End of an era

Astoria murals by Janet Brooke

Well my Astoria murals have now come down, but they were saved for the nation by a phone call from their maker Tony  of Doubledot in Henfield. So, after an appeal on Facebook, homes were found for three of them: Seven Sisters went to my nephew Richard; Astoria went to my niece Clare, both in Portslade, and the Embassy Court went to Joseph and Myf Nixon. Shoreham Airport is currently sitting in my hall. I’d like it to go to the museum at Shoreham Airport, but have yet to hear back from them. The new murals are based on linocuts by the very talented Janet Brooke, who has exhibited up the road at 30 Gerard Street during the Artists’ Open Houses, as well as her studio in Hanover. A big thank you to Matt Easteal of the council for commissioning them, and to Danny for picking them up in his van.

Murals by Janet Brooke

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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.

Xmas e-card

A very Merry Xmas to all my patrons and chums!

At the Dragonfly House

Some of my prints will be available at the Dragonfly House, 48 Ditchling Rise, Brighton, as part of the Xmas Open Houses. Next weekend 4 and 5 December is the last weekend they’ll be open. Unfortunately, my Saltdean Lido isn’t printed yet, tho there are Moo cards of it available.

Saltdean Lido

Saltdean Lido, near Brighton

Well, at long last I’ve finally done a digital print of Saltdean Lido, after years of messing about with watercolours and linocuts. Yes, I know it looks rather like the logo for the Save Saltdean Lido campaign, but that’s just the way it came out, straight on in my regular limited palette of colours! Those of you typographically inclined will notice that I’ve reinstated the original Gill Sans lettering. I think that slab serif font used now comes from the 1950s, and the 1998 refurbishment since I’ve lived down here ruined the kerning of the signage compared with the  reference photo (wot I took way back in the late-80s) that I used for this print, squashing it all up a bit, as is the modern (rather than Moderne) way. All I have to do now is fire up the giclee machine and print a few off for the Xmas Open House at the Dragonfly House.

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. On 13 July 1987  it was granted Grade: II listed status. There is some debate about the reason for the platform above the building – some say it was for a planned cable car running down from the Ocean Hotel, but I believe that’s an urban myth! But there once was a sort of tower on top with a flagpole. Old photos here.

Photo Biennial

I know some of you have been alarmed by seeing one of my murials being taken down. Rest assured it’s only temporary – to accommodate some photos from the Brighton Photo Biennial. This runs from 2 October until 14 November and guest curator is Martin Parr. There’s also a Photo Fringe running alongside the main event. If you’re wondering what all those guys in hi-vis jackets are doing, well, all I know is that they were from the gas board, arrived in several vans and disappeared inside the Astoria!

Shoreham Airport sales

Put three of my mounted Shoreham Airport giclee prints into the Art at the Airport exhibition, part of Adur festival, and sold all of them! Many thanks to Kim Adele Fuller for organising it. Loved the aircraft acrylics by Stephen Danks…

Prints for sale

I’ve been asked if the images adorning the Astoria cinema in Brighton are for sale as prints. Yes, they are! Seven Sisters and Shoreham Airport were originally screenprints and have all sold out (tho I have one or two ‘seconds’ of Seven Sisters available). The Astoria and Embassy Court were always digital prints. All are now available as giclee prints, 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. Some are also available as A4 prints on 190gsm paper. The price direct from me is £40 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! A different view of Embassy Court is also available.

On the BBC (website)

Woo Yay! My murials make the BBC (South) website – not bad for a dilettante artist / semi-retired illustrator from Bury, eh! Thanks to Helz for the heads-up.

In the Argus

Moi in the Brighton Argus, Thursday 10 June 2010, p2 – the council press release almost word for word. There was also a mention by Dan Thompson on the RAG Artists and makers website.