A busy week in an exciting city - 1 July 2008
Three weeks of back-to-back art openings and gigs have left me with the distinct feeling that London is one of the hottest and most creative places on the planet.
On Monday 9 June, we visited the Summer Exhibition and had lunch at the Royal Academy with lots of Royal Academicians (R.A.). Whilst there, we met our friend and erstwhile teacher at the R.C.A. Eileen Cooper. I sat next to a delightful artist, Humphrey Ocean R.A. who used to play base guitar with Ian Drury in his first band, Kilburn and the High Roads.
On 10 June the Royal Academy School held its annual show, where one student, Carla Busuttil (26) had her entire collection of 13 paintings snapped up by Charles Saatchi. We bought a video by a young artist, which is delightful and features the kind of experiments mad scientists used to do in sixties B movies with test tubes full of smoke and lots of colour changes.
Royal Academy School Show
Later we were taken to dinner by the world’s best watercolour artist, David Remfry R.A. and his wife Caroline. We went to the Chelsea Arts Club, a gorgeous old place that doesn’t change at all: it still has a big billiard table and an old school bar.
On 11 June, we popped into a book launch held by the charming Henry Hemming who has written a book called In search of the English eccentric. This event was hosted by the publishers, John Murray, in Albermarle Street, where the original John Murray famously burnt the papers of Lord Byron on his death. Knowing what we do about Byron, despite this burning of information, one wonders just how much more colourful his life was…
Henry Hemmings and I at his book launch
Among the guests were professional dandy, the Marquesss of Bath with one of his 75 wifelets, and a biker who told me he is the reincarnated Arthur Pendragon.
Following this we dropped in to a very glamorous show by Swarovski where various designers including Zaha Hadid had made pieces using their crystals for the catwalk.
Swarovski Show 
Another model at the Swarovski Show
On 12 June, we saw the lunchtime fashion show at the Royal College of Art (RCA), which was really good this year, with a finale of glittering faux soldiers. Jenny and Elizabeth, the knitters who helped with our fashion show, both showed great collections.
Hitting the catwalk at the R.C.A Show
To be continued...
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