full details.
top: Eric Ravilious, Downs in Winter, 1935; left: Barbara Hepworth at work on the plaster for Single Form
left: Jessica Warboys, Sea Painting, Birling Gap 2017. Towner Eastbourne, presented by the Contemporary Art Society, 2017
‘Invest in art that you love’. I have used this slogan or catch-phase since I started the New Art Gallery in 2007. It is something that I still wholeheartedly believe in.
The cost of a piece of artwork is not that important, it is the feeling that is put into creating that work, be it a drawing, painting, print, sculpture etc. I take on work because I like the creative thought that goes into it, the energy, the passion, the time taken in that work – this is the investment. Something that will give you pleasure for a long time. It may evoke a memory of where you have been, a friend, an event, it all adds to the value of that piece of work. And, of course, if it does increase in value that is an added bonus.
When I look at Gina Southgate’s work I sense the energy, belief and passion in her work when she paints musicians as they play! The delicacy of the porcelain that is produced by Claire Palastanga is remarkable; the depth, and sense of nature, that is part of Christopher Osborne’s paintings. These are just a sample of the artists that the gallery represents, they all have similar passions and energy that make them a perfect investment. –Peter Patterson, gallery owner. Visit www.newart-gallery.co.uk for further information.
c-w from below: (New Art Gallery) Gina Southgate, Ahnanse/steamdown painted live at Emergence Festival, De La Warr Pavilion; Claire Palastanga, Black Stoneware vessel; Christopher Osborne, Alfriston Church
28th January, Minerva Theatre
Tipped as ‘One to Watch’ by Wonderland Magazine and Jazz FM, Georgia Cécile is at the helm of the new wave of UK jazz crossover artists.
A gifted and engaging performer, Cécile has been championed by Gregory Porter and Jamie Cullum – she recently toured as the main support for Porter, opening four sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall. Inspired by the likes of Nancy Wilson, Duke Ellington and Stevie Wonder, the vocalist and songwriter performs numbers from her debut album ‘Only The Lover Sings’, which topped the UK Jazz and Blues charts and remained in the
Top 20 for its first sixteen weeks and counting. Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) 21st to 25th February, Festival Theatre
Direct from its triumph in the West End where it won the Laurence Olivier Award, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story. Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance. This 'smart, laugh out loud funny' (Daily Telegraph) show features a string of pop classics including Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Love Me Tomorrow and You’re So Vain. It’s the 1800s. It’s party time. Let the ruthless matchmaking begin.
“Hilarity, romance, madness and utter theatrical joy. The whole house rose to its feet and cheered and cheered!” – Stephen Fry
4th
Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an awe-inspiring ride. Join European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake on an epic and thrilling journey to the International Space Station as he extends his sell-out UK tour with two further performances in Chichester.
Tim will be your personal guide through life in space, with unprecedented access, breath-taking photographs, and never-before-seen incredible footage. It’s a fascinating insight into what it’s really like to be an astronaut; from training to launch, spacewalk to re-entry, Tim reveals the secrets, the science and the everyday wonders of how and why humans journey into space.
Sharing his passion for aviation, exploration and adventure, this is your chance to spend an evening with one of the world’s greatest living astronauts, and to rediscover the wonder of the place we call home.
Visit www.cft.org.uk to discover the full programme of events.
top: Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of) left: Georgia Cecile; above: Tim Peake
February 25th, over twelve hours, sees five bands, three DJs and one huge sprung dance floor at the Assembly Hall. Back after a two-year hiatus, the U.K.’s No.1 Jive and Swing band, The Jive Aces present The Big Jive All-Dayer! Bringing you the best in hot jive, cool swing, rocking rhythm and blues and the very best of vintage style and raucous rhythms; plus vintage stalls, food and drink all day, and more!
The Lineup kicks off at 1pm and includes The Jive Aces, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, Midnite Crawlers, Rockin’em and Alan Power and the Aftershocks. Plus DJs Eight-Beat Mac, Eight-Beat Mabel and Rocking Jock.
By contrast on 28th February, Shakespeare’s Globe brings the highly acclaimed Henry V to the Connaught Theatre. Civil unrest, trouble with Europe, the death of a monarch… sound familiar? Experience Shakespeare’s unnervingly relevant Henry V in a production that offers a different perspective on England’s fifteenthcentury hero.
Henry, the young and newly crowned king, is impatient to assert control over the people of England. Having received a humiliating gift from overseas, his bruised ego leads him to double down on a military invasion abroad in a bid to expand his green and pleasant land. But at
what devastating cost?
Witness Henry’s bombastic pursuit of power, throwing into question what it really means to be English.
A production by Shakespeare’s Globe and Headlong with Leeds Playhouse and Royal & Derngate, Northampton, directed by Headlong’s Artistic Director Holly Race Roughan.
On March 5th Fairport Convention return for another incredible night of music. The band have been entertaining music lovers for over half a century, having formed in 1967. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes, but one thing has remained the same – Fairport’s passion for performance. This year’s Winter Tour will present a mix of long-established Fairport favourites and some surprises from albums old and new.
Fairport Convention have won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted their ground-breaking album Liege & Lief ‘The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time’. Their story has been celebrated with television documentaries on BBC Four and Sky Arts. The band features founding member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals and they will be joined on stage by former member Dave Mattacks on Drums.
Visit www.wtm.uk for more information of what’s on.
Another thrilling production at Worthing's warm, ever-welcoming Connaught Theatre. In a packed auditorium, Frantic Assembly's performance of 'Othello' would have had purists tutting but brought the audience to its feet. From the balletic, mesmerising opening sequence to the blood-stained final moment, Shakespeare's great tragedy gripped by the throat and wouldn't let go.
Set in The Cypress Pub, a gangland meeting place, the cast in vests, jeans, shorts and hoodies, this is a production very much of the now, probing the huge questions of what is truth and who is to be trusted and believed, and why.
The characters were intensely flesh and blood, played one against the other with disturbing ease by the ice cold puppet-master Iago, until no one but he knows what is 'real'. The phrase “honest Iago” haunts the whole performance. At the end, his brute declaration of silence feels like the final twist of his knife, leaving the awful mystery of his motives for destroying everyone around him hanging in the air among those still standing. His psychopathic brutality is manifested on stage when he slashes his wife Emilia's throat to punish her for speaking the truth.
The actors clearly have the deepest respect for Shakespeare's text in this production brilliantly pareddown to a bare-bones visceral intensity and wonderfully communicated by the cast. In the midst of the powerful physicality and heartbreaking emotion, the text is the living golden thread weaving through the action that binds all into a beautiful and terrible cohesion.
The set was perfect, a pool table the centre piece and the place of encounter, from Desdemona and Othello's love making to combat, to game play, to the final death scene. Action, set, lighting, music flowed into each other and were one with the unique physicality for which Frantic Assembly are rightly acclaimed. This was a telling of this great tragedy not to be missed.
–Review by Liz Longhurst
For those of you who love the festive cheer, the lights and sparkle of the theatre, the traditional fun and jokes, laughs and delight, a Christmas-time trip to the pantomime is one of the Christmas holiday season's essential experiences!
This year Jack and the Beanstalk was the fairytale, broadly told, containing all the essentials but embellished generously with the unforgettable characters of panto... The colourful and outrageous Dame, glittering dancers, an evil villain who had the audience enthusiastically booing and hissing and delighting in his dastardly plans, and the storytelling Fairy sewing it all together.
And then the story itself, a lively girl named Jack this time took the lead, supported by the Prince of the village who was in love with her! A nice twist to the traditional story we all know and love.
There were some visually beautiful dances, atmospheric and rich in their choreography. The costumes were, as always, excellent, glittering and spectacular, adding to the storytelling in their colour and style.
This year we were also treated to silver fireworks and a burst of streamers at the end, and then a gentle rain of snow which the children delighted in and caught in their hands and on their hair.
So many multigenerational families sharing in the fun, so many traditional elements. We all came hoping for the familiar fun we know and love and we were not disappointed! Huge thanks to all involved and, as always, a big shout of appreciation to the Worthing Theatres staff at The Pavillion who make the whole experience for everyone a smoothly running joy.
–Review by Emily Longhurst, with contributions from Siri, Alia and Karla above: Flavia Cacace-Mistry as The Fairy
March 2nd sees the exceptional Irish singer Cara Dillon performing. Cara has been captivating audiences and achieving outstanding acclaim for over twenty years.
Alongside a selection of favourites from her previous releases, Cara will be performing material from her latest album 'Wanderer' which is a collection of beautiful and moving songs recorded in an intimate setting with her husband and musical partner Sam Lakeman. Cara sings with a passion and confidence earned through a life of experience singing traditional songs. Legions of fans will attest to their impassioned performances with Cara’s warm and natural stage presence something to savour.
On 15th March Graham Gouldman arrives with his 'A Heart Full of Songs' tour.
Showing my age, I well remember Graham’s songs from my youth, and later of course his achievements with 10cc. Incredibly, in the 1960s and being only about 20 years old, he wrote three hits for the Yardbirds, two hits for the Hollies and plenty of others.
It has been an eventful few years for Graham. Not only is 10cc enjoying increasing success around the world, but recognition of his solo achievements has grown too. Graham’s status as one of the world’s leading songwriters was acknowledged in 2014 with his induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, this was followed by Broadcast Music Incorporated in the US anointing him an Icon of the Industry at a special ceremony in London, where he stunned the audience with an acoustic rendition of I’m Not In Love, accompanied by Lisa Stansfield on vocals.
When Graham formed what became A Heart Full of Songs, it was purely for the pleasure of playing his songs in their simplest form, acoustically. The format became so popular that the acoustic four-piece undertook its first concert tour in 2013. For lovers of perfectly-crafted music performed by the composer, A Heart Full of Songs concert is truly an exquisite experience.
