The Country House Colouring Book: Cotswold Preview of Drawings 18/11/15

For one weekend only Langford Village Hall saw the walls covered David Tenniers style in nearly 90 drawings of some of Britain's finest buildings, all feature in my first National Trust book The Country House Colouring Book, release date April 2016.

I've been living in the Oxfordshire/Gloucs area for a year now and I've made many awesome friends, in particular my landlord who put me up when I got a bit stuck and found myself somewhat turfed-out on the street, he is now know as Jonnie-Legend. There's my mates at Colston Tennis Club and other neighbours I have to thank to for making the last summer just really great, especially whilst I created the mamouth 90 drawings for the book!

I thought it therefore only fitting to throw a party and special preview for those people and get the hood together; some old and some new faces came out the woodwork including my patron John Penrose, my first ever boss Linda Weaven from Fairford and a school friends mum Ann Saunders. From London we had product designer and engineer Sarah Liddel and DJ Jonny 'Bizzle' White and my fave Boyz from Ealing plus Ben & Jules morley of Clive Morley Harps and Miles Gibson of Gibsons Organic Liquours.

It was a very British affair with Union Jack bunting decor and a pop-up sausage 'n chip shop. Yummy marmalade vodka cocktails were served out of giant enamel teapots that were slurped out of the coolest fast food drink cartons with lids and orange straws. I did a little speech and then we danced the night away finished with a curry banquet. The night would not have been possible without the help of Jane Stevens of Langford, Isla & Alec Barton on food and drinks duty and Rosie my best bud that helped me finish off hanging the drawings. Thanks too to Cotswold Life Magazine and your great photographer for covering the event and The Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard. Stay tuned for coverage!

The show remained open to the public for the rest of the weekend and I had visitors from all accross Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire. The response overall was great, visitors commented on what a wonderful way it is for history to be told through art, just that is fantastic because that is my goal. Visitors especially loved the cartoons I'd done of former inhabitants of the National Trust properties, plus the amusing animals. I was there to chat to everyone about the work and explain the history that inspired the piece if they wished. Most visitors were big fans of the National Trust, this is really exciting because its a good indicator that NT visitors will love the colouring book, Phew!

It was a fantastic weekend and incredibly invaluable to receive the feedback that I did, and I got a couple of commissions too so very happy. Thank you all for coming and hope you had fun!

AJ