Charity Christmas Card in aid of Cure Parkinson’s
My Charity Christmas Card is now ready for ordering with all profits being donated to Cure Parkinson's and the vital work and research that they carry out. A charity that I am proud to be working with and supporting having lost my father to Parkinson's, this is a cause very close to my heart.
Designed by Philip Shaw of Tall Chin Illustrations for Cure Parkinson’s
Dear All,
I hope you have had a wonderful summer taking lots of photographs.
This year's Charity Christmas Card is now ready for ordering with all profits being donated to Cure Parkinson's and the vital work and research that they carry out. A charity that I am proud to be working with and supporting having lost my father to Parkinson's, this is a cause very close to my heart.
Cure Parkinson’s was set up in 2005 by four people living with Parkinson’s. Since then, the charity they started has made significant progress in the quest for a cure. Cure Parkinson’s has funded millions of pounds of research, made scientific discoveries, and opened new avenues of research. The charity has made enormous strides in involving people with Parkinson’s in research and given hope to many who are living with the disease.
The illustration for this years card was inspired by a recent family holiday spent exploring the beautiful island of Eilean Shona, which nestles in the entrance to Loch Moidart on the West Coast of Scotland. The illustration captures our daughter Margot looking out over the loch and Castle Tioram in the distance. In the 1920’s J.M. Barrie rented Eilean Shona for the summer as a holiday home, where he was joined by Michael Llewelyn Davies and some friends. It was Michael, along with his four brothers, who had been the inspiration for J.M. Barrie's characters Peter Pan, the Darling brothers and the Lost Boys.
I work from a photo in either oil or watercolour and would love to hear from you if you have a commission in mind.
Thank you for all your support.
Best wishes,
Philip
Writing inside “Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year”.
Size 127mm x 178mm white Envelopes included
All profits in aid of Cure Parkinson’s
Cards will begin to distributed from Tall Chin Studio’s on the 3rd October.
Local collect option By Appointment.
Children's Portraits
"Colours of Summer"
Oil on board 30cm x 30cm,
If you have captured a magical moment over the summer then please drop me an email to discuss a commission.
Personalised Illustrations
Whether it is commissioning your own Christmas Card, a Childs name or marking the arrival of a newborn. A personalised watercolour illustration makes the perfect gift.
Welcome to the latest Tall Chin Talks with racehorse trainer Jamie Snowden
Two horses turn in the morning sunlight and soon you can hear the swish and the thud of the galloping hooves as they approach the first fence. They clear with ease but as they jump the second I hear a sharp crack of a horses shoe as it catches the jump. Jamie turns and smiles. “They have to make mistakes at home”.
It’s all about Winning
Two horses turn in the morning sunlight and soon you can hear the swish and the thud of the galloping hooves as they approach the first fence. They clear with ease but as they jump the second I hear a sharp crack of a horses shoe as it catches the jump. Jamie turns and smiles. “They have to make mistakes at home”.
I have been invited to watch the morning schooling at Jamie Snowden Racing. We stand in the September early morning sun. The Lambourn gallops in full splendour surrounded by rolling green hills and cut harvest. This is the Valley of the Racehorse and I am in awe.
The horse in question is a new addition to the yard and it is obvious that Jamie is excited about seeing him jump. “He should learn from that mistake, so next time we will go again and this time round he will be a bit more tentative because they’re being a bit unsure”. The two horses complete their run, the older more experienced rider guiding his new teammate. Jamie stops to talk to the jockeys “He was bold, a bit brave and a bit stupid and naïve but this time he'll be a bit clever”. He assures the jockey and watches them turn for a second run. “Watch him, he'll be wary because he doesn't want to fall. He should do if he's clever enough. If he's stupid, then he'll make the same mistake". The horses turn, they begin their approach, they clear the first, and then the second. Brilliant! You see? He learnt from the time before, this one is going to be our secret weapon!”