And on 20th April Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band arrive.
Having spent their long and distinguished career of collaboration exploring Christmas and
timeless religious music, the band’s new tour 'Chapel and Tavern' sees them celebrate the lives and culture of ordinary folk.
The first half of the concert takes place in the chapel, featuring the vigorous and enthusiastic music of the church gallery bands in an era when hymn writers happily took their inspiration from theatre music and popular song.
After the interval we’re in the tavern for rousing performances of catches, ballads, theatre songs and dance tunes. Both take the audience back to the chaotic London of Hogarth’s Gin Lane and the riotous world of Swift, Smollett and Thackeray, the enthusiastic singing of early Methodists and the village bands fondly remembered by Thomas Hardy.
For full details of what’s coming up visit www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk
Ahilarious retelling of the epic and worldfamous novel by HG Wells.
Fast-paced and wise-cracking, this is an adaptation like no other. When the world of science fiction and science fact collide extraordinary and mind-boggling things can happen.
Expect the most surprising and unforeseen consequences as we go on a journey through time. A comedy that travels to the end of the earth's life in order to reflect on our own.
Strap yourself in as you’re taken on a fast and funny journey with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Just make sure to note down the time and date on your way in… you know… just in case you have to find your way back there at some point…
Warning: may contain show tunes.
Visit www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk for further information about what’s on at the theatre.
the Success of ‘The Naked Truth’ and ‘Girls Night Out’, local theatre group Fortress is back by popular demand bringing ‘Calendar Girls – The Musical’ to the main stage. Fortress will be donating at least 50% of profits from this popular musical, written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, to St Catherine’s Hospice, a charity close to the heart of the local community.
The true story of the Calendar Girls launched a global phenomenon, a million copycat calendars, a record breaking movie, stage play and musical which coined the term 'craughing', the act of crying and laughing at the same time. Visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com for further info.
Not only mainstream and classic films, but also theatre, opera, ballet, music and art at THE PICTURE HOUSE, Uckfield
The Picture House continues to present world class theatre in 2023 live from The National Theatre, including The Crucible, Othello and David Tennent in Good. Our programme of opera and ballet carries on with stunning performances direct from The Royal Opera House, MET Opera New York and The Royal Ballet.
Art features highly in our schedule. On 24th and 25th January we have two special screenings of Hilma, Oscar nominee Lasse Hallström's latest film exploring the enigmatic life – and loves – of Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), whose unconventional and highly spiritual art remained relatively unknown for decades.
Our Exhibition on Screen season continues with the highlight being 'Mary Cassatt: Painting the Modern Woman', screening on 8th March, International Women’s Day. Mary Cassatt made a career painting the lives of the women around her. Her radical images showed them as intellectual, feminine and real, which was a major shift in the way women appeared in art. This is followed by 'Vermeer: The Blockbuster Edition' in April and 'Tokyo Stories' in May, a thrilling encounter with one of the world’s great art capitals, spanning 400 years of incredibly dynamic art.
There are three screens at the Picture House,
including the luxury screen The Lounge, the ultimate VIP cinema experience where you can relax, put your feet up and order food and drink directly to your seat. Check the website for availability and details of what’s showing across all screens.
As well as a mouthwatering menu the Restaurant regularly has live music. For example 23rd February sees Straker Newman perform. Phill & Rog (formerly of The Big Kahuna & El Banda Burros) will dust off their acoustic guitars to play some of their favourite songs.
Visit www.picturehouseuckfield.com for much more information, including details of their Members Club.
top: David Tennant and Sharon Small in Good (NT Live), photo by Johan Persson; below: Straker Newman
Amande Concerts are thrilled to announce that for the first time ever the Ukrainian National Opera will be touring the UK with three mustsee productions, from 9th February to 5th April.
If you’ve never tried opera before you will love the full orchestra experience with brand new settings and fantastic costumes, along with exquisite singing and wonderful tunes that you will be humming to yourself all the way home. All three operas feature an impressive cast accompanied by a large live orchestra comprising over thirty musicians.
Carmen – Music by Georges Bizet. Sung in French with English surtitles.
Love, treachery, obsession and betrayal make a most dramatic and passionate opera. Feel the thrill of love, jealousy and violence of 19th Century Seville in one of Bizet’s most popular operas. Its mix of fierce passion, gorgeous melodies, nail-biting dramatic confrontation and musical wit has found favour all over the world almost since its first performance in 1875.
It tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by Carmen, a freespirited femme fatale. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts his military duties, yet loses Carmen’s love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo. 'The Toreador Song' is among the best known of all operatic arias and the rich and colourful vigour of the gypsies’ scenes will have you on the edge of your seat.
Aida – Music by Giuseppe Verdi. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
A powerful opera with breath-taking melodies. Verdi brings ancient Egypt to the stage with an evolving love story against the backdrop of war. The Princess of Ethiopia, Aida, falls in love with the Egyptian General, Radames, who is equally besotted with her. Radames is chosen by the king to lead the war with Ethiopia and Aida is left to choose between her lover or her father and her country.
Arias such as ‘Se quel Guerrier io fossi!’ sung by Radames in the first act is one of the most famous arias of the operatic world. The most powerful melody comes in the second part of the opera in the form of 'Triumphal March', proclaiming victory.
Madama Butterfly – Music by Giacomo Puccini. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
One of the most colourful and exotic yet tragic operas. Set in Japan at the turn of the last century, no opera can match the heartbreak and sorrow of the doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride, whose self-sacrifice and defiance of her family leads to tragedy. The compelling tale of Madama Butterfly remained Puccini’s favourite opera, his supreme theatrical achievement also gave the world its most sublime and beautiful arias in history – 'One Fine Day' and 'Love Duet', as well as the 'Humming Chorus', which has been popular with opera-goers for over a century.
For details of performances in our area see the advert on the facing page and for further information and full tour details visit www.amande-concerts.co.uk
Senbla, by arrangement with Opera International, proudly presents three Ellen Kent Productions with international soloists, highly-praised chorus and full orchestra.
Award-winning producer Ellen Kent returns in spring 2023 with the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, presenting three stunning traditional productions of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Verdi’s Aida and Puccini’s La Boheme.
Ellen Kent’s Madama Butterfly, winner of the Best Opera Award by the Liverpool Daily Post Theatre Awards, returns in a new production with exquisite sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan. One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. Highlights include the melodic ‘Humming Chorus’, the moving aria ‘One Fine Day’ and the unforgettable ‘Love Duet’. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
Aida, the grandest of all Ellen Kent’s operas, returns to the UK with a stunning new traditional production, boasting an impressive set built by SetUp Scenery in the UK, who also build sets for the Royal Opera Covent Garden. The splendour of Egypt is set against the grandeur of the Colosseum of Rome
Ellen Kent Productions spring tour withwith Ellen Kent’s direction influenced by the ancient Greek dramas of Euripides and symbolising the powerful religious hold of the priests of Egypt. This tragic story of war, jealousy and revenge at whose heart is the doomed love of the beautiful Ethiopian slave girl, Aida, and the Egyptian hero, Radames, is brought to life in a production set against one of the greatest pieces of music Verdi ever wrote with the well-known arias ‘Celeste Aida’, ‘Ritorna Vincitor’ and the classic ‘Triumphal March’ featuring a temple dance, cascades of glittering gold and amazing fire performers. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
La Boheme, one of the most romantic operas ever written, is traditionally staged in this brand-new production which features beautiful sets and costumes. It tells the tragic tale of the doomed, consumptive Mimi and her love for a penniless writer. The set reflects the Bohemian art of the period and will include a local brass band, snow effects and Muzetta’s dog will also make an entrance. This classic tale of Parisian love and loss features many famous arias including ‘Your Tiny Hand is Frozen’, ‘They Call Me Mimi’ and ‘Muzetta’s Waltz’. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
As with Ellen’s past UK and Ireland opera tours, Ellen has personally hand-picked and directed all soloists to create visually beautiful and moving productions. On the Spring 2023 tours, Ellen is pleased
to announce that after wowing British audiences in Spring 2002, the fabulous Korean soprano Elena Dee will again be returning to perform in Madama Butterfly, Aida and La Boheme. Joining Elena will be Ukrainian soprano Alyona Kistenyova (La Boheme, Madama Butterfly), French soprano Olga Perrier (La Boheme, Aida) and Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Natalia Matveeva (Aida, Madama Butterfly).
For details of dates across our region go to page 83. Tickets are on sale now. For full tour listings and to book tickets please visit www.ellenkent.com. Cast is subject to change.
Tonbridge Philharmonic celebrates the new year with a wonderful concert of English music from the early twentieth century.
We open with the overture to The Wreckers, by Dame Ethel Smyth, considered by many to be the precursor to Britten’s Peter Grimes. Then we move to Norfolk for Vaughan Williams’ Rhapsody No 1, written as the first part of an incomplete three-movement ‘folk-song symphony’.
Eric Coates’ prolific output means that most of us recognise his work – such as By a Sleepy Lagoon, used to open Desert Island Discs. In the Three Elizabeths Suite he references three of our monarchs – Elizabeth I and II, and Elizabeth, Queen Consort of King George VI. Coates’ work stays with us when other more cerebral compositions have faded. Perhaps this was the skill that caused Ethel Smyth to exclaim “You are the man who writes tunes”, and to ask him how he did it.
Our final work will be Holst’s The Planets
Suite, and the last movement Neptune, The Mystic will feature our own choir joined by West Kent Youth Voices. Imogen Holst wrote, after the première, of “the hidden chorus of women’s voices growing fainter and fainter in the distance until the imagination knew no difference between sound and silence”. Join us on 18th February and enjoy that sound and silence with us!
Full details and tickets from www.tonphil.org.uk.
