In June 2023, the BBC reported on Rod Kitson: the artist who has painted almost 400 Londoners. In June 2024, I had the honour of becoming Rod’s number 459. For many of his 400+ portrait sitters, it was a one-time experience, whereas my own mug has often been portrayed by Rod’s life drawing group at The Art of Isolation. Even so, this sitting felt like a uniquely special session.
For a start, it was one-to-one; still at The Art of Isolation in Surrey Quays but in Rod’s backroom studio rather than the community art space. Also I wasn’t being paid by the hour, or indeed at all. I felt flattered to be invited and pleased to be supporting a good project and a good guy. The only similarity to life modelling here was it lasted 2 hours with a break at half-time for tea. At the end, an extraordinary likeness was revealed.
I can’t recall the last time 2 hours seemed to fly by so quickly. It helped that Rod likes to chat while painting. We talked about life, about art, about life art; the scene, artists, models, and any other matters to which our meandering minds might momentarily be drawn. My sole modelling focus was to keep my head still, but even that was more to satisfy my own standards than at Rod’s insistence. It was a nice positive connection.
To find out more about this special project, go to Instagram: Rod Kitson portraits.
To find our whether I kept my head still, check out the video below!
Fifteen years on from my first World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) in London, way back in 2009, I was once again cycling around the capital’s streets wearing nothing but my sunglasses, headband and a smile. This was the fourteenth time I had participated in WNBR London, having missed only 2010 and there being no ride in 2020.
World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR)
WNBR is a worldwide campaign that demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists and protests against car culture. Its linked objectives are to:
- protest against the global dependency on oil
- curb car culture
- obtain real rights for cyclists
- demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets
- celebrate body freedom
I felt in much better shape for this year’s ride than last year’s, so I checked the list of start points to decide where I would begin. The Deptford start had sadly disappeared, but the new Hackney Wick option looked tempting. Eventually, however, a booking to life model for Barbican Art Society that morning effectively made the choice for me.
So it was that I made my return to the Tower Hill start at Trinity Square Gardens. I’d last started from Tower Hill back in 2021 when I was a marshal leading from the front of the ride. Nowadays I’m happiest when immersed within the masses. Upon arriving from nearby Barbican, I found the masses were already very much on the scene.
Tower Hill to Southwark Bridge
Maybe I arrived later than usual but I’ve never seen the gardens so full. Nonetheless, somehow I managed to spot my friend Natansky, who’d founded the ride’s Tower Hill start a full decade ago. In those early days, rounding-up riders was like the proverbial herding of cats. Now, with the aid of her happy helpers, she’s got it sussed. 🙂
2:29pm at Trinity Square Gardens: the masses
The ride always attracts photographers; some professional, many voyeurs. The latter were out in force this year, but mostly smiling and respectful. One young guy, though; pale face, wispy beard behind a mask, darting about with his zoom-lens focused only on women’s genitals. I tried having a word, but he was a lost soul. Don’t be that guy.
2:43pm on Trinity Square: ready… steady…
Eight minutes before our scheduled departure time of 2:45pm, we began pushing our bikes onto Trinity Square via the north exit of the gardens. There we lingered, in keen anticipation as a last few naked cyclists – plus our lone crowd-controller wearing only her hi-vis vest – got into position. Just eight minutes later than planned, we set off.
2:53pm on Byward Street: …go! Natansky waves us out
2:57pm on Lower Thames Street: pausing
Protest gatherings and marches are a constant in London. Citizens will not be denied their right to protest! The WNBR route gets tweaked in advance so our protest avoids others; this year it needed more tweaks than ever, but not at the start: Byward Street, Lower Thames Street, Upper Thames Street, Queen Street Place, Southwark Bridge.
3:03pm on Upper Thames Street: left onto Queen Street Place
3:04pm on Southwark Bridge: southbound
Southwark Bridge to Forum Magnum Square
The familiar route continued: from Southwark Bridge to Southwark Bridge Road, then right into Sumner Street, veering left around the south of Tate Modern before another right turn, into Southwark Street. Then came tweak #1: instead of heading back north across Blackfriars Bridge we continued onwards, direct into Stamford Street.
3:06pm on Southwark Bridge Road: right onto Sumner Street
3:12pm on the A3200: from Southwark Street to Stamford Street
Whilst the route’s tweaks avoided other protests, maybe an unintended consequence was that we found ourselves in the way of fire engines on emergency calls. With blue lights flashing behind, we hastily moved to the kerb on Stamford Street so fire engine no.1 could pass by without delay. In fourteen London rides, this was a first for me.
