Irving Penn exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London

An exhibition of the work of photographer Irving Penn opens at the National Portrait Gallery on 18^th February. The gallery has chosen to assemble a collection of portraits of the great & the good in the 20^th century arts world, photos that are a visual treat, often elegant and striking.

Interestingly, this selection gives the impression of a photographer who chose to impose his own style upon a portrait rather than to analyse the character of his sitter. For someone like me who was not already familiar with Penn’s work, it was good to be able to look as well at the books on offer in the shop, to see the rich variety of his work not represented here.

Well worth a visit, and of course there is so much else to see in this wonderful gallery.

Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park

February is the month for snowdrops. There are many gardens within reach of London that feature these lovely Spring flowers, including Colesbourne Park.In 1874 Henry John Elwes discovered the snowdrop that bears his name, Galanthus elwesii, in the mountains of Turkey. Since then, his family have developed one of the finest snowdrop gardens in the country.