Day Seven (Final) - A Journey of Discovery in East SussexIt was our last day of exploration. John had devised a visit plan of some gentle walking to show us some of the beauty of the Sussex South Downs, and I had checked the website of Michelham Priory which said we didn’t have to pre-book for our Saturday visit. We piled into the car and set off.  The new 'Bee and Butterfly' window, at the church of St Mary & St Peter, Wilmington, incorporates pieces from the original and depicts St Peter surrounded by butterflies and bees, above a Phoenix. First stop was Folkington down a gravelled lane with tree branches forming a lovely canopy overhead. John had been several times on annual walks with our brother Peter along the South Downs which John now missed. Age is creeping us up and the first body parts to feel it most are our feet, ankles and calves, so I’m always looking down to watch where I tread on uneven ground. Now I sport my Dr Martens type boots as everyday footwear. An opening in front of us showed us the sweeping serenity of the Downs. Home - South Downs National Park Authority It was my first proper visual intake of them and I wanted to walk and explore. For a while, we all climbed up a track, leaned against a field gate and admired the views. Wonderful! Then carefully trod back to the car and off to Wilmington. My son Marcus, said he could have wandered off quite easily on his own and seen us after several hours. Next year you can Marcus at your leisure! Please Click on the photo images to enlarge, and hover over to read any captions. All photos are credited to Marysia Zipser unless otherwise captioned. My carousel photos you can stop and study at any time. On arrival at Wilmington we stopped in the public car park and read all the signs and information about The Long Man which appeared mysteriously in front of us. It is Europe’s largest portrayal of the human form, dating back to at least 1710 when the surveyor John Rowley illustrated the figure. But what is it exactly? Does it go back to ancient neolithic times? More information can be gleaned here Long Man│Wilmington│Chalk Figures Wonderful! - The Long Man of Wilmington, Wilmington Traveller Reviews We wandered out of the car park and turned left down the village street, coming to the remains of the Priory, founded in the 11th century and enlarged in 1243 by Benedictine monks from Grestain Abbey in Normandy. More information is here Wilmington Priory The surviving building is now owned by the Landmark Trust and let as holiday accommodation, details here Wilmington Priory, East Sussex I loved inspecting these buildings from the outside and especially the flint and stonework. Then onward to Wilmington Church of St Mary & St Peter. Up the pathway through the iron gate, the ancient yew tree presides which is reputed to be over 1600 years old, its vast canopy spreading across the churchyard. What a magnificent sight! The churchyard is a haven of peacefulness, I could have lingered so much longer. The church beckoned me in. My photographs tell my experience. Wilmington – St Mary and St Peter – Sussex Parish Churches St Mary and St Peter's Church, Wilmington  Outside in the churchyard again I veered around in more detail looking at the gravestones noticing their good condition and their protection of the elements by the arboreal canopy. Notice (left) the graphite rubbing we took of the memorial plaque on large stone tomb to Thomas Ade, his wife and their eleven children. I plonked myself down on a wooden bench just outside the stone walls to admire the glorious vista of the South Downs and for further contemplation. Onward now to Michelham Priory at Upper Dicker. We obtained our entry tickets at the gatehouse, crossing the bridge over the moat. The man said that weekend they were, for the first time since lockdown, hosting a Classic Vehicle Show on the expansive lawns. Growing up in a motor business family, John and I were delighted to see the classic cars displayed, so he and Marcus went on for closer inspections. They had scaled down this event this year, limiting cars and visitors on site to comply with social distancing guidances. Michelham Priory boasts England’s longest medieval water filled moat and offers a great day out for all the family. The surviving buildings are owned and administered by the Sussex Archaeological Society. The moat encircles a site steeped in history dating back to 1229, from its foundation by Augustinian canons, through the destruction caused by the dissolution of the monasteries in Tudor times and into its later life as a country house in World War II. All the information you need on this beautiful place and to plan your visit is here https://sussexpast.co.uk/properties-to-discover/michelham-priory and https://www.historichouses.org/houses/house-listing/michelham-priory.html We all so enjoyed our guided tour learning about its history and artefacts room by room on the ground floor applauding our guide who led us, and then ascended upstairs. I thought the curation throughout was superb. Note our graphite rubbing of an oak bible box, and Marcus’s ink drawing of the Priory frontage. After our tour, we all wandered off in different directions. There are many photos I took here, and of the magnificent gardens so take your time to study them. I just loved my exploration of the gardens as you will notice. It was a beautiful ending to our last day of exploration in East Sussex. We drove home to Bexhill base camp to enjoy our final meal together and recollect. Marcus and I are truly thankful to my brother John and his wife Christine who were wonderful gracious hosts and fonts of knowledge. We will be back hopefully next year to fill in those missed touring and walking experiences I highlighted. The next morning we returned to Beeston-Nottingham. I hope you’ve enjoyed my week’s Journey of Discovery in East Sussex and hope my daily blogs and photo montages will entice you to visit this beautiful English region “which oozes in history” as John says. Marysia Zipser Website ART - CULTURE - TOURISM - Home Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International - Home Facebook /marysia.zipser.7/ Twitter Art-Culture-Tourism (@MarysiaZipser) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser- Email marysia@artculturetourism.co.uk