3:15pm on Stamford Street: fire engine no.1
3:16pm on Stamford Street: forever blowing bubbles
3:18pm on Stamford Street: selfie with bubbles
Our route change not only cut out Blackfriars Bridge but also Embankment, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Westminster Bridge. Whitehall has long been too tricky but it’s sad to lose them all. Safety and pragmatism must come first, though. Cornwall Road, Upper Ground and Belvedere Road took us to Forum Magnum Square.
3:21pm on Upper Ground: National Theatre
3:23pm on Belvedere Road: London Eye
3:25pm on Belvedere Road: approaching Forum Magnum Square
3:30pm at Forum Magnum Square: posse of ride organisers
Forum Magnum Square to Lincoln’s Inn Fields
Cutting chunks from the ride meant it took us just 35 minutes to get from Tower Hill to Forum Magnum Square; it had taken 55 minutes in 2021. With the sun behind clouds and a chill to the air, I would have gladly cut a chunk from our time spent waiting here for riders from other starts to join us. Mercifully, after 25 minutes we moved on.
3:53pm on Forum Magnum Square: preparing to move on
3:55pm on Belvedere Road: hey, that’s me in the background! – © Faye Kinnit
4:06pm on Stamford Street: left onto Blackfriars Road
We retraced our tracks on Belvedere Road but instead of taking our traditional return north via Waterloo Bridge, we went along Upper Ground, Broadwall, Stamford Street, Blackfriars Road and north at last on Blackfriars Bridge. I suspect this route tweak #2 owed more to avoiding roadworks than avoiding other protests.
4:08pm on Blackfriars Bridge: eyes right for St Paul’s Cathedral
4:10pm off Blackfriars Bridge: onto New Bridge Street
From Blackfriars Bridge we had a brief glimpse of St Paul’s Catherdral – the first time I’d seen it on a WNBR since we skirted it in 2012. Tweak #2 continued to New Bridge Street, then left on Fleet Street, before a right into Chancery Lane put us back on our familiar route to Lincoln’s Inn Fields via Carey Street and Serle Street.
4:16pm on Fleet Street: right onto Chancery Lane
4:18pm on Lincoln’s Inn Fields: ride regulars, always colourful
4:28pm at Lincoln’s Inn Fields: me in the middle, having a stretch – © tony mudd
4:36pm at Lincoln’s Inn Fields: caught on camera again – © Ðariusz
Lincoln’s Inn Fields to Shaftesbury Avenue
In contrast to Forum Magnum Square, when the sun broke through cloud at Lincoln’s Inn Fields it felt blissfully energising. Riders relaxed, some danced, and I chatted with two great guys I’d met randomly on last year’s ride. When we left, it was via Remnant Street, Great Queen Street and then – tweak #3 – Newton Street and High Holborn.
4:42pm on Remnant Street: those great guys behind me
4:44pm on Newton Street: this was indeed new
4:46pm on High Holborn: solidarity with Palestine
4:47pm on High Holborn: cyclists… but Evans Cycles is closed.
High Holborn led into what was, for me, the highlight of our ride: Shaftesbury Avenue. Tourists and Londoners gleefully cheered us here like nowhere else. Such a fantastic vibe. We must tweak this way again! That said, it sent us past Soho Fire Station, and once again we had to make space for a fire engine with its sirens wailing.
4:55pm on Shaftesbury Avenue: through Theatreland
4:57pm on Shaftesbury Avenue: fire engine no.2
4:58pm on Shaftesbury Avenue: check your prostate!
4:58pm on Shaftesbury Avenue: accidental selfie
Shaftesbury Avenue to The Mall
Just before reaching the Piccadilly Circus end of Shaftesbury Avenue we went left on Great Windmill Street, then slalomed down to Haymarket. In bygone years we’d have cycled from Lincoln’s Inn Fields via Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square to The Mall, but tweak #4 eschewed Cockspur Street and Admiralty Arch in favour of Pall Mall.
4:59pm on Shaftesbury Avenue: left onto Great Windmill Street
5:01pm on Haymarket: hey hey Haymarket
5:02pm on Pall Mall: with these wings
So, from the end of Haymarket we took a right into Pall Mall and went onwards to the elongated roundabout at its western end. Here, a left down Marlborough Road at last led us to The Mall. Pall Mall is not without prettiness, but… it’s grey. This unavoidable tweak sadly bypassed two-thirds of The Mall, but the crucial final third remained.
