London Royal Academy Tea and Cake at the Cafe with an Art Friend

London Royal Academy Tea and Cake at the Cafe with an Art Friend

Print description

Two friends, over a cup of tea and a piece of cake, cherish their time together and the anticipation of visiting an art exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. Back in 2001, I lived in Mayfair, just a ten-minute walk from the Royal Academy—a place I visited countless times for art and conversation. In my print I pay homage to Leonard Rosoman’s mural “Upstairs and Downstairs” and Royal Academician Fred Cuming’s “The Life Room” . This mural offers a glimpse into the traditional practice of life drawing.

Print details

To create this print, I start by crafting individual drawings in ink, which collectively form a collage comprising the final piece. I scan my drawings and digitally add colour. The original design solely exists in digital format, and I print it using archival inks and paper. I then release my design as a limited edition print, available in standard ‘A’ sizes, ranging from A0 (84.1 cm x 118.9 cm) to A4 (21 x 29.7 cm).

The Royal Academy

The Royal Academy of Arts , founded in 1768, is one of London’s most prestigious cultural institutions. Nestled in the heart of Piccadilly, it has been a beacon for art lovers, showcasing some of the finest works across a wide range of styles and movements.

Its annual Summer Exhibition, the world’s longest-running open submission art show, is a highlight of the British cultural calendar.

The Royal Academy isn’t just about exhibitions; it’s also an institution committed to art education. It houses the RA Schools, where budding artists are trained in a rigorous and immersive environment, continuing a centuries-old tradition of nurturing creativity.

People and Places Revelations of Love

I love visiting the British Library. It regularly hosts different exhibitions, and in January 2025, I saw the show Medieval Women: In Their Own Words, which was fascinating. Among the exhibits was Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love, circa 1675. I have borrowed this title to name my series of prints People and Places: Revelations of Love.

After recovering from her illness, Julian of Norwich chose to live as an anchoress—a woman who voluntarily isolated herself in a cell to dedicate her life to God. During her solitude, she meditated deeply on her spiritual visions. Many years later, she wrote a second version of her Revelations, known as the ‘Long Text,’ where she elaborated on the theological significance of these visions in much greater depth. This version has survived only through 17th-century copies made by English nuns in exile in Paris and Cambrai.

Another masterpiece I saw in this exhibition was a medieval book with an illustration titled Christine de Pisan with Queen Isabeau. Somehow, the vibrant colours of medieval books have also been a source of inspiration for this series

This work echoes many different sources, from Vuillard’s colourful depictions of the domestic patterned interior, many of which I saw at Pallant House Gallery in 2022, to the Alekos Fassianos Foundation, which I visited in Athens during the summer of 2023. Also in a mental periphery I can think of Ben Nicholson still lifes with his everyday objects; or Gwen John interiors, specially one exquisite painting ‘La chambre sur la cour’

The human figure in a scene

I have been running life drawing sessions in Brighton for many years, and the depiction of the human form fascinates me. Through this piece, I aim to express both my personal experiences and the environment where I live. So the inclusion of a figure is very important, referencing one of my living art heroes, artist Louis Fratino, with his modernist cubic contemporary classics. It also draws inspiration from a recent exhibition at Studio Voltaire in London, that featured a pairing of works by Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland, held in the summer of 2024