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Day Six - Journey of Discovery in East SussexI booked Herstmonceux Castle gardens tickets online the day before. We entered the main gates at around 11am and motored down the sweeping driveway (passing the Observatory Science Centre on right, still closed to the public) to the car park in front of this magnificent moated red brick castle. What an awesome sight it was! Please study and read their website here Herstmonceux Castle. The Castle operates as an International Study Centre for Queen’s University in Canada. You can tell how excited Marcus and I were by just seeing our expressions taken as a selfie. We’re both fascinated by red brick castles and have wanted to visit the largest red brick century castle (13th century) in the world, Malbork of the Teutonic Order, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in north Poland. However, Herstmonceux is one of the oldest significant brick buildings still standing in England, dating from 1441. Construction began under the then-owner, Sir Roger Fiennes, and was continued after his death in 1449, by his son Lord Dacre. We entered the castle reception area to pick up our gardens & grounds layout map, and walked up the courtyard admiring the architecture, and into the Long Border and Rose Garden with Sundial. “The bust of Sir John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal and founder of The Royal Greenwich Observatory, stands in front of the large, central sundial. Largely planted with David Austin modern “English” roses, within the beds can be found varieties of hybrid tea and floribunda shrub roses. Growing in frames and against three of the walls are climbing roses.” (extract from website). I bent down to smell the first rose I encountered and was knocked out by its fragrance. It was called ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’. I then proceeded to sniff all the roses in the garden, and then was beautifully surprised to nose the climbing rose of ‘Claire Austin’. She was a knock out too! The whole experience made me feel like an orchestral conductor of Procol Harum's beautiful music and words with that first fragrance as lead-in. THAT rose, I decided, will be perfect for a middle section space in my Beeston garden. Let the garden art orchestra begin! Please Click on the photo images to enlarge, and hover over to read captions. All photos are credited to Marysia Zipser unless otherwise captioned. My carousel photos you can stop and study at any time. Journeying through all the section gardens and grounds alerted all my senses. The visual effects were tantalizing. All my photos of the gardens and grounds show my passion for all things garden art, landscaping and horticultural. Use them as a ‘journey’ and immerse yourself in their ‘stories’. I joined up with Marcus at the garden exit and we ventured into the Visitor Centre to study the timeline of the castle and its owners. This explained everything in more detail as to who, what and why, the beginning to the present. As we walked back to the car, we glimpsed back at this beautiful castle, moat and setting, and sighed. Such an awesome experience, and I vowed to return next year and to visit the Observatory Science Centre. We then motored onto the village of Firle. A Guide to Firle | Things To See and Do in Firle | Sussex This whole area boasts the finest arts, architecture, horticulture, landscaping and all cultures combined into a wholly magnificent history touring experience. Unfortunately Firle Place was still closed due to Covid19 and ‘Charleston’, the home of the Bloomsbury Group’s Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant was fully booked way ahead for garden visitors, so I vowed to return there next year, as well as nearby Glynde. We slowly veered into the village Inn’s car park, and then walked through, deciding it the perfect place to have our late lunch, after we’d explored the village and its church. As I neared the church, I could hear piano music. I listened more closely at the Norman arched main door, tried to unlock the handle but it didn’t open, so we walked around to the side entrance and freely entered. A lady was practising her music pieces for two weddings and a funeral booked for the weekend. She looked up, stopped and spoke to us charmingly about the Church of St Peter. What a beautiful and calming interior. Marcus and I were fascinated by all the stained glass windows, Brasses, Vestry, Tombs and Chancel. All information is detailed in their church guide booklet and on the websites St Peter's Church | Church in Firle | Firle and West Firle – St Peter (Sussex Parish Churches) Walking back along the attractive village street we headed for the The Ram Inn for welcome refreshment outside, sat down and talked. We had an afternoon tea appointment with friends at their house in Lewes so we embarked after half an hour. I’ll be back again to wander and study this delightful village and area.  After just ten minutes driving we were in central Lewes and parked in the street by my friends’ house. What a delightful time we had reminiscing, sat down at their large garden table, conversations flowing. Their place was like something out of ‘Country Homes & Interiors’ magazine (see left). After a time they then walked us down to the town’s Pells duck pond and showed us Pells Pool which is the oldest freshwater outdoor public swimming baths, or lido, in the UK that is still operating, its original structure being built in 1860. Awesome! Pells Pool . Then onward to view the River Ouse from the bridge across. Everything so serene. We returned to their house for final goodbyes, and drove leisurely back to John and Christine’s home at Bexhill...but I will return to Lewes at a later date to see so much more. Tomorrow, our last day, is to Folkington, Wilmington, the Long Man, Michelham Priory & Gardens. I hope you enjoyed our Day Six. Please click the blue ‘Like’ button below and write me any comments if you so wish. Many thanks.
