WORCESTER VINTAGE AND CRAFT FAIR

The people from WAVE (Worcester Arts and Vintage Events) are holding another shindig on Saturday. The stalls wil be as good as ever and many will be offering Valentine themed goods. The RoyalTea tea shop sells an amazing array of cakes, (some of which are Vegan!) that are really ace. My friend Chloe Lewis will be selling ceramic items, such as vases and brooches, many of which will be making their debut at this event...We'll be popping along after I've taken the car for a service...bummer.

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Ceramics by Chloe Lewis

Adi Gilbert - Solo Show

If you're in Bristol in February, you might want to check out an exhibition by Adi Gilbert; the BMXer/illustrator/graphic design supremo, is having a solo show. It's taking place at Baristas Coffee Collective, (Nr. Bristol Bridge, Victoria StreetBristol, BS1 6AA) Here's a sample of his excellent work. This and many others like it will be on sale, we not long ago, purchased a piece and it just gets better the more you look at it.
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Toys & T-Shirts

I'm currently exhibiting 'a few' of my toys in the HCA College library right now. I wanted to expose the figures to the light, they're usually packed away in boxes and the toy tray in the basement. The response has been really great, especially from the students. The point of showing them was to highlight the fact that there are many, and often ignored, forms of design inspiration available to artists. These figures inspire me, the colours, forms and the representation of men in popular culture, is a subject that interests me -what people think the ideal male form should be, this is particularly poignant in the super hero genre. I've posted a couple of photos, (not very good I'm afraid) to try and show you how it looks. Must say a big thanks to Ashley in the library for his co-operation and curating skills.

Also, went into my local charity shop today, Martha's Trust(even has it's own blog!), bought an interesting new t-shirt(50p Bargain!)...Apart from being new, it had an interesting insignia on the front and back Franklin Pierce College Fire Department...I got back and checked out the name on the Web....I was thrilled to discover that the origins of the t-shirt were an actual student run fire department in the USA!! Cool, I thought, I just wonder how the heck it managed to get to Hereford without being worn?? See Pics below.

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Redditch Premiers Session

A rare moment in the air yesterday

Enjoyed a session yesterday at Bishops Tachbrook. The club has such a nice crew, everyone looks out for each other and is so encouraging, I am proud to be a member. Everyone is getting excited about the track build. The fence has already been built, work on the bumps and lumps should hopefully start this week!

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Redditch Premiers in this photo: Gregory Dunn, Lee Hathaway, Stewart Rockliffe, James Day, Harley Taylor, Chris Day, Matt Mayneord, Benn Thombs, Darcie Taylor, Sean Bowditch & Tim (Print. Photo taken by Chris Taylor.)

Beer, cycling and any excuse to mix the two!

Attended a British Cycling coaching course at the weekend near Burton, Derbyshire. Once I've passed, (everything crossed!), I'll be able to show young people and inexperienced adults, how to ride a bike. Sounds like a fairly easy thing to do....but you wouldn't believe the detail you have to go into to effectively teach this kind of stuff. I have loads of sourse work to complete and a further training day to attend in April. It was an intense experience, but a fun one. I also got to visit a regional beer shrine...The Burton Bridge Brewery. O.M.G. the beer was amazing!! I tried a pint of Sovereign and Golden Delicious (and it was!)

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The rest of the coaching tainees, (really nice bunch)

Me and Benn(Redditch Premiers Chairman) under the National Forest Emblem

(...Reminds me of one my earlier pieces!)

Haiti Earthquake Fund-Raiser

Just finished a piece of work that I will be contributing to a fund-raising auction. It's all in aid of the Haiti earthquake. So pleased I could do something that might help.

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Untitled. Pine - 60cm x 30cm

Dudley Winter Ales Festival

Back in November Jo, me and our neighbour Jim, went along to the Dudley Winter Ales Festival. It was an amazing trip into the Black Country', very evocative of my childhood and all the Saturday shopping days I spent in places like Dudley. The festival was a hoot, so friendly and the beer was delicious:-P After leaving the Festival we visited the Olde Swan,(or Ma Pardoe's as it's known locally) in Netherton. Jim took along his old CanonA1 SLR; the photos he took, really bring back the wintry atmosphere of. As you can see from the last photo, I was pretty involved in the sampling process. Great company, great beer and we'll do it again next November...come along if you like....the more, the very merrier!
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If there is a heaven does it taste like this?