Horsham Music Circle’s Autumn series brought glowing comments from the reviewers. The 81st Season continues with more outstanding programmes for Spring 2023 which we hope will entice music lovers to come and experience the rewards of hearing live performances – the concerts are open to all.
11th February at the Causeway Barn features music for piano quintet with pianist Jeremy Young and the Benyounes Quartet. Horshamborn Jeremy has a distinguished performing and teaching career and is Head of Chamber Music at the Royal Northern College of Music. The awardwinning Benyounes Quartet has forged a reputation for fresh, vivid performances and refined interpretations. Together they will play works by Mozart, Ravel and Dvorak.
On Saturday 11th March in the Causeway Barn we present a showcase concert by three young musicians from Horsham who are now studying at some of the country’s most prestigious music colleges. Rosie Sutton, piano, is at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Toril Azzalini-Machecler, percussion, and Will Duerdon, double bass, are both at the Royal College of Music in London.
Saturday 13th May in St Mary’s Church sees a special appearance for the Music Circle’s 81st Anniversary concert by the saxophonist and presenter on BBC TV and Radio Jess Gillam who comes with her Ensemble, a group of seven brilliant musicians from a wide range of musical backgrounds but with roots in classical music. Jess gave a solo performance for us back in 2018 to great acclaim, her infectious enthusiasm and passion for music lights up every stage.
The programme ranges from a CPE Bach flute concerto to extracts from Bernstein’s West Side Story, Histoire du Tango by Piazolla and John Harle’s Flare. Visit www.horsham-music-circle.org.uk for full details and the various ways one can book tickets.
above: Jess Gillam Ensemble; left: Jess Gillam Ensemble cellist Gabriella Swallow, photo by Philip Gatward www.philipgatward.com
Sion School Gratwicke Road, Worthing Sunday 2nd April at 3pm
What do you reckon makes pianist Maya Irgalina tick? What does her photo tell you? And what about the ingredients of her International Interview Concert in Worthing? Impressions of Spain – classical with nightclubby jazz frisson – Beethoven’s Prospero magic – Liszt’s love of Schubert songs – even crazy cartoon music!
Cosmopolitan contrasts, a sense of fun, but depth and drama – and a closing pianistic tours-de-force tale of cat and mouse. Imagine. A cat’s dozing. A mouse squirts pepper up his nose... You’ve guessed! Vengeance galore erupts and explodes in Hiromi Uehara’s re-living The Tom and Jerry Show. It’s a novelty extraordinaire. Such excitement, on the piano? Really?
Hearing is believing with Maya Irgalina. The same with her Nikolai Kapustin sensations of classical music fizzed with jazz. Revered pianists Steve Osborne and Marc-Andre Hamelin are onto this Ukrainian-born guy. Gershwin, Porter and Ravel helped pave the way for jazz to become also European. In Uehara, the Japanese get it, too.
It’s the mark of a special pianist who does tonguein-cheek. Personality’s the key. And Maya’s artistically
balanced programme adds that Catalonian impressionism, while Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt bring the poetry, mood and mystery in solid-ground classical.
But what sparks Maya’s engine as an artiste? What personal things shape her musical instinct? What does she read, admire, seek, watch, follow or do alongside music? These, her musical insights and hopes we’ll discover when the revelatory International Interview Concerts (IICs) resume after four years sidelined.
They connect you with the performer through conversations with a guest interviewer between the music. You can even ask a question of your own. These concerts step beyond normal recitals of oneway traffic into a warmer, three-way exchange, engaging and bonding performer socially with interviewer and audience.
The IICs have been pandemic dodging and moving house from St Paul’s. Now they’re teamed with the emerging @rtsspaces@sionschool project in public provision, located in Worthing near Amelia Park.
Even Maya’s sonata is about something (music not in performing order): ‘The Lake’, one of Federico Mompou’s Landscapes of Barcelona, ‘A Sailing Boat on the Ocean’, one of Maurice Ravel’s Miroirs; Nikolai Kapustin’s Paraphrase on ‘Aquarela do Brazil’ and his show-stopping Jazz Variations; Beethoven’s mesmerising ‘Tempest’ Sonata; Liszt’s transcriptions of Schubert’s ‘Serenade’, ‘The Doppelganger’ and ‘The Erlking’; Uehara’s whirlwind showpiece ‘The Tom and Jerry Show’.
Event on www.seetickets.com; news emailing list via interviewconcerts@gmail.com; IICs on social media www.facebook.com/TheInterviewConcerts.
In the middle of its exciting seventh season HPO is working tirelessly to extend its appeal and accessibility across wider communities.
Building on the foundation and success of the Proms For All celebration at the White Rock Theatre in May 2022, the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra closed the winter months of their exciting Seventh Season (September 2022 to July 2023) with their sold out HPO Christmas Gala performance in St Leonards.
All concerts this season include elements of Brazilian music as HPO’s Artistic Director, Marcio da Silva, recognises the 200th anniversary of independence being celebrated back in his homeland.
The core of HPO’s mission is to share professional classical music in the heart of the community. Marcio da Silva and his team are determined to make their music as accessible as possible during these challenging times and with this in mind they have introduced measures to help those currently struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Free tickets to HPO events have always been available for students and under 18s, and for 2022-23 HPO has extended this offer to those receiving Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, and Pension Credit.
“These are tough times,” acknowledges da Silva, “and it really matters to us that people can still come and hear our music. We’ve also looked hard at our range of ticket prices,” he adds, “and we now offer tickets from £7.50 for all our performances.”
Here is a glimpse of HPO’s welcoming range of spring concerts.
The HPO team are working at full tilt to ensure their busy music schedule runs smoothly. Baritone Marcio da Silva and soprano Helen May will open
HPO’s New Year with an intimate recital at Christ Church, St Leonards on Saturday 14th January. This recital will feature Schubert’s beloved Winterreise and, continuing HPO celebrations of Brazil’s 200th Anniversary of Independence – a theme throughout this season – Villa Lobos’ Bachianas No. 5.
In February there is an unusual choral project for adults and children using song and physical theatre elements, and in early March audiences will be treated to two baroque opera performances with soloists from the UK and abroad.
But the main excitement, da Silva declares, is the full HPO orchestral concert at The White Rock Theatre on Wednesday, 29th March. This includes Tchaikovsky’s majestic Sixth Symphony, Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, and Reineke’s beautiful flute concerto with the dynamic Brazilian soloist Geisa Felipe.
Da Silva is determined to put Hastings back on the map as a centre of excellence for classical music. Do go along to these concerts – you are guaranteed a treat. All tickets available at www.hastingsphilorchestra.co.uk where you can also find further information.
top: Marcio da Silva conducts HPO; below: Soprano Helen May, photos Peter Mould
From winter to spring, let music take you away from the January freeze or April showers. Find out more: lpo.org.uk/eastsussex
Miloš plays Rodrigo
Sun 15 Jan 2023 | Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
The celebrated classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglić brings Spanish sunshine to Eastbourne. Poetry and Passion
Sun 12 Feb 2023 | Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
Sat 11 Feb 2023 | Brighton Dome
Drama, passion and glorious melodies: join us for an afternoon of Tchaikovsky with cellist Zlatomir Fung and conductor Gergely Madaras.
Brighton and Eastbourne Ingenu ad_Winter 2022.indd
In celebration of their collaborative upcoming record release ‘The Great White Sea Eagle’ on 13th January 2023 on Domino records, James Yorkston and Nina Persson will be joining Melting Vinyl for this special headline show.
James Yorkston, the gentleman-songwriter of the East Neuk of Fife, has released (with or without The Athletes) a series of albums of tenderness and melody, insight and empathy. His eye for the details in life and the richness of his brogue make a Yorkston song instantly recognisable, making him one of the most exciting contemporaries of the genre to date.
Nina Persson is a Swedish sing-songwriter also known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of alternative rock band The Cardigans. As a solo force, Persson is a Renaissance woman creating a broad array of music which delves into styles such as indie, synth pop, folk, and alternative rock.
Melting Vinyl are very pleased to be hosting Unthank:Smith a collaborative duo consisting of musical geniuses Rachel Unthank from beloved folk duo The Unthanks and Paul Smith of household indie-rock act Maximo Park.
Two North-Eastern Mercury Prizenominated artists from different musical worlds find common ground with an exploratory merging of voices and acoustic sounds. After first meeting backstage at an Africa Express show in Middlesbrough Town Hall, Paul approached Rachel to see if she would like to sing together, given his interest in folk music and their regional connections. As one of two lead singers of The Unthanks, Rachel Unthank has dedicated much of her career to celebrating folk songs by
writers little known beyond the North East, such as Graeme Miles, whose ‘Horumarye’ appears on their debut album. Rachel’s knowledge of traditional song allowed them to quickly add material to the original songs Paul was writing, in addition to ‘Seven Tears’, a rare Unthank original, inspired by Norse mythology. They performed together as part of Lauren Laverne’s Great Northern Soundtrack at the 2018 Great Exhibition of the North, as well as recording a live session for Laverne’s BBC6 Music show.
Their debut album Nowhere And Everywhere, coproduced by David Brewis of Field Music, is raw and atmospheric, featuring Faye MacCalman of emerging avant-jazz group Archipelago on clarinet, and exploratory drums by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy/Alasdair Roberts collaborator Alex Neilson, of Trembling Bells (cult) fame.
Visit www.meltingvinyl.co.uk for more of what’s on offer.
Optimism and cheerfulness reign at these festivals. Escape from the bad news and doomsayers and become uplifted and inspired.
This year, Cornwall Folk Festival celebrates its 50th outing, and with a bit of a change to the format. It will run over five days, starting with a Thursday night ceilidh featuring Cornwall’s finest Irish-style musicians, Krelys.