Marysia Zipser Website ART - CULTURE - TOURISM - Home Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International - Home Facebook /marysia.zipser.7/ Twitter Art-Culture-Tourism (@MarysiaZipser) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser- Email marysia@artculturetourism.co.uk Day Five - A Journey of Discovery in East SussexDay Four I will write about and publish at a later date as my brother John and I focused most of the day on our family history archives and photographs he keeps at Bexhill so my blog subject will be on our family ancestry. Also my youngest son Marcus Gilmore came to join us via train from Beeston, Nottingham, and we collected him from Hastings station around 4.15pm. So it went on to be an entertaining evening of family recollections. Day Five. Battle Abbey and the site of the Battle of Hastings of 14 October 1066 was on our wish list plan weeks before, so I had booked two days earlier timed tickets for English Heritage Battle Abbey at 11.00 am for Marcus and I. It certainly turned out to be a day to remember. Both Marcus and I are keen ‘medievalists’ and just love exploring historic buildings and landscapes, so 1066 Country was the perfect region to satisfy our history passions and all things heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/1066-battle-of-hastings-abbey-and-battlefield/ Please navigate around this website to find out everything for your visit. Please Click on the photo images to enlarge, and hover over to read captions. All photos are credited to Marysia Zipser unless otherwise captioned. My carousel photos you can stop and study at any time.
After descending back onto the terrace below, we then walked along the pathway encircling the vast 100 acre site keeping to the outside of the perimeter walls. We ambled past the cafe, the abbey ruins, the walled garden, the ice house and dairy, so much to explore. The pathway around the battlefield we dismissed on this occasion leaving enthralled families to experience. Coming round to the original site layout of the monastery, it was a time to sit down and contemplate and Marcus started to sketch some scenes. Namely the Dorter or Dormitory over the Novices accommodation and Monks Common Room. I noticed the 1903 memorial where ‘the brave Harold the Saxon fell’ and saw the chance to do a graphite rubbing of one of the surfaces as a memento. Our 12.30pm talk was ready so the young EH historian gathered us and several families inviting us to sit down on the lawn by the Abbots House where he related to us the story of Harold Godwinson during his last twenty years leading up to that fateful day in October 1066. I must applaud this young man who enthralled us all so much, so many facts we learned understanding Harold’s character and pathway to becoming successor to King William the Confessor, his brother-in-law, in January 1066. You can discover more about him on this Wikipedia link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Godwinson  Marysia at the Gatehouse, finishing off her ice cream! Afterwards we walked back to the gatehouse and entered into the Shop which I was very impressed with, treating myself to a tapestry ceramic coaster (£5.00), greeting card (£2.50) and National Portrait Gallery Kings & Queens lined notebook (£2.50). You can buy online products from the shop too via the EH website. Caroline saw us exiting and called out how our tour went and what rubbings we managed to glean so we showed her and thanked her for her great help. We then wandered to explore the pretty village of Battle in front of us and sat down in one of the street’s bistros and relished some cool fruity drinks. More useful links below. https://www.battlesussex.co.uk/ https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/eastsussex/abbeys/battle.htm Back to John and Christine’s Bexhill home for a sandwich lunch, and then we all motored onward to Rye. Rye is a beautiful town that must be on everyone’s tour of East Sussex. It is full of history, ancient buildings, cobbled lanes, inns and enticing shops of all kinds. In medieval times, it was an important member of the Cinque Ports confederation and almost entirely surrounded by the sea. Read more about it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rye,_East_Sussex and https://www.visit1066country.com/destinations/rye We had a great time exploring the streets, the beautiful and peaceful churchyard of St Mary’s high on the hill (below) and the castle, or Ypres Tower, built to defend the town from the French, now part of the Rye Museum. https://www.ryeparishchurch.org.uk/history.htm Another Cinque Port we drove to was Winchelsea https://www.winchelsea.com/ close to Rye and admired its attractive streets and old houses, so we stopped for a few minutes for me to photo capture the church exterior and where John Wesley gave his last open air sermon on 7th October 1790. Wesley’s Chapel is a few minutes walk away. We came back to base brimming full of history, our heads and conversations spinning and bodies tired, what a fantastic day! After Marcus and I treated ourselves to takeaways, John and Christine cooked supper for their invited Bexhill friend and author, John V. Watson, who was a very entertaining raconteur of all things cinematic. John is an expert researcher and writer of cinema history and classic films with several books published and applauded by university academia. Most of his books are available to purchase on Amazon, his latest ones entitled “Paradise Lost: The History of the Regal Cinema, Swaffham, Norfolk: 1919-60. The history of a rural picture house long since vanished.” (2020) and “Julius Hagen: “The Czar of Twickenham” Film Studios. The Complete Filmography: Book One” (2019). https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=John+V+Watson&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss I veered happily exhausted off to bed leaving John, Christine, Marcus and John to continue conversations, for tomorrow Marcus and I were to explore Herstmonceux Castle grounds, Firle and visit friends in Lewes.
