Today Is Tomorrow's History
Okay, I’ve been away; I’m sorry. I’ve spent most of the time out and about exploring the streets. It’s been fun, although my feet haven’t always agreed. I’ve met some great people and photographed most of them. I’ve also been surreptitious; I’ve been doing some street photography and below are some of the results.
Please enjoy and as Arnie said – I’ll be back.
:DK
Dorota is a painter from Poland who has been in England since the 1970’s and who has one of the Chertsey Artists studios in Windsor Street, Chertsey. You can see some of her paintings here.
Another artist with a studio within the Chertsey Artists commune is Mary Hayward-Smith who is a ceramics artist and also paints in oils. She is Head Of Art at a school in Twickenham, and you can see some of her work here.
I photographed Claudia in her Chertsey Artists studio on a fabulously sunny afternoon with lots of lovely day light streaming through the windows. Claudia is a mixed media artist and you can see some of her work here.
Continuing my series of portraits of Chertsey Artists in their studios, here is Simon Gannicliffe who is a painter and enjoys life drawing:
Chertsey Artists are a very talented bunch of artists who run a variety of workshops and art sessions from their studios in Chertsey. However their premises are under threat of redevelopment and they contacted me to help underline what they do for the community and the arts, to see if the development could be avoided or a new home could be found. As well as creating portraits of some of the artist in their studios, I attended some of their portrait sessions to capture the artists at work, which you can see below.
However this did mean I had put myself in the firing line and was cajoled in to sitting for one of the portrait sessions. Sitting still was my main concern but somehow I managed it. You can see the resulting portraits at the end of this post.
Carlo’s is a real family run business, that opened in 1987 supplying a range of primarily Italian products including meats, cheeses, wines and other grocery products. Lunch time is particularly busy serving grilled panini and Italian coffee, and I love the panettone! There is a strong Italian community in Chertsey and sometimes you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Italy when the regulars come in and start talking in their native tongue.
Carlo and Maria’s three sons Rosario, Robbie and Alex all work in the shop with their parents.
The House Of Flowers has been a florists for over 30 years, although Sam took it over at the height of the financial crash in the noughties, but as she says she’s known no different, so business is always good! This portrait is of Danni and Sam after a busy morning, working on a large order.
The Green Shop has been in Chertsey for about 20 years selling a wide range of stationery, hardware and gifts. Nicky worked for the previous owner before taking over The Green Shop, which was previously a couple of doors further down Guildford Street. As you can see the shop is quite literally packed with all sorts of products!
Continuing my series of portraits of independent shopkeepers in Chertsey, this one is Ian of Roberts The Butcher. Roberts has been in Chertsey for 30 years, although when Ian took over the lease he found accounts books for the butchers dating back to 1904, and Roberts still serve one of the families listed in those accounts!
Apparently, back then, butchers never used to sell poultry and quite a few would only deal in pork.
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