5:03pm on Pall Mall: pausing, pausing
5:10pm on Pall Mall: pausing, posing
5:13pm on Pall Mall: left onto Marlborough Road
The Mall to Wellington Arch
Upon swinging right from Marlborough Road to The Mall, we savoured a leisurely roll along its westernmost slice of magnificence to the Victoria Memorial. As I turned onto Constitution Hill, whom did I encounter next to Buckingham Palace? None other than WNBR London’s own royalty: Natansky, again. Had to get our selfies on The Mall.
5:15pm on The Mall: Buckingham Palace pageantry, WNBR-style
5:16pm on Constitution Hill: catching up with Natansky at the palace
At 5:18pm on Constitution Hill, after two hours and twenty-five minutes cycling naked around London, I had entered the home straight. All riders had chosen where to start, and now all were finishing at the same place, at their own pace. WNBR is a collective effort, but one within which there are hundreds of very personal experiences.
5:18pm on Constitution Hill: the home straight
5:21pm at Wellington Arch: end-of-the-line sunshine
5:24pm at Wellington Arch: and we’re done!
The sun crowned Wellington arch as I made my approach. For all the changes made to the 2024 ride, this grand portal remains a satisfying finish line. Tweaks had been a necessity and whilst those in the first half had been dull, the Shaftesbury Avenue one was a brilliant success. I guess that’s a fair balance. Fair play to the organisers.
Our route from Tower Hill to Wellington Arch
Bygone blogs
Previously on the London Naked Bike Ride:
- London Naked Bike Ride 2023 – Short Circuit
- London Naked Bike Ride 2022 – Back in the Pack
- London Naked Bike Ride 2021 – Safety first
- London Naked Bike Ride 2019 – Back to Bare
- London Naked Bike Ride 2018 – Peaceful Protest
- London Naked Bike Ride 2017 – New Bridges
- London Naked Bike Ride 2016 – A Silver Lining
- London Naked Bike Ride 2015 – Feel Good Painted
- London Naked Bike Ride 2014 – A Fresh Start
- London Naked Bike Ride 2013 – Arch to Arch
- London Naked Bike Ride 2012 – Into the Light
- London Naked Bike Ride 2011 – Re-wrapped
- London Naked Bike Ride 2009 – First Time
Barbican Art Society gathers for life drawing at Barbican Art Room deep in the belly of London’s Barbican Estate – a dense, sprawling multi-level nest of brutalist blocks, terraces and towers, highwalks, lower paths, ups, downs, lines, arrows and all things discombobulating for uninitiated. With an early start and detailed directions, however, its inner sanctum was miraculously attained…
“Take the escalator … entrance to … up to … along the highwalk in between … come to a bridge … on to … follow the painted yellow line … left under … then right on to … few yards down …. go through gate … down one level … sign at the top…” 😳 !!!
The welcome arrival of art tutor Mark Lovelace reassured me I was in the right place and safe hands. The art room, unlike its entombing complex, is small but very human with all the trappings of a well-used, much-loved community resource. There was just enough space for me to stow my bicycle – more of which later – in the farthest corner away from artists, easels and my own little pose space.
It was still only 10:15am when we got underway with a standing pose of 15 minutes. I followed this with five 2-minute poses and a brace of 5-minute poses, before finishing the first half with a single 20-minute pose. After tea and shortbread, two further poses of 20 minutes concluded the session. I absorded Mark’s clever tuition throughout. For example, good with lines but struggle with shading? Try cross-hatching. Inspired!
With the session done, I wheeled my bike from the art room to the Barbican Centre where I relaxed for an hour. Regular browsers of this blog will know that any time my bike makes an appearance it can mean only one thing: a World Naked Bike Ride is happening. And so it was. As the time ticked past 1:30pm, I began the slow meander towards my next destination: the 2024 London Naked Bike Ride start at Tower Hill…
Another new venue for Adrian Dutton’s groups! Well, new for me. In fact weekly life drawing started here back on 8 November 2023 and has continued each Wednesday since but this was my first booking. I shan’t try to describe it – go to Topolski Studio for details – except to ask: where better to model than a characterful artist’s studio?
Whilst Adrian continues to hold the reins at his other Wednesday venue – the Garrett Centre in Bethnal Green – he may be sure that ever-reliable art tutor, Mark Lovelace will run a steady ship under the arches of Hungerford Bridge, near Waterloo station. Our first-half pose times were 15, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5, 5, 10 and 15 minutes.
Artwork by Helen.
