2nd Sunday blog & an interview

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.

They’re back!

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.

Architectural notes

I thought I’d collect together all the info on the various prints I’ve done in recent years.

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.

May in The Dragonfly House again

Well folks, it’s that time of year again and on Saturday I’ll be showing prints old and new at The Dragonfly House, 48 Ditchling Rise, Brighton all the weekends in May. Come and say Hello – I’ll be upstairs above the plan chest. Lots of other good stuff to see and buy too!

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: