Friends will see that the last item added under ‘News; was for April this year. At that time, we reported on Liz’s health and our joint show of existing work in aid of the people of Ukraine.
Very sadly, Liz’s health deteriorated in July and she died in early August. We held a wonderful ‘Memory Day’ attended by family, old and newer friends and colleagues to celebrate her life. The show of affection and admiration was striking and very moving.
As one friend so rightly commented Liz ‘did not let her illness define her’. Her qualities and virtues never faded. She had been a brilliant school teacher and academic, a prize-winning author, a deeply respected colleague, and remained a loyal and supportive friend to a wide circle of close acquaintances. She was, throughout, a treasured wife, mother and grand-mother, who showed remarkable courage and resilience to the end in the face of her increasingly invasive cancer. I was proud to act as her carer.
We have decided to retain her work on the website. She came to lino-cutting and collage with no previous experience but learned quickly. Her work showed boldness, originality, charm and humour. As much as anything, it showed who she was.
Eventually, I have been able to return to thoughts of the workshop and my own painting. I had completed two works only in many months; indeed, over the past two years: both executed in our attic rather than the workshop. The first a set a set of ten small illustrations or ‘cartoons’ of chapters in James Joyce’s Ulysses, intended as a birthday present in June for my son Joe, a dedicated and expert reader of Joyce’s work who was about to attend ‘Bloomsday’ in Dublin to mark the centenary of Ulysses first publication. The second was a water-colour of the Lychgate of our local church which stands opposite our house. Here Liz and I used to walk at those times when she was regaining her strength.
Both these works are now entered on the site as new and indeed the only ‘recent’ work this year and well back into 2021. Some other works from that year are nonetheless retained there. All the other work formerly present as ‘recent work’ has been dispersed to relevant categories: e.g. landscape, places, ‘animals’.
I hope in time I will be able to add new work to the website and to welcome you to a new modest exhibition. I would, when that time comes , be very happy to include work by any friends who would like to exhibit examples of their own work.