Have a rockin' yule!

My second blog of 2011 is now up on the AOH website. And there’s an interview with me by Paul Dutnall on Festival Radio available at Soundcloud.

Two of my murials are back outside the Astoria, just in time for the Brighton Festival, where I’m showing prints again in the Dragonfly House.

Also, I just blogged my Open House adventures this Sunday on the AOH website.

Black Rock lido
Black Rock lido was formally opened on 8 August 1936. It was designed by the Borough Engineer David Edwards in ‘Seaside Moderne’ style. The pool closed in 1978 and the changing room and cafe buildings demolished. It is currently a car park for coaches. This is the only print I’ve done of a building that no longer exists.

Saltdean Lido
Saltdean Lido was built in 1937-38 to designs by the architect Richard W H Jones, who also designed the Ocean Hotel (once owned by Butlins) up on the hill. In 1987 it was granted Grade II listed status and last year this was upgraded to Grade II*. There is some debate as to its future. www.saltdeanlidocampaign.org

Astoria cinema
The Grade II Listed Astoria was designed by Edward Albert Stone, who also designed the Astorias in London. The Art Deco auditorium decorated by Henri & Laverdet seated 1,823 people. It opened on 21 December 1933, closed in 1977 and was a bingo hall until 1996. Its owner Mike Holland plans to demolish it and build a ‘media hub’ on the site. The Astoria Moving Picture Trust is working to save it.

Embassy Court
This Grade II* listed block of flats was designed by Wells Coates in 1935-36. Famous residents included Keith Waterhouse and Terence Rattigan. Rex Harrison, Max Miller, Diana Dors, Graham Greene and Lawrence Olivier also spent time there. Restoration of the building took place in 2004-6. www.embassycourt.org.uk

Shoreham Airport
Although there has been an airport on the site since 1910, the Grade II listed terminal building was designed by Stavers H Tiltman and opened in 1936 and is still in use with a modified tower. It has appeared on TV in Agatha Christie’s Poirot and the film The Da Vinci Code.

I also made a video interview with Rob Peel, last year’s Brighton Festival Award Artist of the Year, for AOH. I couldn’t get the Vimeo video to embed on their site, so here goes for this YouTube version:

Well, I think it’s finished! I’ve removed all the window clutter and left just the interesting bits. The main Lido building wasn’t very interesting either – you can see some photos here. Black Rock Swimming Pool opened on 8 August 1936 (before Saltdean Lido) and measured 165 feet by 60 feet. It was designed by the Borough Engineer David Edwards in “Seaside Modern” style, with an elegant cafe and changing rooms. It closed in 1978 and the buildings were demolished - and is still a derelict site. I’ve used a bit of artistic licence with Marine Gate (built in 1937-9 to the design of Maurice Bloom) - it’s really a bit further east, behind Asda. The name Black Rock came about because coal was dumped there by ships to avoid paying tax; an alternative explanation was that the nearby gas works dumped tar into the sea at that point.

It is a digital print (ie it doesn’t exist in any other form), A3+ size (329mm x 483mm) on 310gsm (that’s thick and heavy) 100% cotton mould-made Hahnemuhle ‘William Turner’ paper printed in 8-colour archival pigment inks that shouldn’t fade. It is also available as an A4 mini-print on 190gsm paper. The price direct from me is £50 each, they may well be dearer through a gallery or Open House to take into account the commission taken. If you are a dear old friend and I’m in a good mood I may well give you a handsome discount! The original photo I used can be seen here.

Here is a work in progress of the strange tower that once stood by the Black Rock Lido, near to where the Brighton marina is today. Behind is a sort of stylised Marine Gate.

Saltdean Lido

The Saltdean Lido print, promised in an earlier post is now available to buy. It is a digital print (ie it doesn’t exist in any other form), A3+ size (329mm x 483mm) on 310gsm (that’s thick and heavy) 100% cotton mould-made Hahnemuhle ‘William Turner’ paper printed in 8-colour archival pigment inks that shouldn’t fade. It is also available as an A4 mini-print on 190gsm paper. The price direct from me is £50 each, they may well be dearer through a gallery or Open House to take into account the commission taken. If you are a dear old friend and I’m in a good mood I may well give you a handsome discount!

If you are wondering why there are road safety posters in place of my murals outside the Astoria, I have been assured by the man at the council that they will be back sometime in the future!