Artwork by Helen.
After a break we ended with two 20-minute poses. My left arm went completely numb as it supported me in a seated position. Mark asked if I could extend the pose for two more minutes, and I agreed; the arm couldn’t get any more dead! For a final standing pose I had to hold the lifeless left arm with my life modelling right. Life oozed back.
Artwork by Helen.
It’s a testament to the rise in popularity of life drawing that these sessions are so well attended while artists numbers for long-running London Drawing sessions in nearby Waterloo Action Centre at exactly the same time remain undiminished. Both groups seemed full to capacity on recent visits. It’s not competition, it’s meeting demand.
For me, this evening at The Star by Hackney Downs had a surprise extra sprinkling of stardust. Artist Farida Yesmin had travelled all the way from Folkestone to join us. It’s been years since I last saw Farida – we’d often met at Art Macabre events – so it was a joy to find her here, chatting with Drawing the Star organiser Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Catherine Hall.
Artwork by Farida Yesmin.
Of course, as well as unexpected old friends, it’s good to catch-up with the regulars. I always look forward to a natter with Alex McKenzie and hearing about her academic journeys into archaeological art, and seeing Mark Doherty making brilliant bold lines on big paper set upon the floor. Like Catherine and Farida, both are superb artists.
I’ve met many other talented artists during my thirty previous sessions as a life model in this space. People come and people go, but pacey poses, peppy playlists, passion for art, provision for all, plus a hint of Hackney hipness, make every occasion special. We started as always: poses of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, half, half, half, 10 and 10 minutes.
Artwork by Joseph O’Connor.
After a break and a casting of votes it was decided the last half-hour would see three more 10-minute poses. I’d misread the signs as I felt sure they would be in the mood for one 30-minute long pose; but 10-minuters were fine by me. Happy days. And now more to follow… a trip to model in Folkestone for Farida is already confirmed.
Each life drawing venue inspires different feelings of anticipation ahead of a first visit. When I was booked by tutor Josie Deighton for my début London Drawing session at Vaulty Towers, I was intrigued to see what magic lurks beyond its ultra-hip façade. Most of all, though, I wondered whether I would be able stand upright in its cellar.
Well, I could, all six-foot-four of me… but only just!
It’s an inspiring space to work within: quirky and cosy rather than claustrophobic. As I had the ceiling so readily at hand I made a point of connecting with it in various ways for my opening five poses, all of which lasted 2 minutes. After these I afforded myself more headroom by sitting for the next two 20-minute poses.
Artwork by Barbara.
Artwork by Barbara.
Artwork by Tim Daly.
As I’d found previously with Josie, she’s the very epitome of kind consideration. Her primary concern here, however, wasn’t the ceiling but the floor. I was obliged to wear the sandals she provided, lest my feet be spoiled by bar debris from the night before. Our second half started in the manner of the first, with 2-minute poses: four more.
Artwork by Tim Daly.
One pose of 30 minutes took us to the end. As I’d sat for the only two previous poses longer than 120 seconds, I felt the least I could do was stay on my feet, albeit without the natty footwear. Meanwhile, Josie circled the room offering advice wherever it was welcome. This is a nice appreciative subterranean art community. I fitted right in. 🙂
It had been seventeen days since my previous life modelling, the last seven of which were taken up with a visit to Sarajevo. Now, 24 hours (and 20 minutes) after landing back at Stansted, I was naked and posing again, for Tanner Street life drawing.
Artwork by Clive.
Artwork by Clive.
This is a straight-forward, well-run group with which to rediscover one’s groove; quiet and focused, a good mix of artists, nice people. We opened with two 2-minute poses, then two each of 5 minutes and 10 minutes. One of 15 minutes took us to our break.
Artwork by Clive.
Artwork by Cliff Barden.
Artwork by Clive.
Artwork by Jacqui Hamer.
Artwork by Clive.
Artwork by Jacqui Hamer.
Artwork by Rod Kitson.
After 12 years as a life model, inevitably a number of poses were tried-and-tested old favourites. However, in each session I also try to include a few not previously used at the venue. For the second half’s 55-minute pose, only sustainability mattered.
Artwork by Rod Kitson.
Artwork by Jacqui Hamer.
Artwork by Rod Kitson.
Artwork by Cliff Barden.
And indeed I did sustain it, albeit with a couple of stretches and a little discomfort. By the end, a smothering veil of numbness in my supporting arm was giving way to ever more pain. Only for the last minutes, though. Overall the feeling was good.
steve ritter 