The Beehive, London, 27 July 2023

After almost a dozen life model bookings spread over nearly 9 years for Taz and Tom of Tottenham Art Classes, would this one at The Beehive be my last? The pub isn’t going anywhere, and perhaps neither is the group, but its originators, facilitators, and all-round stars of N17 figurative art may soon be moving away from town…

Initially it seemed not only would this be my last session with Taz and Tom, but that it would be their final time here too. Securing a new home is rarely simple, however, so the good people of Tottenham get to enjoy wonderful life drawing evenings with them for a while longer. I secured myself a glass of red wine and prepared my space.

With Tom at the helm I began with two poses of 2 minutes, three of 3 minutes, one of 5-minutes, one of 10 minutes and two of 15 minutes, taking us to the half-time break. With a good-sized crowd of artists present – at least 20 encircling me – the energy in the room was positive, and the atmosphere positively humid.

After the interval we warmed-up again with a 4-minute pose then concluded our work with two poses of 20-minutes each. I reclined with my right arm and right knee raised for the first of these, then perched upon tall and short bar stools to offer a challenging mélange of angles and negatives spaces for the finale.

After stupendous artworks had been admired and their creators drifted home, I shook hands with Tom as my thank-you for the good times and to wish him and Taz the very best. Happily, their legacy is assured as regular attendees intend to take-up the reins. It’s a tough act to follow, but I sincerely wish the whole group every success.

So thanks, Taz and Tom, for building this very special community and inviting me in.