May 2010. Britain’s First Celebrity Cricket Match – A Broadway Revival.
Britain’s very first celebrity cricket match will be revived this summer as the finale of the Broadway Arts Festival in the Cotswolds and in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of author JM Barrie.
On Sunday, 20th June the match between Peter Pan author JM Barrie’s celebrated literary team the Allahakbarries, and American actress and heart-throb Mary Anderson’s Cotswolds team of creative types, which first took place in 1897, will be recreated.
JM Barrie’s team of famous writers included at various times Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, AA Milne, who wrote the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, P.G Wodehouse and Jerome K. Jerome; to name just a few who travelled the country indulging their passion for cricket.
JM Barrie became friends with a group of Broadway artists during the mid-1890s – mainly American painters – who colonized the village every summer to relax and be inspired by quintessential rural English village life.
Barrie was particularly fond of Broadway-based Shakespearian actress Mary Anderson de Navarro – the Raquel Welch of her day – who challenged Barrie and his team to a cricket match on Broadway’s village green.He accepted the challenge.
Mary captained her team of locals who included the famous artists Alfred Parsons, Frank Millet, Edwin Abbey, George Boughton, Fred Barnard and Edwin Blashfield.Broadway artist Jeremy Houghton, who is leading the re-enactment, said, “The match turned out to be a hard fought battle and the winning team to this day is still disputed.
The quality of the artists and writers in both teams was incredible and goes to show how influential Broadway is in the UK’s cultural history.”
Jeremy has put together a team of artist cricketers who will challenge Mary’s grandson Michael de Navarro’s Broadway team. Michael is the President of the Broadway Cricket Club and still lives in Court Farm, the house Mary bought around about that time.
The artist’s team includes Kevin Telfer, author of the newly published book Peter Pan’s First XI, as well as artist Rory Stormonth-Darling, whose ancestors were the children JM Barrie based his ‘Darling’ characters on in Peter Pan.
Christopher Parsons, grand son of the great Alfred will also umpire.The cricket match will take place from 12 noon to 6pm at Broadway Cricket Club, Snowshill Ground, Snowshill Road. Spectators are welcome to bring picnics and admission is free.
The Broadway Arts Festival from 11th – 20th June includes an exhibition of the work of John Singer Sargent and the Broadway Colony plus lectures, artist's demonstrations, theatre, music and a village party.
Jeremy will be hosting the Broadway Art Tours during the Festival. This 90 minute walking tour will include stories and visuals of artists such as John Singer Sargent, William Morris, Francis Millet, Alfred Parsons, Gordon Russell and several others, who all retreated to this quiet village to sample simple rural Cotswold life, and pursue their art. For more details about the Broadway Arts Festival visit www.broadwayartsfestival.com
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Notes to News Editors:
!. Jeremy Houghton has inherited a love and knowledge of Broadway's history from his grandfather, who moved to the village in 1935 as the new village doctor, and soon began to take an interest in Broadway's fascinating history. He wrote many books about the village and accumulated a vast collection of manuscripts, photos and artefacts referring to Broadway's past. Jeremy has compiled his tour with the help of these historical masterpieces.
2. Jeremy lives and works in the house where he was born in Broadway. Having studied and taught art for eight years Jeremy is a versatile painter who enjoys working with an array of styles and mediums. For the past three years he has championed watercolours, a rarity in the contemporary art scene. He recently completed two commissioned paintings of HM The Queen, one of which now hangs in St James’ Palace. He is also one of a small number of 'Olympic artists' selected by the London 2012 sponsor Lloyds Bank.
3. For more information about Jeremy Houghton, visit www.iwantahoughton.com tel: (+44) [0]7981 655 515 For more details about the tours visit www.broadwayarttours.co.uk
4. Kevin Telfer is the author of the book Peter Pan’s First XI, published by Sceptre on 13 May this year.
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May 7, 2010. Lanterns Will Shine in celebration of Artist
Photo/broadcast opportunity: Friday, 14th May, from 11.30am – 2pm at Russell House, Broadway with local youngsters in the garden recreating the lanterns in Sargent’s 'Carnation, lily, lily, rose' painting.
