I first met a man called Richard Shiltoe in about 2018. He was speaking at a conference on Surrealism and I was in the audience. He talked about an artist he deeply admired, Ithell Colquhoun. He had the privilege of not only meeting her, but also going to her studio.
I loved Ithell then and there, she because one of the inspiring artists that influenced my work and my determination. Ithell was an unusual artist and she painted from the heart, not to please anyone else, just to document her beliefs and cultural influences.
I was utterly blown away to discover she had an exhibition at the Tate St Ives and I booked tickets at the earliest possible date. I was genuinely like a rabbit in the headlights. I photographed every single piece of text and every artwork there. It took a couple of hours to take in the show, and I could have stayed so much longer. If you go, take a picnic and expect to never want to leave.
I know that Richard Shiltoe has campaigned tirelessly for many years to raise Ithells profile. His website contains information about her life and work.
Leave a Reply