Friday continues with Gigspanner Big Band who, based on recent performances, are six musicians at the peak of their ability. Saturday the town-based festival welcomes Kinnaris Quintet, five brilliant Scottish musicians who take the Celtic fiddle tradition to a new level.
There is an embargo on naming the Sunday night headliner, but we understand they are British musicians with an international reputation who, when the embargo is lifted, will probably sell out in days. Other acts from across Cornwall and the South West include Sarah McQuaid, Our Atlantic Roots, Teyr, Windjammer, Geoff Lakeman and Rob Murch, and Chris Ostler.
During the day, the festival’s FAR Stage features
more regional acts over the bank holiday weekend, plus live music and dance in the streets and sessions in the pubs.
Why not combine a trip to the festival, which has run almost every year since 1972, with an extended stay? North Cornwall is at its late summer best –many visitors have left by then, but the weather and sea should be warm and welcoming!
Visit www.cornwallfolkfestival.com for full details. top: Kinnaris Quintet, image by Somhairle MacDonald
The 30th Tenterden Folk Festival, the only dedicated arts and music festival in Tenterden and one of the biggest and longest running in the whole Borough of Ashford, will take place over the four days from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October 2023.
The festival starts on Thursday evening with a special fundraising concert. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday there are over fifty events including an English barn dance, at least six concerts, craft fair, artisans, music and other stalls, exhibitions, special shows, dance displays, folk clubs, Morris dancers,
The four day festival features well known traditional folk musicians from across the UK as well as guests from overseas. The festival attracts hundreds of participants, visitors and tourists from the local area and from across the whole country and even some from Europe and further afield. Plans are now well in hand to make this 30th Tenterden Folk Festival even more special than usual. More details will be announced in the spring.
Visit www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk.
wonderful festival celebrates its fifth decade this summer and welcomes a new Artistic Director, Luke Styles, the first Glyndebourne Young Composer in Residence and the first composer in residence at the Foundling Museum since Handel.
Luke has written operas for Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House and the Perth Festival, with recent
Appalachian dancers, Slovakian Dancers, Bulgarian dancers, sing-a-rounds and music sessions, a procession, street theatre, workshops, showcases and other folk events. Some events are ticketed but others, including all those in the streets and on The Recreation Ground, are free.
Morris Dancers at the Tenterden Folk Festival
work featuring at festivals such as Three Choirs, Cheltenham and O.Festival Rotterdam. Luke is currently composing a large vocal and ensemble work for the French ensemble Le Balcon to be premiered in Paris in 2023.
A new initiative this year will be the inclusion of a literary strand curated by writers and broadcasters Gavin Esler and Christopher Cook in partnership with Waterstones, The Deal Bookshop.
Artists you can hear in 2023 include the National Youth Jazz Orchestra with a tribute to Ray Charles featuring the Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize and a celebration of Trevor Pinnock with The English Concert. Some unusual events are planned – there will be walks, late night events and even a DJ with a playlist. Old Time Sailors are returning by popular demand, a show which should have everyone singing and dancing.
For further information visit www.dealmusicandarts.com/festival
The ‘save the dates’ signs have already been put up in Petworth for this year’s festivities… on the back of a memorable year which saw a triumphant celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a stunning summer festival and a literary festival that unquestionably raised its particular bar yet again, audiences are being tipped off to block periods in June, July and October/ November for the three bursts of activity that bear the festival’s hallmarks of quality, variety and novelty.
Although full details will stay under wraps until mid-February, Festival Director Stewart Collins is promising programmes that will only raise the profile of what is now one of the region’s most significant
cultural organisations.
Stuart says “Whether bringing classical artists like Miloš, Jess Gillam, Sheku Kanneh-Mason or Julian Lloyd Webber, brilliant world/roots musicians such as Juan Martin, Seckou Keita and Kathryn Tickell, blues and pop bands such as Paul Young’s Los Pacaminos, Paul Jones’ Blues Band or Georgie Fame, or comedians such as Paul Merton, Julian Clary or Milton Jones, we really feel we are getting close to doing the thing that you’re supposed not to be able to do –pleasing all of the people all of the time. There’s no strict formula of course – just the ambition to be interesting, relevant and different all at the same time.”
Petworth’s 2023 dates for your diaries are:
Petworth Festival – The June Edition, Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd June;
Summer Petworth Festival, Tuesday 11th to Saturday 29th July; Petworth Festival Literary Week, Friday 27th October to Sunday 5th November. Visit www.petworthfestival.org.uk for full details.
22nd to 25th June
‘Peasmarsh … is a magical Festival’ Sir David Hare, in The Observer
The Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival boasts Anthony Marwood MBE and Richard Lester as Artistic Directors and holds concerts in Peasmarsh and Rye.
From its humble beginnings – three small scale concerts in May 1998 – to today’s four day long weekend of ten concerts featuring guest orchestras, large scale education projects with five local partner schools and a host of internationally renowned guest artists, the Festival has become a well-loved cornerstone of music lovers’ concert diaries.
As always, the Peasmarsh Festival will include a superlative roster of world class artists. Performing with Artistic Directors violinist Anthony Marwood and cellist Richard Lester will be pianist Stefan Cassomenos, violist Simone van der Giessen, the starry and relatively newly formed Valo Quartet, as well as the world renowned orchestra Britten Sinfonia, who will join Anthony and Richard for the annual orchestral concerto concert. Concerts are planned in the Norman church in Peasmarsh and in St Mary’s in Rye, both beautiful settings to listen to stunning classical music. The festival will also be offering music workshops in five local schools, building on over fifteen years of educational partnerships in this special corner of East Sussex.
The full festival programme will be announced in spring and the box office opens for general booking in April.
For further information please visit www.peasmarshfestival.co.uk
For 2023 the Bernardi Music Group returns with a series of classical concerts, traversing the Sussex wildlife corridor, offering innovative programming, concertos, recitals and a significant world premiere. Join us in observing and embracing the changing seasons throughout the year as we seek to explore, and better understand, the themes and deep rooted connection between the natural world and classical music.
Our long-established Shipley Arts Festival, now into its twenty-third year, remains a key fixture in our musical calendar. We promise inspiring music in beautiful locations and offer our audience a unique opportunity to peek behind the front doors of some of the most stunning churches, halls and private residences across the county and beyond. Our 2023 programme
will include musical performances of work specifically commissioned for The Shipley Arts Festival as we continue to work with some of the biggest and brightest names in modern classical music.
The Shipley Arts Festival is also our main platform for showcasing emerging talent and giving the next generation of classical musicians an encouraging and welcoming environment in which to develop and grow. Young musicians from our String Academy programme regularly perform alongside our professional ensembles, and our strong connections with the Yehudi Menuhin School and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Greenwich can often prove to be an invaluable stepping stone for young musicians seeking to take their musical career to the next level.
Information about this year's Shipley Arts Festival, our String Academy programme as well as our summer residency at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, can be found online. Discover more about us at www.bernardimusicgroup.com
This year the line-up is outstanding. Some of the highlights include: Mark Thomas, comedian, Channel 4 presenter, political satirist, and journalist; Vince Cable, former Liberal Democrat leader and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, and Skills; Dame Andrea Leadsom, former Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; The Countess of Carnarvon, owner of Highclere Castle, the 'real Downton Abbey', explains how the iconic British landmark celebrates and changes each season.
Angela Gallop, national expert forensic scientist, shows how crimes are solved from the cutting edge of forensics; Ben Robinson, the BBC’s ‘Flying Archaeologist’ shows how England's villages have survived, developed, and thrived over hundreds of years; Professor Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies at Kings College London examines the complexities behind the Chinese President, Xi Jinping; Olesya Khromeychuk, Ukrainian historian, academic and writer tells the story of her brother –
the wiser older sibling, the artist and the soldier – and of his tragic death in military action in Ukraine; Ian Williams, former Foreign Correspondent for Channel 4 News and reporter from China over the last twentyfive years explains why we must open our eyes to the reality of China’s rise and its ruthless bid for global dominance; Mark Galeotti, one of the foremost expert Russia-watchers and advisers to governments today provides a new history of how Putin and his conflicts have inexorably reshaped Russia; Diana Darke, Middle-East specialist celebrates the culture of the Ottoman Empire.
Go to www.lewesspeakersfestival.com for all the details, or call the box office on: 0333 666 3366.
Mark Thomas in 2011
Artists you can hear in 2023 include the National Youth Jazz Orchestra with a tribute to Ray Charles featuring the Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize, a celebration of Trevor Pinnock who conducts The English Concert, and Old Time Sailors returning by popular demand. PLUS MANY OTHER EVENTS AND CONCERTS TO BE ANNOUNCED. CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.
When reality TV star and internet influencer Rouki Bennett's beloved Cocker Spaniels were dognapped at gunpoint, pet detective Sophie Gorrage and her loyal hound Brownlow little realised it was the start of something big and rather hairy.
As Sophie was attempting to pitch their services to Ms Bennett (who was rather more interested in enlisting the help of her thousands of followers) another violent dognapping hit the headlines. This time it was chart-topping rapper Medalsum's faithful Staffordshire Bull Terrier Tasha who had been stolen. Things were starting to get serious. Sophie decided to call on her old friend Quinn, animal sanctuary manager and ex-army sergeant. Together with Quinn's military experience and Brownlow's unerring ability to locate missing animals with his talented nose, Sophie was confident that they would be able to reunite the dogs with their owners.
Before long, however, two more dogs in the public eye were snatched, one almost from under Sophie's nose, and she got the ominous feeling that these incidents were all connected – a serial dognapper targeting famous dogs. But why?
Finding herself in harm's way more than once, Sophie has to notch her detective skills up to eleven to
If you bet on horse races, even if just a flutter on the Grand National, or if you just like horse racing as a sport, then this is the book for you.
