Private booking, London, 9 December 2025

This one-to-one private booking was for two 4-hour sessions across successive days at the artist’s studio in Tottenham Hale. Just one single pose was required of me but with a twist: that I should alternate between being dressed and nude throughout.

The inspiration for this exercise came from the 1941 book ‘The Natural Way to Draw‘ by Kimon Nicolaïdes. I was to begin clothed in loose garments that would crease at the shoulders, elbows and knees. Then, after 20 minutes, I would switch to nude.

This cycle proceeded – clothed, nude, clothed, nude, always the same pose – for the full 4 hours, with most sittings timed exactly at 20-minutes but with a 10-minute and a 30-minute exception when each were expedient and not counterproductive.

Whilst there was a degree of rigour in adherence to the exercise, I was not subjected to unnecessary rigour as the model. I was able to choose the pose; had short breaks between sittings; had one longer break; and was offered a healthy array of snacks.

Care and professionalism, sufficient warmth, generous provision of food, an excellent playlist, interesting conversation without non-stop exhausting chatter, all made this an enjoyable first day. I left at dusk, looking forward to continuing on the morrow.