alun callender's blog

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/