Exceedingly well researched, the book provides a deepdive look into the world of racing and betting. How do bookmakers actually think? Can one’s chances of winning be improved? I’m sure this book is not a favourite with the horse racing establishment, revealing as it does things they would probably like to keep hidden.
David Watts and Johnny Winall not only know their stuff due to thirty years’ experience as independent bookies but also, perhaps unexpectedly, write extremely well, their stories and anecdotes sometimes amusing, sometimes hair-raising and sometimes just plain intriguing.
keep going and resolve this case. Will she and Brownlow be successful? To do so they will need all the help they can get.
Demonstrating her usual flair for on-the-button observation of life, Judy Upton has created an engaging whodunit with her trademark blend of drama and humour. Her characters are tightly drawn and three-dimensional, her dramatis personae ranging from a grim, spiky police officer to the teenage daughter of a rap star. With the action set mainly in Sussex, the story references locations and landmarks that those familiar with the area will readily recognise, adding that frisson of acquaintance when visualising the protagonists' exploits. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Published by Hobart Books, ‘Sniff Them Out, Brownlow!’ is available from your local independent bookshop, bookstore chains or from Amazon or other online retailers. The book is available in print or as a Kindle e-book. Brownlow has his own Twitter account @Brownlowpd65 and the author's website with more about her work is at www.judyupton.co.uk.
Written mainly from Johnny Winall’s perspective, the narrative starts with the young Johnny learning about gambling at an early age, influenced by a maverick uncle, then makes a detour to his experiences as a professional drummer just missing out on stardom, then through to all sorts of adventures right up to the end of the pandemic.
The inevitable conclusion seems to be that there will never be a fool-proof formula for winning a bet in any sphere, but the boys deliver plenty of sound advice along the way, while providing a very entertaining read.
Available from selected WH Smiths, Amazon and www.mugbookies.co.uk
Italy, 1945. A young man awakens bewildered and in pain. He sees olive trees against a bright blue sky but he remembers nothing – his life, the war, even his name is a blank.
England, present day. Antiques shop owner Suzannah is grieving the loss of her beloved father. Single, with an indifferent sister and her spiteful grandmother losing her mind to dementia she feels adrift and lonely. When she comes across a faded postcard of a beautiful Italian farmhouse and what appears to be a love letter among her grandmother's possessions she is stunned to realise she has stumbled upon a well hidden secret.
Distracted by the questions plaguing her and with possible answers fading with her grandmother's memories she decides on a whim to travel to Italy in search of the truth.
Back in 1945 the young man is cared for by an old man and his grandson and gradually restored to health. But his memory continues to evade him until, nearly eighteen months later, someone from the past walks into his life, shattering his new-found tranquillity. Glimpses of his old life start to seep through and with them the realisation that all is not well.
Imagine – you've just turned nineteen and you discover that your parents have, without your consent, arranged your marriage to a man three times your age. How would you feel?
Shock? Anger? Well that's exactly how Lizzie Dawson felt when she was faced with this reality. That this man, Lord Blountford, had previously been married to Lizzie's beloved sister, who had then died mysteriously within a year of the wedding, added insult to injury. Their father, a devout gambler, had plunged the family into crippling debt. Lizzie was under no illusions as to the nature of her betrothal. She had been sold, to settle a debt.
Upon her arrival at Lord Blountford's country estate Lizzie discovered some uncomfortable truths. Not only had her sister Esme died within its walls, there had been three previous wives whose demises were cloaked in secrecy.
Ripped from the familiarity of her city life in London, Lizzie initially found it hard to adapt to this new country lifestyle. For one thing she would have to learn to ride, but a childhood accident had left her terrified of horses. A later traumatic incident resulted in a deep mistrust of men. How on earth would she cope in her new role as the wife of an earl and society hostess?
Suzannah, on the trail of the farmhouse in the postcard, has arrived in Puglia and is soon seduced by the beautiful landscape, the sparkling azure sea and the warmth of the people. Helped by handsome Giacomo she tracks down the farmhouse but will it reveal its secrets?
Painting vivid scenarios with her pen Angela Petch, master of the dual time-line, has created an intriguing counterpoint between the bleak danger of WWII and modern day living and between the tertiary tones of the Hastings coast and the rich hues of the Italian landscape. The tension experienced by the two main protagonists on their respective journeys is palpable as little by little their puzzles are pieced together. Aching for the young man's untenable dilemma as his memory returns; willing Suzannah to discover the truth and maybe find some peace of mind, I was inexorably drawn in and captivated by this fascinating story.
Uplifting, heartbreaking, heart-stopping, utterly engrossing – The Postcard from Italy is a triumph!
Published by Bookouture, primarily a digital publisher, the main outlets are Amazon, Apple, Google Play and Kobo. All Petch's 'Italy' books are on Audible (audiobooks). They are also available in paperback.
See interview on page 73 for more fascinating info.
Friendship came unexpectedly, however, in the guise of young Jordie the stable hand – his patience and skill at gentling horses extending to nervous would-be riders.
Charles, the earl's handsome nephew, also became a trusted confidante once his initial chilly demeanour towards Lizzie had thawed. But a chance discovery of a bundle of letters addressed to Esme threw that new-found trust into doubt. Then a string of incidents revealed the violent temper beneath Lord Blountford's stony exterior, emphasising just how perilous Lizzie's position had become. She had to find out what had happened to her predecessors if she were to avoid a similar fate. But a very particular ability, kept secret since she was very young, might help her find the answers...
Written with a self-assurance rarely found in a debut novel, The House of Lost Wives is a gripping story of betrayal, secrets and lies, courage and determination despite the odds, forbidden love, redemption... and ghosts. I was hooked from the first page. As it gained momentum the plot convolutions revealed more questions than answers, the tension built gradually until, by the end, I was on the edge of my seat!
The House of Lost Wives is available from Amazon, www.headline.co.uk and all good bookshops.
‘At the foot of the stone steps lay Gaspard Petit, his neck twisted at an impossible angle. His eyes stared up into the unseeing sky.’
This is the opening of Murder in the Pays d’Oc, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a dark and twisted thriller. As with all the books in the Pays d’Oc series, the emphasis is more on the light-hearted than on doom and gloom.
Gaspard Petit is the most hated man in the little village of Morbignan la Crèbe: many would like to see him get his comeuppance. There is Isabelle, the girl he betrayed – but who got a literary revenge; Mireille, his long-suffering wife; the Carcenet family, who have the misfortune to live next door to him; Patterson the poet who’s had many a run-in with him. And Bernard Durand, the policeman still hot on his trail, more than twenty years after Gaspard humiliated him.
On a sunny Saturday in June, the villagers gather to celebrate a birthday; all the ‘suspects’ are there to drink, dance and be merry. But when Gaspard has a row with his wife and storms out of the party, nobody notices who slips out behind him.
Consider the evidence. Consider the motives. And ask yourself: whodunnit?
Murder in the Pays d’Oc is available in Heygates Bookshop, Bognor and at Pier Road Coffee and Art, Littlehampton and can also be ordered from Amazon.
I doubt it was anything like young Harry's in Felicity Fair Thompson's gripping novel THE
What if just before Christmas in 1943, during the Second World War, you had to leave your home on the South Devon coast just with what you could carry, unsure about where you will go?
If you were just twelve years old, like my character Harry in my story The Kid on Slapton Beach, and you didn’t know why everyone had been forced to leave, and your dad is away in Italy fighting in the war – and missing – it would be quite scary.
Harry’s family left their village of Torcross at the end of the wide bay of Slapton Sands, like the three thousand other people who had to leave without knowing why, but Harry’s box of possessions was left behind. It was one thing to leave his collection of beach shells and driftwood, a couple of school books and pencils, and his few clothes, but the worst thing was leaving the treasured framed photograph of his dad. The only photograph.
Now, in early 1944, here inland in the town of Totnes with his mother and his little sister, and living in two cold rooms with a cross old landlady, for twelve-year-old Harry things are really tough. His mother can’t cope, and she can’t see that the nasty air raid warden is not a help but trouble. When she and Harry have an argument, Harry decides the only thing to do is to go back and get the photograph of his dad. And he goes. He’s heading back to Slapton Sands, and it is late April 1944.
Young US Servicemen, completely new to war, had been flooding into Britain to join the fight, but there were concerns over their battle hardness. D-Day was planned for just five weeks away. Rehearsing what combat and landing on enemy beaches was like was essential. When Exercise Tiger, the ill-fated D-Day secret rehearsal on Slapton Sands happens, my twelve-year-old Harry will be on that beach.
The Kid on Slapton Beach has had great reviews. Michelle Magorian, author of ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ says: “Superb on so many levels… I couldn’t put it down. I can see the landscape, feel its texture, smell it. And I can see twelve-year-old Harry, and all those villagers and their struggles. It’s powerful. I found myself close to tears when I read it and smiling too. A wonderful book!”
Available from your local book shop and from www.wightdiamondpress.com
War is hard when you have to leave everything you know and love.
Secret Rehearsals for D-Day...
“A wonderful book...” Michelle Magorian ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’
EXERCISE TIGER a
The Secret Rehearsals for D-Day...
“A jewel!...” Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders
“A wonderful book...” Michelle Magorian ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’
Have you read it?
“A jewel!...” Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders
At your local book store now
At your local book store now
Paperback: £8.99
Paperback: £8.99
ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4 www.wightdiamondpress.com
ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4 www.wightdiamondpress.com
ingénu/e met up with Rebecca Hardy at the excellent East Grinstead Bookshop where she was signing copies of her debut novel The House of Lost Wives. Having written contributions for photographic publications, short works of fiction and blogs Rebecca is now in the enviable position of having her debut adult novel published.
According to @rebecca_readsbooks, your Instagram profile, you have always been an avid reader, do you remember the first book you read?
