In preparation for the filming, I spent several well needed days clearing and cleaning my studio. This is always a therapeutic process. The weather had been very hot in London and so everything felt very slow and tiring. I had prepared a set-up of flowers that I hoped would give me options for the film (see pics below). It was centralised around a floral bouquet in a blue green jug. I had also been and bought sunflowers as a back-up.

Then Nicola and Pete arrived and the day really started. The unloading of the equipment! Impressive and so well equipped! The energy and professionalism that they demonstrated was inspiring to me. Knowing that I was the first painter to have been asked to feature was flattering and so I remember wanting to do what I could to help make the day go well.

Then it was time for my education in film ‘matters’…

Pete’s incredible lighting set-up recreated a dispersed light effect, which bounced a studio lamp off a bendy reflective panel – like a flattened and malleable disco ball (see photos) – really set the scene and solved creatively the ‘problem’ of my north-facing studio’s lack of light.

Also, the synchronisation clap for the visuals and audio was fascinating in itself. I had never made this obvious connection before with the editing need for a clapper board!

The way in which Nicola and Pete worked to document the process of painting was in a sensitive and natural manner, allowing me to really concentrate on the painting process. As Nicola is also a painter they both understood the practical issues involved and did everything possible to support this technique.

I remember well the ‘it’s a wrap’ moment where we drank tea at the Clifton Nurseries Café in Little Venice.

When I watched back the film later, after weeks of editing, I was truly impressed with the quality. I found that the atmosphere of those two days in June was somehow captured faithfully and in a very ‘watchable’ way. I enjoyed the sense of structure, the clarity of the image with some wonderful artistic details and the way that an element of humour was also incorporated into the film.

I think the atmospheric quality of the filming and editing and the clarity of the image is what really impressed me - it was amazing to watch it back and see it all come together in the film.

I had never seen painting captured in that way!

If you fancy seeing the end product click here