I hope you enjoyed our Day Five and if so please click the blue ‘Like’ button below and write me any comments if you so wish. Many thanks. Marysia Zipser Website ART - CULTURE - TOURISM - Home Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International - Home Facebook /marysia.zipser.7/ Twitter Art-Culture-Tourism (@MarysiaZipser) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser- Email marysia@artculturetourism.co.uk Day Three - A Journey of Discovery in East Sussex My brother John and I had discussions in the morning where to go today, scanning local history books, and catching up on our family history looking at archive photographs. As we’re in 1066 Country, we decided to keep local and delve into Hastings heritage. One of John’s favoured concise tourism-history references to Sussex is by F R Banks from the 1957 Penguin Guides. Hastings is of Saxon origin taking its name from a tribe called Haestingas who settled there as early as the 8th century. King Athelstan established one of the royal mints there in 928. On 28 September 1066 William of Normandy landed at Pevensey but soon transferred to a more defended position on West Hill at Hastings. After the battle of Hastings, fought 6 miles north west on the site of Battle Abbey, William made Hastings his principal fort. It became one of the Cinque Ports. Hastings remained a fishing and boat building centre until the second half of the 18th century, where the fashion for sea bathing first came in. Please Click on the photo images to enlarge, and hover over to read captions. All photos are credited to Marysia Zipser unless otherwise captioned.  So late morning we motored off to this ancient town, parked the car on West Hill and walked leisurely over the open green space admiring the stunning views below and over to East Hill. To tell you the truth, just sitting on a bench, drinking our orange juice and chatting about the hillside lifts and the town’s history was all we needed at that time on a perfect day. We decided against taking the hill lift downwards and took the car instead and meandered down some of the old streets of the town where we could, and then walking along the front and to the hard-to-get-to places. Reminds me of the Shambles in York or the Lanes at Brighton, streets you don’t mind getting lost in and going into quaint olde curiosity shops, high class junk or antiquarian shops.
There were just a few families around and some packing up their paddle boards, towels and picnic bags. Their smiling faces said it all. What a grand day at the seaside! I hope you enjoyed our Day Three and if so please click the blue ‘Like’ button and write any comments below if you wish. See you tomorrow for our next day’s adventure in East Sussex!
Marysia Zipser Website ART - CULTURE - TOURISM - Home Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International - Home Facebook /marysia.zipser.7/ Twitter Art-Culture-Tourism (@MarysiaZipser) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser- Email marysia@artculturetourism.co.uk Day Two - A Journey of Discovery in East Sussex After coming downstairs to get some coffee, I heard some tapping on the house front door. Peering through the glass panels, I could make out a large seagull standing on the doorstep. “Christine!” I shouted up, “you’ve got a visitor at the front door”. “Oh, that’s Horace, he’s a regular here at food times. I’m coming down.” He tapped again, so I opened the door and said, “Hello, nice to meet you Horace. Christine’s coming to give you breakfast.” Christine rustled up some food in the kitchen for him which was a bowl of dried cat food with fishy flavours, and placed it outside on a mat for him. He duly ate it up, and then waddled off. She said he comes at regular meal times but if Alba, a neighbouring cat, is lurking around, he’ll stay away. “We have foxes and badgers who come for food at night times, so there’s always something here to eat and water to drink to satisfy them.” Not only does Christine offer sanctuary for neighbourly birds and wild animals, she’s also got green fingers! Her small front and back garden is a delight and a welcome retreat with wisteria and clematis covered arbour. It is a lovely place to sit under the shade from the hot sunshine with a cool drink or mug of tea. See some photos of her lovely garden at the end of the blog. So today we decided to venture out to Pevensey Castle and explore all things Norman and medieval. Please Click on the photo images to enlarge, and hover over to read captions. All photos are credited to Marysia Zipser unless otherwise captioned. 