Russell House is at the bottom end of the village, on the bend just before the Cheltenham turning onto the B4632. For more details and directions call Jeremy Houghton on 07981 655515.
Youngsters will be celebrating the iconic John Singer Sargent painting which is at the heart of this year’s Broadway Arts Festival in the Cotswolds when they recreate the picture on FRIDAY, 14th May.I
nternational artist Jeremy Houghton, who lives in Broadway, has been given unique access to the garden at Russell House in the village, where Sargent worked on his painting 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose'. Sargent’s celebrated painting, which is now permanently on show in the Tate collection, was painted over the summers of 1885 and 1886 while he was staying in Broadway.The work features Dolly and Polly Barnard, two local girls pictured with lanterns in the painting surround by lilies, carnations and roses.
Worcestershire artist Kate Brookes will show children from Broadway First School and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School how to make the lanterns which are a key feature of the painting. Jeremy Houghton will talk to them about the history of the garden and its place in the artistic heritage of the village. The youngsters will then spend time in the month before the Festival in June making and decorating their own lanterns.
The children will process with the lanterns through Broadway on Saturday, 19th June during the Festival and they will be hung in marquees on the Green for the village party.An exhibition of the work of John Singer Sargent and members of the Broadway Colony will be on show at Trinity House in the High Street, Broadway during the Festival from 11th – 20th June.The exhibition of paintings, sculpture and letters includes a dozen or more works by Sargent, including courtesy of Tate Britain, early drawings of Dorothy and Polly Barnard.
Jeremy is also organising a youth art show for 11 – 18 years olds in the village and for the pupils at Prince Henry’s and Chipping Campden schools. The title is ‘self’ and the best 30 paintings will be exhibited at the Lifford Hall.
Jeremy, 35, said, “By creating the lanterns and visiting the garden where Sargent worked we hope the children will feel a direct link to our rich artistic heritage. The lantern procession down the High Street will be a wonderful way to get the youngsters involved in this special week.”
Jeremy will also be hosting the Broadway Art Tours during the Festival. This 90 minute walking tour will include stories and visuals of artists such as John Singer Sargent, William Morris, Francis Millet, Alfred Parsons, Gordon Russell and several others, who all retreated to this quiet village to sample simple rural Cotswold life, and pursue their art.
Jeremy has inherited a love and knowledge of Broadway's history from his grandfather, who moved to the village in 1935 as the new village doctor, and soon began to take an interest in Broadway's fascinating history. He wrote many books about the village and accumulated a vast collection of manuscripts, photos and artefacts referring to Broadway's past. Jeremy has compiled his tour with the help of these historical masterpieces.
Jeremy lives and works in the house where he was born in Broadway. Having studied and taught art for eight years Jeremy is a versatile painter who enjoys working with an array of styles and mediums. For the past three years he has championed watercolours, a rarity in the contemporary art scene.
He recently completed two commissioned paintings of HM The Queen, one of which now hangs in St James’ Palace. He is also one of a small number of 'Olympic artists' selected by the London 2012 sponsor Lloyds Bank. For more details about the Broadway Arts Festival visit www.broadwayartsfestival.com
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January 2010. Sport and art on fast track to Olympic 2012
International artist Jeremy Houghton, from Broadway, Worcestershire, will be rubbing shoulders with the GB winter Olympic team next week ( Feb 11th) at a special send off at Canada House in London. The glittering event is being hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner to the UK, James Wright , before the athletes leave for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Recent paintings by Jeremy, 35, of a number of the Olympic team will be exhibited at the diplomatic reception. Jeremy is one of the few ‘Olympic artists’ who have been chosen by Lloyds Bank, one of the chief sponsors of London 2012. Through the sale of these artists’ work, money is raised to help with the funding and training of young British athletes so that they can reach the levels required for selection into team GB 2012.
