Had a very hectic time at work this week, so much so by Wednesday I was convinced it was Thursday. This happens with me from time to time, I’m told it’s not life threatening.

Anyway, having decided it was Thursday, I was weighing up whether to be responsible and work late, or go to a private view, drink champagne, and deal with the consequences later. The private view won hands down. I headed off into the West End to Rollo Contemporary to see “Paint” a group show featuring an old friend of mine, with whom I used to share a studio- Andrew Hollis- who isn’t currently based in London, and so I rarely get to see. Also in the show is Margot Sanders, who I haven’t met, but was in a show with in Vienna last year (which I couldn’t afford to actually go to myself- it still seems odd paying for paintings to travel somewhere when you can’t then go yourself). I thought it would also be a good chance to actually meet her.

However, it was a Wednesday, not Thursday- the opening night- and so when I arrived the gallery was decidedly closed to the public; Simon Gillespie- the gallery director was still making the final tweaks to the lighting of the show. Luckily he saw me loitering outside, realised my mistake, and very kindly offered to let me have a sneak preview. It’s a killer show, I think I liked everything in it- very much one for painters to check out (perhaps not altogether unsuprisingly with a show called “Paint”).

I was particularly impressed with Andrew’s new work- a series of paintings taken from an encyclopedia from 1967 (before the upheavals of 1968 and the impact this had on philosophy and art which continues to this day). Fantastically painted, and slightly overworldly, like most of his recent work dealing with ideas around realism. Well worth checking out if you’re in the West End.