John said that St Mary’s Church Welcome to St Mary's, Westham was well worth a walk around so we did. We didn’t venture inside this ancient place, on this occasion. It is reputedly the first Norman church built, its earliest parts dating from the late 11th century. I loved the churchyard’s peacefulness and could have stayed much longer there under the shade of the trees and maybe sketched a few outlines. See photos below. We ambled back along the road pathways around the outer castle walls and to our car which thankfully had kept quite cool in the shade. On arriving back at our Bexhill house, we sat down in the coolness of the garden’s arbour, drank our tea and reminisced about our day’s adventure. And to bring more smiles to our faces, we heard more taps on the front door. It was Horace in time for his teatime snack obviously noticing our house return. Kimlee, a Beeston friend, commented on my Facebook post of the day, “Horace seems like a very polite and patient seagull. A seagull from Whitby would have bashed the door down and mugged you by now!" We just giggled! I hope you enjoyed our Day Two and if so please click the blue ‘Like’ button and write any comments below if you wish. See you tomorrow for our next day’s adventure in East Sussex! Marysia Zipser Website ART - CULTURE - TOURISM - Home Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International - Home Facebook /marysia.zipser.7/ Twitter Art-Culture-Tourism (@MarysiaZipser) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser- Email marysia@artculturetourism.co.uk Below are some photos of Christine and John’s beautiful garden back and front. Day One - Beeston-Nottingham to Bexhill-on-Sea - Great Expectations Sunday 9th August Things were packed in my car, garden instructions left with my son Marcus (who was joining us Wednesday afternoon by train) and consecutive neighbours George and Harry. My first staycation foray into our beautiful British countryside on the East Sussex coast. Memories came flooding back of my visit when my sons were younger going to stay with Uncle John and enjoying the steam train journey to bewitching Bodium Castle and then an awesome afternoon at Bateman’s, Rudyard Kipling’s family home. This time, I had my prepared wish list of places to visit but knew we’d consult at breakfast time depending on what venues were COVID safely open to the public and then booking our entry tickets online. Strange yet memorable times we are encountering so planning daily routes were key.  De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea. Photo credit: Marysia Zipser Driving down was a relatively smooth and uninterrupted traffic journey. My senses were alerted when I turned right off the M25 onto the A21 road. Village prettiness and sweeping views were attractive side glances as I headed downwards towards Bexhill. At 3.45pm I turned into the town’s De La Warr Pavilion car park and stopped. Another drink of water and a munch of sandwich and then I climbed out and stretched my body, breathed in several gulps of sea air and walked to the pavilion beachfront. I’ve always loved this place since childhood on the South coast with Mum, Dad and my two brothers. My elder brother John has made Bexhill his home after thirty odd years, after being an Art & Design student at Leicester Polytechnic (now DMU) in the early 1960s and now a Pentecostal pastor. He’s also a regular visitor to the DWLP for concerts and exhibitions, keeping me updated on all their activities, so I was really looking forward to discovering more cultural leisure spots on this visit. Please Click on the photo images to enlarge, and hover over to read captions. For the record, I enjoyed my ‘Humanities’ years at University of Nottingham, as a mature student, and do recommend to those wishing to follow the Heritage Tourism pathway, that they pursue this course of learning. Several modules spring to mind at this point that accentuate my passions - Sense of Place, the Culture of Leisure, Medieval Castles of England & Wales and the Crusades (both with Dr Pamela Marshall), Modernist Architecture, William Morris and Arts & Crafts Movement, the Bloomsbury Group, and so many intertwining English Literature studies, all relevant to this region. Every subject studied flows nicely into a circle of knowledge that prepares one on any journey of discovery.
