The preparation and presentation of food in France is, as we all know, a serious national pastime and a recognised art form in its own right. I have made a series of six small etchings called « Plats du Jour » which are very minimalist re-creations of photographs of food. Actually, they are so abstract that they have taken on a new identity and have become explorations of colour, form and texture. However, all of them began their lives as “art on a plate” …… as a bowl of soup or chocolate ice cream or raspberry coulis.

The “Lendou” series has been followed by “Bagat”, “Ste Thècle” and “St Amans de Pellagal” – among others. Bagat-en-Quercy is near the village of Montcuq a few kilometres north-east of Lauzerte and is framed on one side by a steep ridge that looks down into two different valleys – a perfect vantage point for the landscape artist!

Ste Thècle is a village near Moissac and is one of the area’s centres for the production of the Chasselas table grape. The sketches for “St Amans” were made in a hidden valley of immense beauty to the south-east of Lauzerte.