Art in the Village, London, 14 October 2026

24 Oct 2026

I’d originally been booked to model for Art in the Village at Muswell Hill Books and Parlour on 11 November but we brought it forward when the model who was booked for this date cancelled with just 24 hours’ notice. Luckily I was free.

It turned out to be a win for everyone: organiser Cleo was spared from having to hunt for a new model; the original model was able to take my November date; and I would be modelling on the last warm day of autumn rather than in the grim month ahead.

Cleo asked me to bring bright baggy trousers (later referred to as ‘pantaloons’) for an opening seated pose in Egon Schiele style, followed by a standing pose with plastic flowers (more reminiscent of Smiths-era Morrissey than Secession-era Schiele).

After these warm-ups I sat nude for the remainder of the session. I was offered many breaks but felt sufficiently comfortable and warm so declined them all. The durational aspect was alleviated by interesting conversation, which I much appreciated.

It is surprisingly rare to be given encouragement or even tacit licence to participate in conversation whilst posing, but this was a relatively small group and perhaps it works better in more intimate friendly settings. It certainly didn’t hamper the art-making.