His show, as the poster and social media say, is 'to celebrate the reopening of the DLWP, LIVE from the rooftop in COVID safe conditions. The show will go ahead come rain or shine. A tale of convicts, mystery, friendship, rivalry, unrequited love, revenge and redemption'. All profits going to the DLWP. For those of you due here this week, please book your tickets as quick as you can, a real treat! His show continues until Sunday 23rd August so go onto https://www.dlwp.com/event/eddie-izzard-greatexpectations20/ or https://eddieizzard.com/en/shows Well, what a welcome for me at Bexhill is all I can say! I happily drove off to John and Christine’s home a few minutes away where I enjoyed my first evening of family get-togetherness. So much to talk about with great expectations to come. Now I’ve got you hooked and booked, please enjoy my next instalment of East Sussex journey of discovery blogs over the following seven days... To close my Day One, here is a pertinent extract from ‘Great Expectations’ “That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.” ― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations Marysia Zipser Find me on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn Website ART - CULTURE - TOURISM - Home Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International - Home Facebook /marysia.zipser.7/ Twitter Art-Culture-Tourism (@MarysiaZipser) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser- Email marysia@artculturetourism.co.uk Below are some example paperback covers of Great Expectations. Introduced by Marilyn Comparetto FRSA and Marysia ZipserI first met Helen at ART @ MG, Mardlebury Gallery, in Datchworth four years ago when she presented me with her large abstract pieces. It was clear to see that she had unleashed her passion, emotions and vibrant energy on to the canvases using a kaleidoscope of luscious, thickly laid colours for all to see. Since then I have been following Helen’s incredible artistic journey and I have seen her soar to new heights. More recently Helen has been revealing her story around her own personal battle with cancer. Through this difficult journey Helen has given strength and encouragement to everyone around her…what an inspiration! Marilyn Comparetto I have known and collaborated with Marilyn Comparetto at Datchworth and Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and here in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, for several years, and it was through our mutual social media that I connected with Helen Lack in January this year. The colourful vibrancy and dynamism of Helen’s artworks immediately grabbed me and pulled me in, making me keen to learn more about her as a person and her motivation. Marysia Zipser So this has become a collaborative blog opportunity to showcase the impressive growth and range of Helen’s artistic development. Our six questions and her answers are below accompanied by photo images for you to understand and appreciate the positive and inspirational journey she has taken and is taking. Please Click on the images to enlarge and hover over to read the Captions. *All artworks and photographs subject to copyright Helen Lack*  Q1. Your journey as a contemporary artist has an interesting beginning. Can you explain about it? I started out many years ago in a different medium, as a fashion photographer, working in London and Australia. As a photographer I was always fascinated by detail, styling, creating a theme and storyline behind the photographic shoots. For many years, I worked with the top model agencies in London and Sydney creating test shots, casting models for model portfolios and doing editorial work for magazines. In Australia I worked as a photographer in advertising agencies undertaking commercial and corporate work. One of my highlights was working as a photographic assistant for one of the top fashion photographers in Australia, Graham Shearer, so I had the opportunity to work with both Elle and Vogue magazine. Graham Shearer After some time, raising a family, I decided to have a break from fashion photography and explore different mediums. One day I happened to be in a cafe in Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire, when a leaflet caught my attention. It was about art lessons to be held in a small hall at Sandy, by an artist called Jean Picton. Jean comes from a theatre background and as soon as we met, I felt an instant connection. She would for a year, whilst I attended art classes, become my mentor. She inspired me in so many ways. Jean Picton Jean encouraged me “ to express my thoughts in an individual way”. Meanwhile, I just became determined to develop and try new techniques. A whole new world had opened for me and it was Art. After spending time having art lessons, I made the decision to go alone; solo and group exhibitions quickly followed and then Art Fairs in London and Galleries. Q2. Your bravery, honesty, passion and resilience have shone through this year. Can you highlight this to our readers?  Sydney Opera House, Australia 2020 has had a huge impact on myself, family and people around me. January began with the dream holiday, I returned back to Australia after 25 years; I used to live in Darwin and Sydney for ten years. It was an amazing experience to enjoy this wonderful country that means so much to me and share so many precious moments and memories with my dear family. Our trip was to take us through China, seeing many amazing sights in Beijing and visiting The Great Wall of China. Then we flew to Sydney and spent time enjoying the coastal walks, beaches, botanical gardens and Sydney Opera House. Our journey then took us to Port Douglas, north of Cairns which was immensely tropical and a beautiful place to visit. Upon return to the UK, my life was to change dramatically! One day in January, I discovered a lump in my breast, many tests and scans followed. Within four weeks I was given the diagnosis that I had Triple Negative Cancer. This was one of the hardest moments in my life. This is a rare and aggressive form of cancer which does not respond to hormone receptors. It can spread easily and has a high recurrence rate within the first five years. Suddenly, the weeks and months that passed were spent in hospitals, attending meetings with my medical team, tests and creating a medical plan for the future. Alongside this anxious time, Covid 19 was on a global scale and the UK was in Lockdown. Attending hospitals meant wearing masks, gloves and taking every safety precaution necessary to prevent coronavirus. Schools shut and Universities closed which meant all my family were with me, which helped in many ways. Having my family and friends around me, during this difficult and challenging time has been an enormous support. Chemo treatment commenced and I became determined and focused to battle each day with what was put in front of me. Days were mixed, good and bad with many side effects, but I had many plans ahead.
