background, dial house, music and horses
This isn’t a standard “about me”
biography. Rather it is a letter of thanks to those who taught me at
art school and thus helped in no small way to mould my creative vision.
This was used as a short piece which accompanied the Dial House Foundation benefit art exhibition held
at the Horse Hospital Gallery and subsequent on-line auction in 2001.
Attending Loughton College of Further Education in
1964 fresh from school brought me in contact with a challenging,
stimulating environment. Much of the energy and curiosity about the
‘wider picture’ was encouraged by lecturers Gee Vaucher, the future Penny Rimbaud, Terry Day (also of the
ground-breaking free jazz group People Band), photographer Paul Misso, graphics tutor Phil Duffy and Janet Cass; the future Eve Libertine was a fellow student. So, lots of ‘stuff’
floating in my naive, innocent head. This was food for me, the other
side to my future graphic design diploma at Maidstone College of Art
(which felt for me with a few exceptions supported by Brian Froud, Graham Clarke and a few
others an anti-climax). I kept in touch with Dial House - working in design
studios was never enough for me and through the 70’s and early
80’s did my own not-for-sale illustration work (for therapy!).
Some of these works, selected for a proposed book by Penny Rimbaud
on Wally Hope,
of
the Windsor Free Festival, are featured here. One of my aims is to
produce these as cards, in recognition of Dial House’s influence
on my life. There was also cathartic free music with Penny on
percussion, me on keyboards (also for therapy!) and Pierre LeBeau on
guitars.
This was Ceres Confusion and the energy, trust, intuition and instinct that was
created fuelled me with a desire for group music. This was realised
further in 1979 when I was introduced to PoisonGirls, a band living near Dial House which had many common
ideals
and attitudes to the Dial House folks (who had formed their
own band - Crass). I became the
Poisons’ 13th bass player. PoisonGirls and Crass toured together
as a formidable alternative
to the orthodox music scene. This was
the moment, playing challenging, beautiful, stressful, wonderful
gigs in the UK and Europe, together and separately, in venues other
bands didn’t seem to reach, for audiences other bands
didn’t seem to want to know. It opened my eyes to another side of
life I hadn’t experienced and was the most memorable period of my
life. Moved to near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1981. Travelled by
horse and wagon with family through the old roads of England, 1985.
Five weeks and 375 miles later arrived at Totnes. Designed and produced
an account of this profound experience, which may yet one day be
published! Since 1989 living in Glastonbury, reinforcing a connection
made in 1968, and now married to Jan (who never fails to point me in
the direction of my vision if I go astray) with our young daughter,
Ella, who does much the same in her own way! Working freelance with
local companies on a variety of graphics projects, from books to
business cards; editing my photographic archive for selected self
published cards and posters, when I have ‘spare’ time. Oh,
and reviving my bass playing! My experience with PoisonGirls
wasn’t transitory - it remains a fundamental ingredient of my
creative palette with wonderful memories too!
I never have a day go by without thinking of Dial
House, what it is, what it represents and the people who are guardians
of it. Its spirit lives in me and I am profoundly grateful for all it
has given me, both in teaching and love as human beings. Dial House is
more than a place, it feels like the spirit of a Principle, which is a
living thing. I approach my work, personal or commercial, in a similar
spirit, and thereby do justice to the encouragement I have received.
Thankyou.
