Tag Archives: Douglas Kurn

Alright Chef!

I learnt recently that if you have run your own restaurant you’ve earned the right to be called “chef” by your peers – it’s a matter of respect; even if it is a bit confusing in a kitchen full of “chefs”!

Why was I surrounded by culinary creators? It was a commission for Compass Group who were completely revamping their corporate website, and they needed new portraits of their executive chefs.

For a few days my nostrils were filled with the aroma of spicy, tangy and sweet food, and my stomach rumbled and growled, as we travelled to various kitchens in and around London, setting up lights and trying to stay out the way of the very busy kitchen staff. I’m guessing the lack of Gordon Ramsey-esque profanities hurled in our direction meant that we managed it, or maybe they were just too busy to care!

Oh, and I also learnt that doing the cooking at home doesn’t earn you the right to be called chef….

Kurn_170130-0221Kurn_170130-0682

Kurn_170323-0160

Big Chef Andrew

Kurn_170130-0263Kurn_170130-0720

Kurn_170323-0104

Big Chef Andrew and the Big Green Egg

Kurn_170131-0861

Wandering the streets.

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

Chertsey Artist Dorota Levine

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.

Kurn_160211_8876

Chertsey Artist Mary Hayward-Smith

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.

Kurn_160115_8674

Mixed Media Artist Claudia Stendel

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.

Kurn_160108_8640

More Artists

Continuing my series of portraits of Chertsey Artists in their studios, here is Simon Gannicliffe who is a painter and enjoys life drawing:

Kurn_160106_8539

On The Receiving End

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.

Kurn_160102_0356 Kurn_160102_0373 Kurn_160102_0394 Kurn_160102_0454 Kurn_160128_0821 Kurn_160128_0839 Kurn_160128_0858 Kurn_160128_0861 Kurn_160128_0871Doug Kurn_160206_3181 Kurn_160206_3182 Kurn_160206_3180

Heater’s Bakery

Heater’s Bakery in Windsor Street, Chertsey is one of a small number of family run bakers shops in Surrey. They bake all their own bread in Bisley and deliver it to their shops fresh.

Heaters Bakers

43 Guildford Street

43 Guildford Street in Chertsey is home to Paul Simonson’s studio where he designs and makes unique bridal gowns. Paul also lectures at The Design School in Kingston University.

Kurn_160117_8716

Carpetrama

Alan and Jeanette have owned Carpetrama in Chertsey since 1991. Being in a shop in Windsor Street with large windows they have had a big screen viewing of some of the filming activities that have taken place in Chertsey over the years.

Kurn_160107_8615