Tonight was a busy and exciting end to a long day of transporting, image hanging – courtesy of some decidedly heath-robinson carpentry! – with the Preview Evening of the Brighton Art Fair. The event, which lasts for the next three days, kicked off with a wine and champagne reception tonight, and it was great to see friends old and new in attendance.

I should also add special thanks to my ever-patient wife, Carrie, for her calm during the day during set-up, and also to one of my old friends, Tim Mitchell, who supplied a much-needed stream of logic and some fine drilling skills (as an ex-Marine… I guess drills were all part of the package…) during the day as we grappled with the not-exactly flush walls and slightly uneven floors of Brighton’s Corn Exchange exhibition space!

The gallery I’ve decided to show at the event is “Connections” – which you can see elsewhere on this site.

This particular sepia and monochrome group is compiled from images from Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa over the last 18 months and judging by the constant stream of people stopping to chat through the images during the evening, was the right choice!

Needless to say, it is “Lazy Days” that is the real show-stopper. At six feet wide, and nearly 4 feet high, this dibond-printed image is one of my all-time favourites.

The leopard in the starring role was a young, South African female, and one which – after I had gained her trust over several days – afforded me some of the most incredible encounters I’d ever had with this usually elusive spotted cat.

The show runs until Sunday, 28th September, and is packed full of art of all genres, so there’s bound to be something to appeal. Come along if you can, and drop by the stand if you get the chance.

I look forward to seeing some of you there!