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LEGACY
LEGACY 11th October 2018 Many years ago David Heckles, a solicitor from Ipswich, made his first visit to Castlegate House and he was hooked. He was very quiet and reserved but I got to know him well and we shared many a cuppa in the kitchen. One day as he told me he was making his will and wondered what to do with his 13 Percy Kelly works (some purchased from Castlegate and some from Messums in London’s Cork Street.)  I suggested Tullie House because I knew they didn’t have any at all and, as the county gallery, I thoug... Read More »»
OPENING THE FLOOD GATES
OPENING THE FLOOD GATES 1st October 2018 Have a Humbug was launched amid yellow balloons, wine and canapés on Friday evening as an end to a wonderful day. Fabulous sunny mild weather for the first trail around Maryport. Views of Dumfries and views of the Isle of Man so clear you felt you could swim to them. (er didn’t try!) Attendance was masses above expectations. Dolly and Jeanne had done some good planning and publicity and people poured in. SURPRISE – not only do children like the book but adults are buying it too. This is an e ma... Read More »»
YOU CALL IT A DRAWING … I CALL IT FANTASTIC
YOU CALL IT A DRAWING … I CALL IT FANTASTIC 28th September 2018 Spoken by a young lad of 9 yesterday seeing his first original drawing by Percy Kelly. The 2-day Artfest WHEN PERCY MET NORMAN opens at 1pm  (by our MP Sue Harman) today at the Settlement in Maryport.  The Maryporters have pulled it off!  For the first time in decades there is an exhibition of art and poetry on the newly painted pristine walls of the lovely Georgian building on the cliff top including the view Kelly painted from Castle Hill – The Motte – just over the wall. There have been 2 p... Read More »»
AWARDS AND REWARDS
AWARDS AND REWARDS 24th September 2018 It all began in the Garden of Eden on Friday night!  As opening lines go – you can’t get much better than that - but the dress code was a cocktail dress rather than fig leaf!  The occasion was the Carlisle Living Awards 2018 and I am pleased to tell you that the Kelly retrospective exhibition won the best arts initiative award. It certainly had an impact on Carlisle. It’s hard to believe that it’s a year since we opened that exhibition. It has been non-stop ever since. It’s Monday morning as I ... Read More »»
GO ON … HAVE A HUMBUG! WHY NOT TAKE TWO?
GO ON … HAVE A HUMBUG! WHY NOT TAKE TWO? 14th September 2018 I reiterate the words Percy Kelly wrote to his stepdaughter Kim beside his painting of a big jar of humbugs. I have written this, my first book for children in direct response to the interest shown by the many children who visited the Percy Kelly retrospective at Tullie House in Carlisle. I really enjoyed taking school groups round the show. They were excited by what they saw, asked intelligent questions and could clearly identify with the paintings, drawings and artifacts. I was subsequently i... Read More »»
HARVEST TIME
HARVEST TIME 27th August 2018 It’s Harvest time at Pink Egg Headquarters. Everything is coming to fruition – trees heavy with damsons and groaning with apples and we are still in August.  It’s the squirrels or me in the fight for the cob nuts. At the moment it’s a draw. I don’t mind sharing with them but they don’t buy that concept - more training needed.  The Artfest in Maryport (when Percy met Norman) at the end of September is also coming to fruition.The Maryporters are working like crazy to make it a success. The Marypo... Read More »»
FOOTPATHS AND FLOOD GATES
FOOTPATHS AND FLOOD GATES 15th August 2018 Excitement is mounting re the Maryport Artfest, when Percy met Norman, 28th 29th September.  I know lots of people have already booked for talks and trails. I’m looking forward to meeting many of you there. The organisers (The Maryporters) have put a lot of thought and work into it and it promises to be an interesting 2 days.  There are lectures and painting groups and a pop up bookshop. I will be there most of the time so there will be time to chat and catch up. The Kelly trail boxes have gone... Read More »»
FRIENDSHIP
FRIENDSHIP 29th July 2018 WHEN PERCY MET NORMAN.  A two day event 28 -29 September at The Settlement, Castle Hill Maryport. CA15 6BQ When Percy Kelly left Cumbria to live in Wales, he wrote to his friend the poet Norman Nicholson. - One day we must fuse our work for the whole world to see and read.  This is your chance!  It may never happen again.  A small exhibition of Kelly and Nicholson’s work has been gathered together for the first time.  There will be talks, workshops, readings, a guided Percy Kelly Maryport trail... Read More »»
THE WORLD OF PERCY KELLY
THE WORLD OF PERCY KELLY 23rd June 2018 A lot is happening in the wonderful world of Percy Kelly.  His fame is spreading so fast it is sometimes hard to keep up. Exciting and ambitious projects are developing  -  small exhibitions in local schools from projects based on Kelly’s letters; invitations to give talks about Kelly to groups and societies and large scale national and international plans that I can’t disclose until I’m sure they will happen. Be patient and all will be revealed. Just stay tuned in and sign up for newsletters at... Read More »»
GDPR 22nd May 2018 GDPR changes to data retention rules. All of you on my  email newsletter list have proactively subscribed  to receive newsletters from www.percykelly.co.uk and  www.chriswadsworth.net .  When you signed you will have received an e mail asking you to confirm your decision which you have done.  You  are free to unsubscribe at any time through the link at the bottom of this email.  I  don’t keep any personal details other than your e mail address and  I never  acquire email addresses from third par... Read More »»