 Early Diagnosis Artwork - Darling Hold My Hand These Artworks will be exhibited in Paris in September, through Blossom Fighting Cancer who discovered my work and loved them. Currently they are in Paris now. In March when I started chemo treatment I decided to tell my personal story through art and photography. I opened up to all media, going to the BBC Three Counties Radio station, newspapers to discuss my tremendous effort to raise £150,000 for the Triple Negative Cancer Foundation for Cancer Awareness Day. I worked round the clock for a week raising money through social media and selling my contemporary artworks, where I donated the funds to this charity which I felt so strong about. I felt pleased to have helped, and it really stays with me as one of the greatest achievements in my career. March was a month of bad news. It came flooding in that I had a difficult year ahead but each time I thought, “I must use this time wisely and share my thoughts through art”. Art and Nature became my therapy. Nothing would stop me and then the fear of coronavirus began to loom, having an underlying medical condition meant I had to shield during lockdown.  Lifted Artwork inspired to lift the spirits of the frontline workers. Tough months were to follow. I painted Believe in Me, Lifted, an artwork to lift the spirits of the NHS, Over the Rainbow and Documenting Covid19. Most of these artworks have now sold. At the same time I worked harder and reached out to a greater audience with more online platforms both in the UK and internationally. Having a rare and aggressive cancer has meant I have a different outlook. Now I take each day by day. I enjoy the simple things in life which I discovered during lockdown, taking walks alone, family and friend moments, photographing when inspired and both painting and illustrating. My objective during lockdown was to see my artworks in public places, an important legacy. The contemporary artworks can be viewed at North Middlesex University Hospital, Watford ICU Ward, Edgware Community Hospital and North London Breast Screening Service, all of which have plaques on them and are displayed to staff, patients and the public. I’m honoured about this! Q3. Your transition to an influential artist exhibiting in the UK and overseas. What is the drive that powers you and what are your key influences? Having started working in the UK many years ago as an artist, I’m now in a position to choose where I exhibit, whether it be in London, Europe or America. Getting established as an international artist takes time, determination and hard work. Initially I would showcase my artwork at London Art Fairs and Galleries to put my work in front of influential Art collectors, buyers and galleries. This was exciting and an essential process of being an artist. Networking and marketing are an important exercise, whilst being an artist. In the past few years, I have developed my work on an international basis, winning several awards - The Botticelli International Art Award for artistic merit in Italy and artwork published in International Contemporary Artists 2019. Also my work has features on the front cover of Aesthetics and Fine Art. There is an inner drive within me to show my artwork on a global scale, I feel it is significant that the public view it and I create an audience. One of my artworks titled Candy was on a huge digital screen in the Philippines, it was an exciting project. In a few months, four selected artworks will be displayed at a prestigious gallery in Paris, which I’m privileged by, especially as this is through a non-profit organisation. In the past month I have been signed with an international art agency working in both Italy and America. The key influences come from myself, especially as I go through this cancer journey. It's important to me that I keep motivated and I thrive on new projects.  Four Selected Artworks to be exhibited in Paris, September 2020 Blossom Fighting Cancer Q4. Which artists and what are you most influenced by? As an artist in 2020 I find that I am influenced by many art movements and contemporary artists. The abstract expressionism movement in the 1950s with artists like Jackson Pollock always inspires me; Frank Kline with his feature, fluid brushstrokes that intersect, overlap and interact with one another are appealing, especially his colourful compositions that are full of energy and illustrate evolving aesthetic beauty. I’m drawn to artists who expel energy into their work, I relate to this as my contemporary artworks are individual, energetic and expressive. Another artist I admire is Paul Klee, especially his works titled Red Balloon and Highways and Byways, they have a unique style that resonates with me. Often my work is described to be similar to Monet, mainly characterised by quick brushstrokes, unique use of colour and light, plus “ fleeting impressions of everyday life”. It is these everyday scenes, location, messages, nature and people that influence what I create in my paintings. Monet, Renoir and Degas are masters that never cease to amaze me. Impressionism has to be one of my favourite avant garde art movements. In our current era, two street / graffiti artists that I respect are Socrate, a French street artist whose work is raw, bright, brash and has a sense of realism and photo real imagery. https://socrate-art.com/ BASM is the mononym for a British street artist called George Cosmin; he uses stencils, spray paint and has an awareness for political happenings. His work has a strong style and aesthetic. https://art-basm.com/ Generally my artwork is affected by mood, emotion, current situations, society issues and messages which I incorporate into my art to evoke a greater sense of being. Q5. Your creative process is fascinating. How has this developed and what springboards it? I find different days bring various ideas, concepts and techniques to my art journey. In moments of energy I write or paint colour boards, moods and palettes, this helps to process the initial preparation, before an artwork. However, sometimes they just have to be spontaneous moments and I go into the studio with an idea and the canvas is created. It gives me pleasure when the latter happens. Often when the creativity flows, I will paint several pieces so there is a continuous feeling. Presently I get tired easily due to chemo treatment so I do not work for hours on end. Illustrations develop when I feel weak and lack strength. My work has matured and developed from years ago, though it is a journey which takes me into the unknown. Art has saved me through the cancer journey which I find myself on. Without it, there “would be a huge void”. Motivation and focus drive me each day. I write a journal that helps throughout these journeys of mine, it is a poignant time and remains special. Q6. Finally, Helen, given your current health situation, what are you really looking forward to in your art direction and development?  