alun callender's blog

Interior designer Philip Oakley creates stunning lighting pieces inspired by his time working at Blackpool Illuminations, he has a fantastic collection started when he rescued pieces from skips in the Northern town.

Moving back down South he restored one of St Leonards drinking establishments to his home and work space, where his collection and crafted pieces fill the space.

http://oakleyilluminations.co.uk/

Chris Milton creates dynamic tension in spontaneous and expressionistic works, I found him at work in his daylight filled studio overlooking the Old Town of Hastings.

The studio was once the workspace of photographer Steve Pyke, his old darkroom can still be found with trays and enlarger ready to go.

 http://www.chrismilton.talktalk.net/index.htm

Back in Hastings to continue my personal project on artists last month.

In the Old Town I met Lesley and Pea who together form Aardvark Printmongers creating inspirational posters and prints using their 1960 Vandercook Universal 3 Proofing press.

http://www.aardvarkonsea.com/index.html

I was back in Hastings last week to continue my artists project.

Peter Quinnell is an illustrator creating 3d and flat collage, I met him in his wonderful eccentric studio on the seafront in Hastings Old Town.

Amid collections of diverse props and old signage he creates wonderfully expressive art and illustration.

Roland Jarvis has become something of a Hastings legend, he has been working in his studio for over 30 years, a former horologist (it kept him busy and warm in the winter) he paints, creates and produces fascinating short films.

Leigh Dyer is an artist based in Hastings who creates amazing and beautiful sculptures using metalwork.

I went to photograph him in his studio last week.

He is almost at the end of an eighteen month project creating a new sculpture for the Eccentric Winkle Club to be installed on Winkle Island in the Old Town in a month or two. It is a giant winkle shell perched above various fish, pebbles and beach debris.

The idea is to put a coin in the winkle and as it falls down the middle it hits a specially made bell and rings before being collected in a safe box within the sculpture (for charity).

Leigh’s website is:
www.incurva.co.uk

Following our visit to the Charente Maritime http://www.aluncallenderblog.com/?p=228,

Abigail Edwards and I found ourselves four days later travelling east from Paris to the Champagne region to meet Frans van Wakeren and Michelle Ainsworth.

They have restored this beautiful 17th century chateau, and filled it with an eclectic mix of brocante market finds.

They made us feel very welcome and it was a wonderful way to end a great trip.

http://www.chateaudemairy.com/

It was sad news to hear that a beautiful Barbara Hepworth sculpture was stolen from Dulwich park before Christmas.

I had very fond memories of cycling past it on my way to & back from my old allotment in London.

I hope it is found and not melted down as this is a loss for all of us.

Anyway I thought I would have a look in my archive to remind myself of St Ives and her Garden in Cornwall.

She really was the greatest British sculptor of the 20th century.

At this time of year, I like to visit this wild & remote part of the Sussex coast, here are some pictures from past visits.

Late September and finally a holiday to the Charente Maritime, I am loving France and I am loving the Hipstamatic!