.... The school art room was the most exotic, exciting place, with the sixth formers' wonderful paintings emerging all around, gigantic stage sets under construction, screen printing, pottery, and weird smells, but happily nothing which felt academic. From aged 16 I used to draw as a way to learn such things as anatomy for my career in obstetrics and gynaecology, or for holiday sketches of the children. I started painting again more regularly after a break of more than 50 years thanks to The Arts Centre, and Juliet, an ideal teacher to inspire confidence in a beginner to acrylic painting, all the more appreciated in the fun company of the group in lockdown ......