Hope Artwork displayed at Edgware Community Hospital Given my current health situation I have a long way still to fight. Each day is a battle and requires more strength than the last. It is both hard, mentally and physically, there are times when you feel helpless. I try to keep active as much as I can and create art regularly, as this helps to calm the mind and my art is my therapy. Future plans that I look forward to are raising more public awareness about my specific breast cancer and other types. In the art direction I wish to express the science of cells in future works, more exhibitions displaying work focused on Breast Cancer and the moods which go with it, from an artist’s perspective. I wish to campaign, fund-raise and do more charity work when my health is better, probably next year. Also I plan to continue with my journey, documenting events, moods, artworks and photography - it will be called ‘My Post Journey’. I wish to become a survivor of breast cancer, and be able to look back on this year and remember each and every day, each artwork and how I keep developing, as time goes by. I will evolve through my art. I have so much more to achieve and so many more artworks to produce, I will embark on many new facets of life and keep giving to my viewers and ever growing audience. HELEN LACK - Contemporary Artist "An Artist of our Time" All artworks and photographs subject to copyright Helen Lack Helen wishes to express her sincere thanks to her family, friends, galleries and community who support her every day. Art Gallery & GIFTS | ART at MG - Mardleybury Gallery | Datchworth BLOSSOM – The Pink Ribbon Foundation – Breast Cancer Charity London Art Fair, Manchester Art Fair | Art Exhibition 8-11 October 2020 Talented Art Fair - Talented Art Fair London https://www.espaciogallery.com/# Chelsea Arts Gallery Contemporary Fine Arts | Original Abstract Paintings Helen Lack Artists The Local Arts Scene Helen Lack – Art Contact artist producing large format statement paintings Artist profile: HELEN LACK | MonShareArt We hope you’ve been inspired by Helen’s journey. If you have any comments to relay about this blog, we would love to hear from you in the Comments box (at the end of the photo galleries), Liking it, or/and via our contact links. Many thanks! Helen Lack with Marilyn Comparetto FRSA and Marysia Zipser Facebook Helen Lack Instagram Helen Lack-Contemporary Artist (@helenlackart) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-lack- Email helack@btopenworld.com  Website Art Gallery & GIFTS | ART at MG - Mardleybury Gallery | Datchworth Twitter ART @ MG (@ART_at_MG) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-jane-comparetto-frsa- Email info@mardleyburygallery.co.uk  Website ART - CULTURE - TOURISM - Home Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International - Home Twitter Art-Culture-Tourism (@MarysiaZipser) LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser- Email marysia@artculturetourism.co.uk Below Artworks for Sale. *All artworks subject to copyright Helen Lack* Roses, Lavenders and Scents of LifeRoberto writes... Discovering an English country garden… A video by Roberto Alborghetti and Photos by Inna Schutts lead us through roses, lavenders and scents of life. A real Kingdom of Green, governed and managed with passion and great competence by Marysia Zipser, Founder of ACT (Art - Culture - Tourism) in Beeston (Nottingham, UK), public speaker, feature writer, reviewer and blogger. So, welcome to the Land of Robin Hood, where legend and myth have the scent and colour of flowers. An initiative for The Year of the Roses 2020-2021. Soundtrack: English Country Garden, by Aaron Kenny. Art Culture Tourism founded by Marysia Zipser (“Promoting People & Places”) is a promotions agency whose mission is to recognise, bring together and fuse the multi-cultural creatives in its network, promote Beeston, Nottinghamshire and ACT’s artists, photographers, authors and performers on an international stage. ACT founder Marysia Zipser hosts inward and outbound tourism opportunities encouraging local business investment, strengthening development and stimulating employment. Marysia Zipser and ACT on web: https://www.artculturetourism.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/artculturetourism https://www.facebook.com/marysia.zipser.7 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser-b4b89668/ Inna Schutts on social networks: www.instagram.com/4curiousadventurers www.facebook.com/ischuttsphotography https://www.linkedin.com/in/inna-schutts%7Eischuttsphotography  Alla scoperta di un guardino della campagna inglese. Un video di Roberto Alborghetti con le foto di Inna Schutts. Un vero e proprio viaggio nel Regno del Verde, governato e gestito con tanta passione e grande competenza da Marysia Zipser, Fondatrice di ACT Group (Art, Culture, Tourism) in Beeston (Nottingham, UK), presenter and blogger. Dunque, benvenuti nella Terra di Robin Hood, dove la leggenda ed il mito hanno il profumo ed il colore dei fiori. Colonna Sonora: English Country Garden, by Aaron Kenny. Una iniziativa per l’Anno delle Rose 2020-2021.
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