Notes from the Pink Egg

A new Kelly etching is released.
A new Kelly etching is released. 15th August 2024 KIRKGATE COCKERMOUTH This is a new print  taken from one of  Percy Kelly’s etching plates by Master printer Robert Adam (MA Hons Cantab, BA Hons ECA, HDFA Slade) of Graal Press in Edinburgh. When Percy Kelly died in July 1993 his printing press was lying in the long grass in the garden of his cottage in Norfolk. I offered to get it brought back to Cumbria and persuaded his son Brian to donate it to the print department of Carlisle College of Art where his father had learned the art of printing... Read More »»
A VISIT TO JUPITER AND BEYOND
A VISIT TO JUPITER AND BEYOND 18th July 2024 I’ve just returned from a trip to Jupiter -  no, not the planet - that would take a bit longer! I mean Jupiter Artland outside Edinburgh. It is a 100 acre contemporary sculpture park which was created in 2009 by Nicky and Robert Wilson - a philanthropic husband and wife who had  great visions on a large scale and  were willing to take risks and achieve their ambition to show sculpture in a natural setting. I don’t know why it  has taken me so long to visit this inspiring place (Maybe life and ... Read More »»
PERCY’S ADVENTURES IN PRINTMAKING
PERCY’S ADVENTURES IN PRINTMAKING 25th June 2024 A lot has happened since my last posting: the Kelly exhibition and Words by the Water both at Theatre by the Lake and both enjoyable. The big surprise for me was the bumper sale of Kelly’s original prints particularly the etchings at the exhibition. Apparently etchings are the new best thing.  There is much confusion and controversy about prints in the art world so I’d like to clarify a few things. Many pictures are sold as prints but are basically a commercial printing of an existing painting... Read More »»
THE RETURN OF WORDS BY THE WATER
THE RETURN OF WORDS BY THE WATER 2nd June 2024 Only 3 days to go before WORDS BY THE WATER book festival opens in Keswick and the team roll into town. There has been a long gap – too long – and we need to make it a success for it to continue. It offers a brilliant varied programme. I am looking forward to chairing a few things particularly Blake Morrison, an old friend, who will be talking about his latest book TWO SISTERS which is the book he told me some years ago he would never write. I wonder why he changed his mind – I may find out on W... Read More »»
SCENE AND UNSEEN - THE RESULTS ARE IN.
SCENE AND UNSEEN - THE RESULTS ARE IN. 13th May 2024 The exhibition at Theatre by the Lake was not just enjoyable for all who went but it raised more than fifty thousand pounds for the theatre. (yes, £50k +)  Well done everybody concerned from those who bought a back catalogue or a card to those spending thousands. It was far more than I ever imagined especially the etchings' sales. It was almost a sell out of those we had for the exhibition – we had 2 Isolated Barn left at the final reckoning which didn’t take long! We took orders on those which ... Read More »»
THE EXCITEMENT IS OVER - WHAT NEXT?
THE EXCITEMENT IS OVER - WHAT NEXT? 27th April 2024 Hello everybody. What a mad and exciting few weeks we just had. The Scene and Unseen exhibition at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick pulled in Kelly fans  from as far away as London, Edinburgh, Hampshite, Nottingham and  Northumberland as well as lots of locals.  These weren’t casual tourists but dedicated Kelly  followers and collectors. I was in almost every day and loved the reunions, the memories, the catch up  and the stories exchanged.  With the help of Sal and Tony Calvin who many of you me... Read More »»
SCENE AND UNSEEN. ITS ALL OVER.
SCENE AND UNSEEN. ITS ALL OVER. 21st April 2024 For all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. After 3 weeks of non-stop activity, drama and excitement; when there has barely been a day, hour minute without someone visiting Scene and Unseen at the theatre looking and enjoying it all. It has brought so much pleasure to many many people. I and the team have really enjoyed meeting you and hearing your stories. One visitor brought along a carefully wrapped tobacco pipe in beautiful condition - we are 99% sure it belonged t... Read More »»
SEEN AND SELLING ... ON LINE NOW
SEEN AND SELLING ... ON LINE NOW 2nd April 2024 AND ON THE THIRD DAY … we opened the Scene and Unseen exhibition on line.There are still some good things left and everything has been much admired. All the car parks in Keswick were full early on  Good Friday and people poured in over the weekend marveling at the quality of works on show. I have now  updated the Kelly pages on www.percykelly.co.uk. It gave me great pleasure to whack a red spot and SOLD on the images. Even more pleasure to see so many of you again to catch-up – if given a chanc... Read More »»
SEEN AND UNSEEN - up date
SEEN AND UNSEEN - up date 27th March 2024 We finished the Kelly exhibition hang at Theatre by the Lake yesterday and even by Kelly standards it is breathtaking. The theatre was closed for a week for essential pre easter works so the Calvins and I were  left in peace apart from the increasing numbers of staff and builders and painters who seemed to suddenly need to wander through, stop and marvel. “Who is this Percy Kelly?” one of them asked?  “I’ve never seen anything like it.” I have just put everything on the web site www.percykelly.... Read More »»
SEEN AND UNSEEN - up date
SEEN AND UNSEEN - up date 27th March 2024 We finished the Kelly exhibition hang at Theatre by the Lake yesterday and even by Kelly standards it is breathtaking. The theatre was closed for a week for essential pre easter works so the Calvins and I were  left in peace apart from the increasing numbers of staff and builders and painters who seemed to suddenly need to wander through, stop and marvel. “Who is this Percy Kelly?” one of them asked?  “I’ve never seen anything like it.” I have just put everything on the web site www.percykelly.... Read More »»