Lloyds will be hosting regular exhibitions up and down the country up until the London Olympics. At the moment the artists are exhibiting in their Terminal 5 Gallery at Heathrow. Jeremy said, “This is the most fantastic opportunity to be part of the lead up to the Olympic 2012 in London. The concept of raising money for future Olympians has certainly struck a chord with the present Olympians we are teaming up with.”
He added, “Painting in watercolour is rather like undertaking a challenging sport in that it requires speed, skill and confidence, allowing little margin for error. As with competing athletes, there are no second chances with watercolours and mistakes can't be erased; to reach a high standard, exceptional talent and dedication is needed. Gold medals and great paintings can only be achieved if you're at the top of your game.” Jeremy has already worked with gold medal winning sailor, Paul Goodison; gold medal winning sprint kayaker, Tim Brabants and GB junior skier Violet Miller and a session with Zac Purchase, the Olympic rower is in the pipeline. On display at Canada House will be his work of Winter paralympian and world champion skier Sean Rose; Paralympic skier Russell Docker and Olympic finalist speed skater Jonathan Eley.
Jeremy also uses oils to paint people, places and occasions, and has recently painted HM The Queen presenting the 500th anniversary Standard to The Gentlemen at Arms. With many private and corporate collectors now investing in his art, his paintings are increasingly sought after.
Eton-educated Jeremy lives and works in the house where he was born in Broadway. Having studied and taught art for eight years Jeremy is a versatile painter who enjoys working with an array of styles and mediums. For the past three years he has championed watercolours, a rarity in the contemporary art scene.
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1. For further press information please contact: Helen Griffee Email: helen.griffee@tinyworld.co.uk or tel: 07882478990
2. For more information about Jeremy Houghton, visit www.iwantahoughton.com
3. For more details about the Olympic artists visit www.theartofsport.co.uk
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September 2009 - Royal subject for Broadway artist
International artist Jeremy Houghton, from Broadway, Worcestershire, has just presented two of his recently commissioned paintings of HM The Queen to go on show at St James's Palace.
Jeremy, 35, was commissioned to paint The Queen presenting a new Standard to The Gentlemen At Arms at Westminster Abbey to commemorate their 500th anniversary.He was also allowed to follow the Gentlemen everywhere for a series of paintings, some of which will form part of an exhibition at Eton.
Jeremy was also commissioned to paint The Queen and the Yeoman of the Guard, or Beefeaters as they are known, at a separate service to commemorate their 500th anniversary. The Guards, who ceremonially protect the Tower of London are painted in all their State glory.
Eton-educated Jeremy said, "It was a huge honour to be commissioned to undertake these paintings at such breathtaking ceremonies, full of pomp and tradition. To be part of that and capture the occasion and the detail first hand for posterity is something I shall never forget."
He added, “The paintings were very well received and I have been told the Queen would like a print of the originals from the Abbey.”
Jeremy lives and works in the house where he was born in Broadway. Having studied and taught art both in the UK and abroad for eight years, Jeremy is a versatile painter who enjoys working with an array of styles and mediums. For the past three years he has championed watercolours, a rarity in the contemporary art scene.
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August 2009 - BROADWAY REVISITED Church opens doors to first art exhibition in 1,000 years
Broadway's only living professional artist, Jeremy Houghton, is staging his first exhibition in the village and the first of St Eadburgha's Church's 1,000 year history.
Jeremy, 35 will be showing a series of 25 watercolours of Broadway in the recently restored church which was badly hit by the floods of two years ago.
The pews in the church, which is tucked away about 3/4 mile outside of Broadway on the Snowshill road, were so water damaged that they have been removed, thereby creating an ideal space for exhibitions as well as worship.
Jeremy lives and works in the house where he was born in Broadway. Having studied and taught art for eight years Jeremy is a versatile painter who enjoys working with an array of styles and mediums. For the past three years he has championed watercolours, a rarity in the contemporary art scene.
