The Star by Hackney Downs, 4 October 2016

Sometimes bookings line up perfectly. When Catherine Hall asked Esther and me if we would model together at The Star by Hackney Downs on 4 October, we knew we would both be free. Indeed, come the evening only London transport held us back; the Overground was delayed indefinitely, National Rail dawdled horribly, and even our tube train terminated prematurely.

From intending to arrive 20 minutes early we were ultimately about three minutes late. This was doubly upsetting as it was the first time I’d ever been late for a booking. We got underway as soon as the artists were ready for us, presenting a set of poses that alternated between intimate and dynamic. With commendable courage, co-organisers Catherine and Carla Nizzola did not shy away from requesting quickfire work.

We began with 10-minutes and 5-minutes, forming connections whilst sitting upon two chairs. Then came the fast stuff: three 2-minute poses, and three 1-minute poses. We intertwined mercilessly yet this group of talented artists represented us well. Poses of 5-minutes and 15-minutes took us to an interval, then a single half-hour reclining pose ended the session. We overran by five minutes to compensate for our late arrival.

Esther and I knew this evening would be free in our diaries as we’d deliberately kept it clear. It was our one-year anniversary – to be marked with a modest celebration – and what better way than by sharing closeness in the work that had brought us together in the first place? Our duo poses are becoming ever more confident and comfortable, as indeed are we. A nice meal at La Lira in Dalston ended a quirkily special day.