The very first book I read was certainly nothing special (something to do with clowns that had about three words in it for first-time readers in nursery), but the first book that had an impact on me as a reader was a book called The Black Unicorn by Tanith Lee. I checked it out of the library almost every month as a pre-teen. I think that was my gateway story to picking up bigger fantasy books, such as The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, which I’ve read several times since.
I will read pretty much any genre, though perhaps my least favourite is non-fiction. Authors I absolutely adore include legends like Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, but auto-buy authors for me also include Stacey Hall, Lee Child, Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas. If it’s creepy, magical or historical I’ll probably pick it up!
You have been writing since an early age, what do you love about it and what inspires you?
Writing feels like the other side of the same coin as reading to me. It’s equal parts therapeutic and exhilarating, and I don’t think I can ever beat that feeling of reading back something I’ve written and thinking, ‘wow, this is actually quite good’. I used to write stories for myself as a child to keep myself entertained whilst my parents worked long hours and there wasn’t much else to do but sit in a corner of their office after school with a pen and paper. I took a little break from writing in my mid-teens but when I came back to it, it was a bit like meeting an old friend – one I hadn’t quite realised how much I’d missed.
I'll take inspiration from pretty much anything, whether it be books or TV shows, or meeting people through work and hearing their stories, but there’s nothing quite like reading an incredible book and it providing the fuel for your own next story.
The House of Lost Wives could be described as historical fiction with ghosts. How did that idea come about?
My grandmother was very responsible for my love of all things spooky. If there was a haunted house to visit, or some historical site that claimed to be inhabited by
its deceased previous owner, we were there. Between that and my love of history, I began to formulate the idea of this young woman who might see ghosts. The story had to have romance in it (because the books I enjoy always do), but I wanted it to be just as much about the stories of the lost wives – giving them a voice where they would have otherwise been forgotten, as it was about Lizzie and the characters that made her believe in people again.
You've been fortunate to have your novel taken up by a publisher, was that good planning or sheer good luck?
Factually it came down to a LOT of persistence and research. I spent several years looking at the different routes to publication and even self-published a Young Adult series (under my married name) which has done reasonably well. There are pros and cons to both routes. Indie publishing requires much more of the author, as you quite literally have to do every step of the work, including constantly promoting it after the book is written. Traditional publishing is wonderful but patience and persistence are your friends if you choose that route. It was always my ultimate dream to be traditionally published and make a career out of writing, and it is still very much early days for me yet, but I have a wonderful team of people at Headline Accent and my agent is a real superstar in her own right.
For new authors my first piece of advice would be to really research the agents you are querying with. Every agent is going to want to hear something slightly different, and unfortunately a copy-and-paste form email isn’t going to get you much interest. If you treat each agent as an individual and really find something in common between them and your manuscript, even if you don’t land one right away, you’ll at least open up a conversation to let the magic start happening!
What's next for you, can we expect another novel?
I’m working on another story now which I don’t have a release date for yet, but will be set in the same world as The House of Lost Wives (though it won’t be a sequel, as such). It’s still early days for that one, and in the meantime I’m researching and writing the bones of a few other stories so I keep myself busy. But the plan is most definitely to continue writing for as long as people will read my books!
(See page 69 for a review of The House of Lost Wives.)
We first came across Angela Petch six years ago when ingénu/e reviewed her indie published debut novel. This and her second novel were taken on by Bookouture, who slightly edited and renamed them, then commissioned Angela to write four more. Now busy with her latest work in progress, Angela took time out to chat with us.
The Postcard from Italy is your fifth story set in Italy, what draws you to this country?
If I were born again, I would choose to be Italian! I spent seven years as a child living in Rome. My father was vice-director of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, based in the beautiful Eternal City and he dealt with admin of the war cemeteries in Europe and Northern Africa. Italy cast a spell on me in childhood and I went on to study Italian language and literature at university. I’ve been blessed with my half-Italian husband and we are both passionate about Italy. It is a fascinating, complex, bewitching country and the people are generous, kind and beautiful. The food, the wine, the history… what's not to love?
Your previous books are all based around Tuscany but The Postcard from Italy is set in Puglia, the 'heel' of Italy, what prompted the move south?
We have a home in Eastern Tuscany, which we bought for a song over twenty years ago. The area is very unspoilt, a little left behind and charming. It was occupied during World War Two and I came across so many untold stories. If you walk along the mule tracks that weave around the Apennines, it is still possible to see the remains of German antiaircraft positions, trenches, gun emplacements and the elderly folk vividly remember this dreadful time.
My own mother-in-law was a teenager at the start of the war and before her health declined (she has advanced Alzheimer’s now), she often shared accounts of this period. She fell in love with a handsome British army captain and that is a story in itself. I wrote The Tuscan Secret (which has changed titles from Never Forget and then Tuscan Roots when I self-published) purely for her, to set down her memories. I never dreamt it was would lead to further publications.
Our area of Tuscany had more stories to tell, hence three more books set there. However, Puglia called next. I love the coastline and my own uncle, Billy Beary, flew from this region during WWII as a gunner with the RAF. Sadly, his plane was shot down over Yugoslavia on a mission to deliver supplies to Tito’s partisans. There were no survivors but I have made him the hero of The Postcard from Italy. The book's Billy survives but with memory loss. I wanted
to explore his journey and incorporate the mesmerising, wild setting of Puglia.
In The Postcard from Italy the action takes place in two time periods that are somehow connected. What fascinates you about this?
My first five Italianbased books are dual-timeline. I feel the history of WWII is only a fingertip away. I am a child of the 50s, born only seven years after war’s end. My parents didn’t talk about their war much but they were deeply affected by it and our upbringing was shaped by this too. In Italy we have many elderly friends and as I speak Italian fluently, I’ve learned about their experiences through spoken memories. It’s important to understand and appreciate what they all went through. By having a contemporary timeline running alongside the past, I feel I can bring the past to life through the reactions and personal links of my modern-day characters. They can, in a sense, ask the questions the reader might have and receive answers.
My father took his three children to visit the dignified war cemeteries in Italy, showed us lines and lines of white tombstones and even back then I wanted to know about the young men and women beneath the earth. So, I suppose there is something of me in my present-day characters too, in wanting to look for answers through a narrative.
How do you find working with a publisher compares to indie publishing?
I’m a hybrid author so I do both but working with a publisher has been better for me. I do not have to tackle marketing, publicity, formatting, design covers, or all the advertising involved in sending a book out into the world. My wonderful publisher, Bookouture, admittedly takes royalties but they deserve every penny, in my opinion. They have acquired translation rights for me in Italy, France and Hungary so far and achieved sales beyond my expectations. My books are on sale in American and Canadian bookshops.
Bookouture’s policy is to let their writers write. I also enjoy the editing process with them. It was hard at first; your book is your baby and it is difficult to have perspective and see it through the eyes of a reader. But you have to let go of your darlings so that the book is ultimately in better shape. I haven’t liked all my covers but Bookouture knows how to sell. However, I do take my hat off to the many successful indie authors out there. It is not easy.
Six days a week. I set myself a wordcount of at least one thousand words and I prefer to write in the morning when my mind is fresh. I work at my old school desk, with my back to the window, my noticeboard to my side, with photos and maps pinned up. And I have to work in complete silence.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer and, now you're published, what would you say to your younger self?
I’ve always loved reading. But I never dreamt I would be published. That happened to other people. When I was over fifty, and my three children were more independent, I wrote a couple of stories and joined a writing group in Suffolk where we used to live. It went from there. I won the Ipswich Arts Festival competition for flash fiction, was short listed and runner-up in the Writing Magazine a few times and slowly built confidence. The People’s Friend magazine accepted my stories. To be honest, I don’t think I was ready before then. I had to live more before I wrote. So I would say to my younger self, go with the flow. Don’t force your writing and read and read and read.
Any tips for other would-be writers?
Read and write. Every day. Artists have sketch books, athletes limber up… keep a notebook on you at all
times and jot down ideas or words when they come. Be an observer, look at your world, paint it in words and enjoy your writing. It shouldn’t be a chore.
My new book is not dual time and should be published in Spring 2023. Untitled as yet, it follows the journey of a young Jewish girl called Devora, in Urbino, her home city, during the war years. It was inspired by my husband’s Italian grandfather, Nonno Luigi, who worked as the registrar in Urbino town hall. Courageously, he changed details in the city census, saving the lives of many Jewish inhabitants. We only discovered the extent of his involvement after his death when we acquired his papers. He was a modest man who never talked about his involvement with the partisans and I have used many of his details in one of the main characters in my new book – including his name. It has been a challenge to write this one and once again, I have used fact as a springboard and done a lot of research to bring it to life.
Alongside her Italian books Angela Petch has written Mavis & Dot, a charming story set on the south coast of England, which she indie published with all proceeds going to research into cancer or respite care.
For a review of The Postcard from Italy and where to find copies turn to page 69.
Self-taught with just an A-level in art, Judit produces artwork from her Surrey studio ranging from quirky illustrated maps to abstract landscapes with little creatures.
As well as exhibiting her work in several different galleries around the country, she is a member of the Tadworth and the Dorking Art Groups, who have two exhibitions each year, and she takes part in Surrey Artists Open Studios each June, opening her home studio up to the public. She won Surrey Life magazine's Landscape Artist of the Year 2017 and her work has been selected by the Society of Women Artists and the Society of Graphic Fine Art to be displayed in their annual open exhibitions.
"I get inspired by the natural
Hungarian-born illustrative artist Judit Matthews loves pattern and colour.world around me," says Judit. "In my artwork I use a dip pen with Winsor and Newton Indian black ink for the outlines and watercolour to paint, sometimes adding some collage using various materials: Japanese washi paper, handmade paper, patterned craft paper and even wallpaper. Inspiration comes from wildlife, plants and foliage but I add my own narrative. I also enjoy adding surface patterns inspired by Hungarian folk art. I have illustrated five children’s books by the fabulous author Tina Talbot. These are eco-books teaching the children about the environment and pollution and encourages them to protect our surroundings. They are available to buy at www.survivalsupersquad.co.uk."
