WORDS BY THE WATER 25 YEARS ON!
Date Posted: 9th January 2026
Hope you had a good Christmas break and gearing up for a welcome spring. I’m layered up like the Michelin Man at the moment (at least 2 pairs of everything)
In my last newsletter I promised you more about the programme for the Words by the Water ‘s 25th anniversary in March. Well the programme is now out and on line and the box office at TBTL is now open. This is a seriously tempting and varied programme we are offered.
The main house on Thursday 12th March attracts me the most. It begins with Aspatria born Sheila Fell who climbed to the heights of the British art world in her far too short 48 years. I met Andrew and Eleanor Bradley for the first time about 4 years ago when they informed me they were cataloguing ALL Sheila Fells works and asked for my help in tracking them down as I had sold a lot in my 25 years at Castlegate House. Of course I never disclose any of my art buyers but I put a lot of you in touch with these retired Cambridge medics. We plotted and planned and what they thought would be a hundred works at best just kept on growing and an exhibition was planned and they have published a Catalogue Resonne of all her works (except a few they’ve found since publication.) Warning. It’s a heavy tome. You will need something on wheels to take it away. (I am joking!)
The next treat is Julian Cooper talking about his wonderful mountain oil paintings which make me dizzy as I cling on to the rock face. There will be an accompanying exhibition of his work at the theatre as an extra bonus.
The next up is an art critic I admire and trust – Andrew Graham Dixon – and he’s talking about his new book about Vermeer who died in his early forties leaving no evidence of his existence behind him except 11 children and fewer than 40 wonderful paintings which came together at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam last year. He has done some remarkable research into Vermeer’s life and the result is a mind blowing story of art, wars, religion and life in 17th century Europe, which overrides all the other theories – and there are many.
So you think that’s it don’t you? Well it’s not. Do you watch Fake of Fortune on BBC TV? The presenters Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould research viewers’ art works that are under scrutiny and often turn to art historian Bendor Grosvenor for his opinion. Bendor is the 4th man in a day not to be missed. You can get an all-day ticket with an extra thrown in of Stephen Matthews and his sonnets based on the work of Rembrandt on Sunday 15th. I chaired his Vermeer sonnets last year – they are impressive.
This means you can get 5 tickets to hear some great speakers first hand for £50. It’s a steal. Sign up quickly to be sure of getting them all. Book on line at theatrebythelake.com or 017687 74411
I’ll see you there