He said, "I'm passionate about art and about Broadway. St Eadburgha's is the most fascinating church and the exhibition will be a wonderful blend of the old and the new. "
Jeremy has strong family links with the church. His grandfather helped to save the church in 1970 after it had been derelict for 350 years.
The Broadway Revisited exhibition will be open to the public on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August from 11am - 4pm. A donation from the sale of work will be made to St Eadburgha's.
The watercolours are in sepia and blue to reflect old photographs and Jeremy's aim is to produce paintings which are a combination of traditional and contemporary.
Jeremy is also about to launch the Broadway Art Tours. This 90 minute walking tour will include stories and visuals of artists such as John Singer-Sargent, William Morris, Fred Millet, Alfred Parsons, Gordan Russell and several others, who all retreated to this quiet village to sample simple rural Cotswold life, and pursue their art.
Jeremy has inherited a love and knowledge of Broadway's history from his grandfather, who moved to the village in 1935 as the new village doctor, and soon began to take an interest in Broadway's fascinating history. He wrote many books about the village and accumulated a vast collection of manuscripts, photos and artefacts referring to Broadway's past. Jeremy has compiled his tour with the help of these historical masterpieces. For more details about the tours visit www.broadwayarttours.co.uk
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Note to News Editors:
1. For further press information or to request an interview please contact: Helen Griffee Email: helen.griffee@tinyworld.co.uk or tel: 07882478990
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‘IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHARLES RYDER’ ADAM STREET EXHIBITION
1st – 13th October 2008
Private View – 1st October 2008
To celebrate the completion of a new body of work Jeremy Houghton is hosting an exhibition at Adam Street, The Strand from the 1st October.
Houghton has travelled to all the locations featured in the book ‘Brideshead Revisited’, and painted his own versions of them. This exhibition will, therefore, include around forty paintings by Houghton of Oxford, Madesfield, Venice, Morocco and the jungles of South America. The show’s opening coincides with the London release of the new ‘Brideshead Revisited’ film.
‘Brideshead Revisited’ is widely recognised as Evelyn Waugh’s greatest novel. The narrator of the story is Charles Ryder, who leads us through his turbulent relationship with the ‘Flytes’, an aristocratic Catholic family, their ‘Brideshead Castle’ home and its Golden Years’ decline. Being an artist Charles Ryder makes the perfect raconteur who Evelyn Waugh masterfully uses to take us on a grand tour of Oxford, Brideshead Castle, Venice, Morocco and South America. It was these trips which inspired Houghton to pack his paints and follow Ryder’s foot-steps and transform Waugh’s words into paintings.
Having studied and taught art for eight years Jeremy Houghton is a versatile painter who enjoys working with an array of styles and mediums. For the past three years he has championed watercolours, a rarity in the contemporary art scene.
For further press information or to request an interview please contact:
Susanna West at Wall to Wall PR (co.uk) T: 07985 282 025 E: susanna.west@btinternet.com
Notes to Editors: Watercolours are the chosen medium for his ‘Window’ paintings which have literally been sent and embraced all around the world. The ‘Experiment’* has enabled Jeremy to share his work with a wide audience; to communicate his love of colour and marks, and to inspire.
Jeremy’s intrinsic understanding of interiors means that as an artist he often considers the wall-space before the art work, and on a bigger scale, the theme of the exhibition before embarking on the paintings. With this novel approach he is able to produce work which is spontaneous, fresh and direct, embracing topics and genres which continuously excite and surprise the many collectors and supporters of his work.
*The Experiment’ is the distribution of 192 small, laminated ‘Windows’ to all 192 countries in the world. This is complimented by his ‘Words for Windows’ hard-back books, which are also circulating the globe. Jeremy is relying on the trust and support of thousands of people, both friends and strangers, near and far, for the distribution of these projects, allowing him to use his art to cross cultures and unite people along the way.