Judit also runs art classes from her home and sometimes online. For more about Judit and her work go to www.facebook.com/juditmatthews.art or www.instagram.com/judit.matthews or visit www.juditmatthews.artweb.com
That’s how easy it is to make a mistake when you’re in the white heat of creation. Even when you re-read what you have written – and I can’t stress enough how important that is! – your eye sees what your brain intended, not what you committed to screen.
Beta readers are helpful, but the time will come when you need a professional eye on your work. Alas, editorial services, whether simple proofreading or a full creative edit, can be expensive. And taking on an editor is taking a leap into the dark. Will they get you? Will they understand when a repetition, a mis-spelling or tautology is intentional – stylistic if you wish – and when you’ve just committed a boo-boo?
So how do you know if an editor is right for you? Simple: try before you buy. Perdisma Edits will proofread and copy edit the first 1,000 words of your work free of charge. If you like what we do, we’ll come up with a reasonable quote, and stick to it. If you decide not to go ahead, you’ve still got a 1,000-word edit to start you off.
If you’d like to know more, check out our website www.perdisma.com. Even if you are not looking for an editor right now, come along to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/perdisma for discussions on all things writerly and a few tips to help you navigate some common writing conundrums.
–by Al Campbell
‘Why do you do that?’, I asked, unconsciously adding emphasis to the first ‘do’.
She said nothing but wagged her tail.
‘Come on, speak up.’ Over lockdown we had become good conversationalists. It wasn’t like her to blank me.
She put her head on one side. ‘It’s what dogs do-do.’
‘Hey, less of the smart-arsed alliterative dog toilet humour. In case you hadn’t noticed, it stinks.’
‘When you’ve got a nose as good as mine most people stink.’
I realised we were getting into one of those circular arguments. ‘Why fox poop? It’s not only disgusting, it’s unhealthy. And I hate having to wash it off.’
‘It’s the only time I get a bath.’
‘That’s a cheap shot.’ I gave her a look, challenging her to answer the question. She finally acquiesced.
‘It’s a tribute.’
‘Tribute? To who?’
‘More correctly, that should be “to whom”, don’t
you think?’
For a pooch she was a stickler for grammar. I sighed. ‘OK. To whom?’
‘Anubis. The great God Dog Fox in the sky.’
‘You believe in God?’
She sat down and looked up at me in a way I knew meant she was going to be didactic. Or should that be dogdactic?
‘We’ve discussed this before – every culture has its own creation myths. You don’t think dogs should be an exception, do you?’
It was in many ways a mind-bogglingly bizarre conception. But I thought about it and, trying to avoid any double negatives, I shook my head.
‘Look, you don’t need to be dyslexic to know ‘dog’ and ‘god’ are anagrams. Obviously, God was a Dog – and vice versa’. Putting Latin words in italics was another of her grammatical foibles. How she managed it in speech is anybody’s guess.
‘This Anubis of yours. Did he create the world?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. He created dogs.’
‘Strange choice to elect for canines, given all the possibilities.’
She looked down her nose at me. Being a spaniel,
she had a long nose – it was a long look.
‘Somebody has to look after humans. You don’t do that good a job of it yourself. Be honest, you’re rubbish at barking at the mailman!’
I was tempted to say that I didn’t keep a dog and bark myself, but the woke side of my brain got the better of me. ‘Last time I put the dog food cans in the trash I was under the impression I was looking after you.’
‘That’s simply ungrateful.’
We walked on for a few moments in silence. However, she had the bit between her canines and there was no way she was going to let it go.
‘If you gave me your credit card I’d be more than happy to do the shopping,’ she sniffed.
I stopped and looked her in the eye. ‘A human can’t just live on tinned meat and dog biscuits.’
‘Enough of the hyperbole. You know I’d get tinned fish – we both like tinned fish.’
Knowing that dogs don’t do greens I kept the vegetable card in my pocket and steered the conversation back toward ecumenical issues, where I felt on safer ground.
‘So, Anubis, God or not, creator or not, why do you seek out what is not to be sniffed at and roll in it?’
‘Whenever we find his scat, we anoint ourselves as thanks for giving us life.’
‘Scat sounds awfully like cat you know.’
She dug her heels in, then sat and growled for effect. ‘Don’t’ pause ‘even’ pause ‘go’ pause ‘there’.
‘Nice delivery. I particularly loved the pawses,’ I ventured, hoping she’d get the nuance.
Sadly, the nuance went right over her head. She stood up and shook herself from the tip of her cold wet nose to the end of a fluffy tail that I realised needed a visit to the poodle parlour.
‘So, there’s no way I can persuade you to stop doing it?’
‘That’s the way I roll,’ I obligingly smiled at the pun. ‘You going to stop using that Paco Rabanne aftershave? It’s overpowering.’
Perhaps she had a point. ‘Right, home and bath time for you.’
She jumped up and licked my hand. ‘What’s not to like about that?’
Visit www.mostlyunpublished.com for more of Al Campbell's short stories and flash fiction and go to www.alcampbellauthor.com for more details about him and his debut novel, The Daisy Chain.
pictured: 'Wandering Vixen' by Judit Matthews www.juditmatthews.artweb.com Read more about Judit and her artwork on page 74.
“Zero points for originali-ti-ness, you bastards,” Rhys yelled. He pulled at the cuffs holding his hands behind his back. They didn’t give. When he looked down the cracked pavement was spinning, a kaleidoscope of pinks and greys. When he looked up, the streetlight overhead flooded his retinas with a sickening orange haze. He groaned, the bile churning in his guts. What had been in that last pint?
“What’s up mate?” Ed yelled from across the street. “Feeling a little WOOLLY headed?”
The pack of Neanderthals he called colleagues roared, slapped each other on the back, and disappeared into the bar.
Great.
At least the inflatable sheep strapped to his middle was covering his (now painted green) modesty. But seriously, how predictable. Welsh name, Welsh parents –doesn’t matter if you’ve never actually lived there, you will, on the eve of your nuptials, end up with a white plastic effigy on your groin. It was horribly inevitable.
God, he needed to scratch his nuts. The thick seam tickled his inner thigh. He wiggled a little, hoping to alleviate the itch. Then stopped abruptly when he realised how his gyrations might look to passers-by. Just have to bear it. They wouldn’t leave him here long, surely?
The minutes lolloped by. Couples joined at the hands sniggered as they ambled past. An old lady tutted, yanking her spaniel away as it tried to cock its leg up his lamppost-prison.
A gaggle of high pitched shrieks approached, all tutus and deely boppers. A young woman wearing a ripped veil and an oversized ‘L’ plate ran up to him, squealing like a saw drill.
“Hey girls, get this!” She sidled up to him; he could smell the vomit on her breath. She pulled down her top, thrusting her breasts at him, wiggling her yellowed tongue.
Her coven of harpies reached into their bags and pulled out their phones. All at once the true horror of his situation hit him.
YouTube – another crashing inevitability.
He groaned, and cursed himself for his folly. Old Etonian buddies or not, you should never, ever let a member of the opposition organise your stag do.
He’d never get re-elected now.
As well as a raft of flash fiction NJ Crosskey has three novels under her belt. Find out more on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/NJCrosskey.
The light had faded from the sky and in his pyjamas Father Christmas pulled the blanket of stars about his shoulders, came down to the altar of the world, his gentleness, twilit stairways to the frosty forests full of whiteness. He looked with pleasure at the snow and from his pocket took out a night bird, kissed its forehead tenderly, then watched her flutter away. The air was very clear and cold as a winter apple.
Fast asleep since midnight, the breath of a child was a closed flower bud in waiting. The presents had remembered the scent of the Christmas tree and were awake in the house; a new flowered dress with little reindeer, a toy train full of poems and a Noah’s ark, and the children, bright eyed with joy, came downstairs and oh, the tree, the tree!
The wintry twilight was already drawing in and Father Christmas shivered in the damp still air, and a little wistful went back across the snow covered fields to the doorway of the pale blue sky and the birds overhead followed him all the way, brought song and red berries, ‘something for you’ they said.
–Andy WaiteThis is one of artist Andy Waite's 'found' poems – over the years he has made a handful of assemblages which are accompanied by words and short phrases extracted from old Victorian novels and reassembled to tell a new story in the form of poems. www.andywaite.net
Don’t set an empty place at the table If I leave before you leave Don’t make me food, if I’m not able to chew because I won’t see the effort gone into every morsel best leave that to the living thoughts like that may be morbid but don’t leave end bells ringing. Fill that empty space with laughter and let the only empty plate be filled up with cold leftovers because your guests stayed up so late.
Don’t leave my lip marks on the glass fill it, raise it, drink ‘til dark,
and then let it get light again shake the morning by the hand.
Don’t let any seat stay empty still, when there’s bums to fill it my legs won’t need the rest and will not thank you for the effort. Pick your people, keep in time sit with them in the moment I’ll be the logs upon the fire the lingering curtain scent of smoke, times gone and memories, of things that won’t transpire. There’s things you’ll do without me, but I’ll be along for the ride.
Keep me, I won’t need a chair I might not sit but I’m still there, fill my empty place, I’m not gone if the seat’s still warm, I linger on.
–Joe Bunn
Sometimes I worry that I’m too busy taking photographs of the fireworks to stop and enjoy the display.
It’s a memory of a memory that I never had. A photograph of a firework a still life, a still dance.
I keep them in my pocket and no one asks to see. So photographs of fireworks are piled up to the ceiling.
