Ruthie's Cottage

Some of my favourite funniest times were hanging out with Ruthels. She is the mum of my brilliant friend Kate, and a local legend. As well as being a creative force and an exquisite storyteller, she was so supportive of my drawings, including me in her exhibitions and cackling over my shoddy professionalism, pointing out to the punters that I tippexed over my mistakes, and somehow selling more of my work than I ever could.

During lockdown she became more determined than ever not to leave her cottage and paid me to walk her two maniac dogs. It was the first regular work I had since getting ill, and helped me psychologically more than she knows. Those hours of hanging out while I cooked her sausages and told her off for buying several thousand book shelves on line, were magic.

I ended up getting work in a nursery and she ended up needing round the clock care and moved into a home. But the cottage where we had all our fun is open again for the Artists Open Houses in this May’s Brighton Festival. Click Here for the information. I’ll have my old books and some brand new drawings at Ruthie’s Cottage, along with two mighty artists, Kiki Bond and Rosie Gifford.

As I keep banging on about, I’m having real trouble drawing at the moment, and I feel like Ruthie, without knowing it, is giving me a kick up the arse to make something again. (As is, WITH knowing it, my super talented friend Monika who wrote me the other day to say where the heck are your substacks! And my excellent pal Fraser and Ashley, and my lil Brother Adam who all tried to pay for my substacks even though I’m not charging. Thank you all!)

Happy Sunday and see you all at Ruthies!

P.S. While you’re here, here’s a Compilation of Protests Against the Supreme Court

And one of the organisations supporting Families in Gaza