Jeremy taught in Cape Town for five years. He calls his montages ‘Windows’ because the witch doctors in Africa carry a small bag of stones and shells around their necks, which they throw on to the ground to predict their patients’ future. They call these stones their ‘Windows’.
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8th April 2008
JEREMY HOUGHTON’S EXPERIMENT
On the 2nd April 2008 Jeremy Houghton posted 250 unique artworks across the world. This was the start of a worldwide artistic experiment. An artwork, comprising of three original miniature watercolours titled 'windows' was sent to the British Ambassador or High Commissioner of every country in the world. And fifty extra ones sent to friends in distant places. These recipients were all asked to simply hand the picture on to someone else to get Jeremy's global experiment up and running. On the back of each montage is the following message:
This montage of three original miniature watercolourshas been handed to you by someone who thought youlooked appreciative and trustworthy, or just plain lovely.Take it, own it and enjoy it for a short while.Please don’t get too attached to it, so that when you are nextout-and-about, you too can entrust this mini-masterpieceinto further grateful and safe-looking hands.The aim of the experiment is to see how long it takes for the pictureto be handed back to Jeremy Houghton, the artist who painted it.
Recipients of the experiments should register their acceptance on Jeremy’s website, letting him know its number, and where and when they were given it. By doing this he will be able to track each of the journeys these pictures have been on. All these stories and records will help contribute to an exhibition of his 'windows' when (or if!) he gets some of them back.
Inspired by the 1990 book Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare, Jeremy hopes to test the theory that is played out in the book: The idea that any two individuals are connected by at most six others: There is just six degrees of separation between us and everyone else on this planet.
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For further press information or to request interviews please contact: Susanna West at Wall to Wall PR (co.uk) T: 07958 282025 E: susanna.west@btinternet.com
NOTES Jeremy’s ‘Window’ paintings were inspired through his teaching of art in Africa*. He discovered that with the help of an empty photograph slide, beautiful miniature compositions appeared within his large representational pictures.
*Jeremy calls his montages ‘Windows’ because the witch doctors in Africa carry a small bag of stones and shells around their necks, which they throw on to the ground to predict their patients’ future. They call these stones their ‘Windows’.
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2nd April 2008
JEREMY HOUGHTON
CONTEMPORARY WATERCOLOURIST
Jeremy Houghton has been painting with watercolours since childhood. It is undoubtedly his specialist professional medium. His paintings are eye-catching; a combination of exceptional draughtsmanship and bright translucent watercolours: a combination of design and alchemy.
Jeremy’s ‘Window’ paintings were inspired through his teaching of art in Africa*. He discovered that with the help of an empty photograph slide, beautiful miniature compositions appeared within his large representational pictures. Now he creates huge watercolour paintings with the sole purpose of destroying them, in order to find smaller unplanned creations from within their images. No two Windows are the same; none of them have any deep hidden meanings, they are all just enchanting ‘lucky finds’ embracing their colours and marks. They aim to stir thoughts and emotions to whatever level the viewer chooses.
Arranged as a montage, these compositions of hundreds and sometimes thousands of windows assume their own personalities. The overall image is a mesmerising treasure box of miniscule abstract paintings.
Jeremy’s intention for his work is that they adorn walls from an array of different cultures and countries. Whilst many completed pictures are sold through galleries, he relishes commissions where his Windows become bespoke pieces of visual art which compliment their surroundings. Interior designers such as Percy Bass have embraced Jeremy’s concept and enabled this to happen in various interiors in London.
To compliment the development of this body of work Jeremy has developed an original idea of sending his artwork around the world. ‘The Experiment’ is the distribution of 182 small, laminated Windows to all 182 countries in the world. Through peoples' trust and generosity the journey of each window will culminate in a future exhibition in London.The stories generated by the artworks will be monitored by the recipients on Jeremy’s website and this documentation will also become part of the exhibition.
*Jeremy calls his montages ‘Windows’ because the witch doctors in Africa carry a small bag of stones and shells around their necks, which they throw on to the ground to predict their patients’ future. They call these stones their ‘Windows’.