In the new year I’ll live apparently presently and free. And the only photograph of fireworks will be pictures of me.
–Joe Bunn
Joe Bunn can be found as the self proclaimed Bard of Worthing on facebook.com/bardofworthing. Also if you want you can email him to challenge his title, bardofworthing@gmail.com
I kiss you for the first time and it starts to rain: it’s your warm mouth that makes me shiver
I can’t feel the chill anymore of the thin drops running down my neck: I am suspended in a dark and glowing space, only your hands silently connect my body to itself, a fruit that has ripened overnight unnoticed, swift and mysterious
I could stand here for all time, drenched to the skin drowning in you
I kiss you for the first time and it starts to rain: you shiver, maybe it’s the cold rivulets streaming through your hair: you are already lost, ready to risk it all, I know the signs only too well
You will cling to me like a miniature monkey, with your reproachful face and slender grasping hands
Shall I take this cloudburst afternoon for what it is, satisfied with a first bite, and wave goodbye, hands full of promises I shan’t keep,
or shall I risk the monkey chatter, to be sated with the full weight of the soft ripe fruit
–Francesca Duffield, Bourne to Write
Even after this short time, they know my face. And they’re getting used to my morning ritual: two cafés au lait (grand, s'il vous plait) a seat by the window and a bit of scribbling before shopping for the bread.
But though they greet me now with a smile and an exchange of “Mornins”, they still don’t really know what I’m doing in their little village, this stranger at a table near the window writing love poems to you and the rain.
Tony Frisby has had a number of volumes of his poetry published, most recently 'Van Gogh and the Colours of Love' and 'A Boreen in Country Waterford'. For details and more of his poetry, find him on Facebook.
7 hrs sleep (or add to taste)
2 kilos of patience
3 and a half sprigs of unnaturally cheery encouragement (the chewy bits are edible)
2 tsp of low blood sugar (heaped)
5 chivvies (finely chopped)
3 yellings up a staircase
4 fine-ground hesitations Mix well, return to bedroom and simmer for 20 mins Then stir over an increasing heat until it reaches a low boil Finally, pour very carefully into two pairs of shoes, and take outside to cool off
–Francesca Duffield, Bourne
N.B. All poems shown are subject to copyright
Brighton-based Francesca Duffield has been writing since she was ten years old. Having joined the Bourne to Write creative writing workshops led by Roddy Phillips, she has moved from writing short fiction to focusing on poetry over the last few years. More of her work can be found in several of the Bourne to Write anthologies, for details visit www.roddyphillips.com.
When we publish the summer issue this year (issue 40) it will be our tenth anniversary. Under normal circumstances I think this would be quite an achievement, but considering the pandemic, the current economic duress and so on, it’s nothing short of a miracle.
Our intention when starting the magazine was to give a voice to up-and-coming talent of all genres of creativity (hence the title ingénue), but it has evolved into also featuring most all artistic activity in the area.
And although Gill and I sometimes consider our work as a ‘labour of love’, we are energised by the support and positive feedback we receive from advertisers, subscribers and readers both regular and new, it makes it all worthwhile. For example, we just received this email from an artist in East Sussex;
“My last advert in ingénu/e brought me a good sale of a seascape painting ... so thank you very much. I will be interested to have another feature in 2023. Wishing you and Gill a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.”
Come the summer issue we will most definitely be making a fuss about our tenth anniversary!
With the current economic turbulence, coupled with the unpleasant political, social and cultural divisions that are blighting our green and pleasant land and beyond, it’s no surprise that there are casualties in the arts. Unfortunately we hear from some who are struggling, or have given up altogether, and yet some others are thriving.
An example that came across my desk the other day was the news that Oxted in Surrey is to lose its bookshop, which had survived, in one form or another, for a hundred years. Meanwhile in East Grinstead, the town’s famous bookshop celebrated winning last year’s Retas Award for the 'Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards' while the manager, Sarah Gillett, received national recognition in 2019 with a ‘James Patterson Young Bookseller Special Achievement Award’ in recognition of her “outstanding” work. That’s an illustration of the good and the bad… and now the ugly:
I’m very much in favour of the right to protest, and
intelligently done I believe it can potentially bring about social and cultural change for the better. But I can’t get behind defiling works of art, whatever the cause. The Just Stop Oil activists, attempting to soil Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting by throwing cans of Heinz tomato soup over it, or gluing themselves to Constable’s Hay Wain after covering it with a reimagined version, may have gained publicity, but I doubt this garnered very much extra support, even if they
didn’t really intend to ruin the paintings.
I believe they are coming at this from the wrong angle. I think they would be much better off to appropriate art for their cause, instead of attempting to destroy it. They should commission a bright and innovative artist or two to help them figure out more creative, dynamic and aesthetic ways to protest, to ensure their message gets across.
I’m not saying I’m for or against what they stand for, I’m merely offering some advice. I imagine they want to reach people, touch them, make them think, make them feel, make them wake up to their cause. And if so, they should be utilising art not debasing it. After all, isn’t that what art (in all its many forms) is for? To reach one’s soul and create an effect?
As 2023 starts to unfold the country is up against it economically, many are struggling, be it personally or business wise, or have given up the ghost completely.
Having lived through the pandemic but then to be hit by war, inflation, incomprehensible rises in fuel costs, strikes and god knows what else, I feel inclined to temporarily jettison the normal, easy going aspect of my personality and let loose with a tirade.
Here goes…
There was a song released on New Year’s Day 1990 entitled ‘Nothing Ever Happens’ written by singer/songwriter Justin Currie and performed by
his band Del Amitri. I cannot claim to be a fan of the band, but this song has somehow survived those thirtythree years lodged firmly in my mind and, strangely enough, I know why.
Here's a partial look at the lyrics:
And bill hoardings advertise products that nobody needs While "Angry from Manchester" writes to complain about All the repeats on TV Computer terminals report some gains in the values of copper and tin While American businessmen snap up Van Goghs For the price of a hospital wing And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all The needle returns to the start of the song And we all sing along like before And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all…..
So why has this song, from a band I know very little about, resonated so thoroughly with me? And the answer is, I firmly believe, that this is exactly what is wrong with our society and culture. Nothing ever happens! It’s as if we are living in a hamster wheel, with versions of the same old problems, the same old patterns recurring cyclically, again and again.
Strikes have been a regular occurrence since the General Strike in 1926; The British Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), a women-only movement founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst, gave us suffragettes and now we have the ME TOO movement and the ‘What is a Woman’ debate; war has been waged continuously in some form in various parts of the world since the Second World War, with the Ukraine situation causing havoc currently. And how many financial crises have there been since the Great Depression of 1929-39? The answer is quite a few!
I could go into detailing other aspects of life in the hamster wheel, but no need. I’m hopeful you see my point.
Now, I know there has also been progress in many areas – we’ve walked on the moon, cloned a sheep and we now have the internet. But the above is not really
Annie Kenney and Christabel Pankhurst, daughter of Emmeline Pankhurstthe core of my diatribe. That’s just by way of an introduction. Here’s my radical idea to escape the hamster wheel.
And just in case you are reading this in a deadly serious frame of mind, please realise this is just a rant, a whimsical tirade, the logic probably very faulty. But I’m not being logical, I’m being, if anything, hopelessly romantic, insouciant and idealistic.
But nevertheless…
I was interviewing a relatively well known artist a couple of years ago and he told me of a project that he and an urban planner had created for a town in Sussex whose ancient heart was clogged with traffic. It was radical, visionary and glorious. It could have been thought of as a science fiction concept, but it seemed wonderful to me. The idea, in short, was to have a road built to go through a tunnel under the town, with underground parking beneath and lifts to take people up to the town centre which was completely pedestrian. All the various problems such as access for goods and so on had been solved in this plan. And of course, being designed by an artist, the town centre was a riot of colour and innovative spaces.
Of course nothing came of this, but I’m not sure it wasn’t seen through just because of the financial cost. My thinking is that hamsters have no vision, no pioneering spirit and no ability to imagine a different and more magnificent future beyond their tiny (metaphorical) little wheel.
A very small example of a un-hamster-like idea is artist Lothar Götz's innovative transformation of Eastbourne's Towner Gallery entitled Dance Diagonal. Instead of hamsters, why not put artists into
leadership positions? Let them loose to create, to change our culture, to raise the tone of our society, remodel all aspects of our life, lead us into an incredible future and free us from the hamster wheel once and for all, with a gradual yet wonderfully large, fabulous aesthetic renaissance!
There might be some confusion occurring, some failures and casualties along the way, but it couldn’t possibly be worse than it is already, could it?
Amen.
top: Grant Wood 'American Gothic' (1930). With the deepening of the Great Depression this painting came to be seen as a depiction of the steadfast American pioneer spirit
left: 'Dance Diagonal', Lothar Götz's innovative transformation of Eastbourne's Towner Gallery. Photo by Jim Stephenson
Welcoming back the fabulous Korean soprano Elena Dee, Ukrainian soprano Alyona Kistenyova and Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Natalia Matveeva.†
With an exquisite Japanese Garden and spectacular costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan.
Starring Ukrainian soprano Alyona Kistenyova, Korean soprano Elena Dee and French soprano Olga Perrier.†
La Bohème, one of the most romantic operas ever written, includes a local brass band, snow effects and Muzetta’s dog.
† Cast subject to change.
Welcoming back Korean soprano Elena Dee, French soprano Olga Perrier and Ukrainian mezzosoprano Natalia Matveeva.†
This stunning, traditional production of Aida includes the classic Triumphal March featuring a temple dance, cascades of glittering gold and amazing fire performers.
All opera performances sung in Italian with English surtitles.
https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/ https://www.dlwp.com/ https://www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk/
https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/ https://www.atgtickets.com/woking/
ingénu/e magazine – south downs and high weald : issue 38 83
