Starbucks Southend on Sea

I was quite determined, in spite of the very wintry weather to
have some drawings of my three week Exhibition in Southend on Sea.
I was at the Library Gallery each day, so had only
Sunday to achieve this.

The first drawing which I did, was of Starbucks, in the town centre
and while I was drawing, people stopped to look and talk.
Two people, I am pleased to say, also stayed and one of them took photographs, and Jac De Vries sent this, and others to me
I am delighted to have this excellent photograph of that day, which now lets my friends know that I do not always sit on warm, sunny beaches to draw for my books and Exhibitions.....

So many thanks to Jac and I hope to meet him and others who were friendly
during my stay
particularly Michael Taverner
and Sandra Cavalier

Cambridge Malaysia Forum

I read recently a message from a reader of my Diary
who commented about Malaysia Airlines, which was my Client.
I still enjoy meeting these old friends, and sometimes making new ones when they come to England

At The Cambridge Malaysia Forum last October
at Cambridge University I spoke of my invitation to Malaysia by the Government,
my Advice to Malaysia, my current observations,
and of my work as Bilateral Aid Advisor to New Zealand and Malaysia Governments,
which resulted in my Advisory work to the
Board of Malaysia Airlines
many talks, a Seminar, and my book Malaysia Terima Kasih
which has been presented around the world by myself, and Malaysia
It has been Exhibited internationally at many Conferences, Exhibitions,
by The British Council and is in The Photographers Gallery.

At lunch, I talked with Dato Azman Mohtar Managing Director Khazanah Nasional
and enjoyed a conversation with Dr Munir Majid Chairman of Malaysia Airlines,
shown in this photograph,
he, of course, knew my old friend, the previous Chairman,also Chairman of Petronas,
and the Adviser to Prime Minister Mahathir, who was with me when my book
was launched on televison and in front of many others at The Hilton Kuala Lumpur
where I lived for over a year, as I travelled around Malaysia for my Seminar at Club Mediterrannee
and my Malaysia book.

Victoria with Dr Munir Chairman Malaysia Airlines

Southend on Sea

As my Exhibition closed on Saturday evening
I was pleased that I had been able to share some of my international books, drawings, paintings and photographs with so many people who had not before seen my work, not only at the Library Gallery, sometimes on the streets and waterfront, as I started my portfolio of drawings of Southend.
In the shopping centre I talked with people from South Africa, who photographed me with my 'Starbucks', and on the wall of the long waterfront, as I sat drawing this, what could have been a really important new landmark when it was built and then adapted and extended centuries ago, I had many visitors who were curious to see what I had done.

I had launched my new, fifth book, 'A trip to Paris' on Friday in the Gallery,
and had enjoyed the interest and attention, which this had created, as many people stopped to chat, some to buy copes which I signed
most of them told me something of their lives, which makes being Artist in place so interesting during my Exhibitions
some were ones who had seen me previously who had carried on with their own business in the peace of the Library,
as I usually do.
I still had another occupation left, as on Monday morning I occupied a place at the entrance to meet visitors, and to sign more copies.
Most of the ones who stopped on Monday, had spoken to me earlier, and so I was pleased to be able to say that I had enjoyed their company at various times during this, my first long stay in Essex.

It had been an eventful three weeks, and now with a new book, I left, after a last look at the waterfront,
for my journey back to Worcestershire, not as far as many journeys which I have undertaken before,
after book launches in Kuala Lumpur and Auckland.

I would like those who met me to know that it was a most interesting time,
and after my talk on Friday night to The Southend on Sea Photographic Society
with whom I shared many of my experiences of New Zealand, the mainland, in peninsular Malaysia,
and Sabah and Sarawak, the northern part of Borneo,
the islands and jungles where I have spent so much time,
I felt that I had really been able to illustrate the beauties of these places which I have enjoyed so much,
the countries which had for a long time been the major part of my life, before I was invited to The United Nations
by the New Zealand Government.

A trip to Paris book launch

My new book
A trip to Paris
will be launched this week at Southend on Sea Library Gallery
where my Exhibition closes
on Saturday 1st November
This picture book records a visit made with my nephew for his 15th Birthday
we toured the Left Bank
stayed near The Sorbonne, visited my Malaysian and French friends
sampling the food and atmosphere of one of my favourite cities.. which I have visited many times for
holidays and for my work
each day we saw something new.. and for me it was a delight to see the tourist places
like the Eiffel Tower
and also to revisit my favourite spots
enjoying Monmartre

I think that Jason enjoyed meeting my friends and going out for dinner
in some of Paris's nicer restaurants..................
I hope to show this to people in Wombourne later...
as it also records
some of the aspects of that village its Church and the village green..
where cricket can still be enjoyed on a summer's day ....

Victoria's International Art Exhibition

At the end of my first week in Southend on Sea
it seemed to be too cold at the waterfront to do the drawings which I had hoped to do
so I drove into the town and walked in the pedestrianised area
where I warmed myself in Starbucks
then

I felt rejuvenated enough to stand outside, on that rather cold afternoon, to draw this part of an earlier Southend building,
at the side the flower seller walked up and down, rubbing his hands together to improve the circulation
Two gentlemen from South Africa came to talk to me
and watched me as I completed this drawing
I had earlier told Michelle Archard on the Southen Echo newspaper, that my Sunday would be spent drawing this seaside town
My visitors took some photographs as I drew this
and soon I hope to see the results
of this, my first I hope of a series of works

Exhibition in Southend Saturday 16th February

On Monday I opened my Exhibition at
Southend on Sea Library Gallery,
the photographs from my travels are on the screen and paintings, drawings and books on display
among my first visitors was the photographer from the Southend Echo
and on the following day this article shows my New Zealand pastel, Pungas and the
Malaysia pastel, Sabah butterflies


I have enjoyed a week of constant visitors,
some of whom now have originals and copies of my work

A meeting with the Photographers Society may be arranged later in the month


My first Exhibition on Essex has been started in a pleasant relaxed environment