Highbury Hall

I went to Highbury Hall today for the Heritage Open Weekend. Fantastic gothic detail with plants and birds used as decorative features throughout. The marquetry was particularly notable.

Margaret Nettlefold would have been familiar with all this detail, as it was built for her uncle Joseph Chamberlain.

There will be a print based on Margaret's diary entry about a ball at the Nettlefold's house. In the absence of any photographic record of that house, I am considering setting the ball at Highbury. The hall would be a good backdrop to an image of Margaret and John dancing.

Return from the West Indies - First Proof

Having decided on a border of forget-me-nots to symbolise the fact that Margaret carried a lock of Robert's hair with her for the rest of her life, today I took the first hand burnished proof from the second lino.

A few tweeks to make, particularly lightening John's face, but overall I'm quite pleased with the result.