18 Folgate Street may look like an ordinary old house on a historic street in Spitalfields, but once inside, it’s quite extraordinary. The house is a Noah’s Ark of historic objects, a mirror to a lost period in history. It’s like being stuck inside a Charles Dickens novel […]
What’s hot this summer in London’s culture and theatre scene. A dozen of the very hottest shows.
“Wow” was my first reaction when I accidentally stumbled upon “The Procession” at the Tate Britain. This visual extravaganza is a real showstopper with its colourful characters, dioramas and a deep dive into black history. I’d actually come to see an entirely different exhibition but this carousel of […]
A giant ‘silver’ spoon sticking out of the ground isn’t something you stumble upon every day on a quiet country walk. But there it was standing right in front of me – a dessert spoon 18 feet tall, glittering in the spring sunshine. What was even more surprising […]
I’m walking across the shingle beach at Dungeness, reflecting on how the landscape is very different from anywhere else I’ve been in Britain. It feels like I’ve reached the outer margins of another world although I’m just on the extreme southern edge of the Kent coast. A million […]
What’s my favourite event in the visual arts calendar in London? It’s a tough question but there’s no doubt that Photo London is a strong contender. It’s a must-see event on my cultural hit list. Photo London is a brilliant showcase for global photography but the pandemic has […]
Five huge billboards have popped up around Killhope in Weardale, rather like the three billboards made famous in the Oscar nominated movie. But these aren’t protests or advertisements, they’re part of an art project reflecting the landscape and history of this former mining area. In the 18th and […]
Cheeseburn is a remarkable sculpture garden which showcases art by contemporary artists in the great outdoors.
Christian Dior – his very name conjures up images of elegance, style and beautiful clothes. This was a man who was a giant of French couture whose clothes were renowned for being jaw droppingly gorgeous, but beyond most people’s means. That’s not to say we shouldn’t admire them, […]
Venice is one of the world’s great art cities. It’s best known for its glorious Renaissance treasures rather than its modern art galleries. The city’s museums and churches are stuffed with grand masters like Tintoretto, Titian and Bellini… whilst the Grand Canal conjures up images by Canaletto. But […]