1. Banned by the Mayor of Manchester for remarks about J S Lowry

2. Told never to set foot in the Royal College of Art

3. Punched in the eye outside Harrods by a young artist

He remains disappointed  with the work of many current  top “name” artists.

A favourite with millions of  “quality” TV and Radio fans with his two recent critically acclaimed  TV documentaries:

 “THE NAKED PILGRIM” on the traditional pilgrimage  to Compostela (Spain)

“THE GRAND TOUR”  The 17/18thCent Art Tour of Europe for Gentlemen

He regrets these art pilgrimages being edited down into mere travelogues.

Hugely revered Art Critic for the Evening Standard for 20 years,he talks with great courage, passion, and wit about everything from superb classic cars to the latest fashion in the Picasso / Matisse debate  and his great love of  the Art and Architecture of Turkey. But he regrets that many have not listened.

And if you want a masterly and searching look at its direction in the UK in recent years  (“Does the Art World Work?”  “How are we educating our young artists?”)

laced with a scorching critique of the work of the Arts Council and the lack of arts funding in the UK .......you’ll get that too!

With sharp wit,  an unforgettably entertaining delivery,and a tendency to break every PC taboo, he’ll leave you with more than enough to think about.