I am fascinated by the journeys people take in life and always interested as to how they get there. For Jamie at every given turn it is clear he was destined to be in the saddle. He started as an amateur jockey at school, spent a gap year in New Zealand working as an assistant trainer, rode and worked through Newcastle University before attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2001.
“There was a knock on the Guards Room door at Sandhurst, in March of 2002 and I was ushered up into the Commandant's office. I thought crikey I've done something pretty bad and put my heels together. He said ‘Snowdon! You can ride horses’ I said “yes”. He said you’re riding in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown tomorrow. The Royal Irish regiment of which he was in had leased a horse to run in the Grand Military. Lucy Horner was in the Royal Irish regiment and was meant to be riding in it, but she was stuck in a motor attack in Northern Ireland and couldn't get out. So they needed a last minute sub to ride. Where as the rest of my platoon team were going into the gas chamber the following morning. They turned left and I turned around and got into the Commandants car got whisked off to Sandown, rode in the Grand Military, won it, ended up at Windsor Royal Lodge drinking champagne with the Queen Mother that night, and came back to Sandhurst. All the rest of my guys had been in the gas chamber having had a day from hell where I had this most surreal experience were I had ridden around Sandown, won and had drinks with the Queen and Queen Mother that night, it was just bizarre”
Bizarre it may have been but it was the start of his racing career. On joining the Kings Royal Hussars the Colonel of the Regiment issued him one objective ‘to win the Grand Military’,’ He did and went on to win both the Grand Military Gold Cup and the Royal Artillery Gold Cup four years in row. Apart from a brief tour in Northern Ireland, (where he still managed to find the time to race) he has lived the life of riley and as Jamie puts it with a big grin. "A pretty successful army career! Why would I want leave?”
He did, and if he hadn’t he would have probably continued his career as an army officer but he joined Nicky Henderson where he worked for 4 years as his assistant trainer and amateur jockey.
I ask him what he had learnt the most from his time with Nicky? He replies speaking softly, “Patience, patience I suppose. Young horses need time. They can't all hit the road running, you've got to give them a little bit of time and let them mature and come to themselves and let them tell you when to push on".
From my morning on the gallops and my time back at the yard, I can feel a great sense of comradeship amongst all who work for Jamie. “Everyone's teaching each other. And I think the thing about training, which I'm sure is the same about any business is you want to surround yourself by the best people. You’re learning off the best people when transferring on to younger people who are coming up through the ranks who will hopefully help you progress. You see someone like Page who started here aged 18. She's now mid 20s. She's now teaching some of the younger guys. So you're training young horses to become older horses. The older horses are teaching the younger riders, the younger riders then progress to then teach the younger horses. It's like a conveyor belt of knowledge transferring into young horses so that they can go and win".
I remember too well the excitement of watching my younger cousin racing as an amateur jockey and as I drive out of Folly House, where Jamie lives with his family and has been training since 2011, I get what it must feel like to be the owner of a race horse. Yes it is about winning, as Jamie reminds me, but it is also about the journey that a young horse takes, from those first early steps, to learning how to gallop to being under starters orders in your first race. This is truly one of life’s greatest sports and you know that to follow this path, as with any sportsman you have to have the most incredible determination and grit. They don’t want to be second or third they want to win. Whether that’s winning the US Open or winning the Grand Military 4 years in row.
Tall Chin Talks to Mud & Guts founder Jamie King.
Welcome to the latest Tall Chin Talks and a couple of recent commissions!
"Tall Chin’s illustrations have an individual sensitive charm, fresh, gentle and very liveable with. His talent in composing the right picture for he who commissions it and catching that fleeting moment in time of the chosen subject is very special".
If there is one person who is going to encourage you to get outside this summer its Mud & Gut's founder Jamie King.
Jamie is passionate about the outdoors and he is even more passionate about getting children to spend time foraging and enjoying what the great outdoors has to offer. "Have you ever noticed that it is almost impossible to be in a bad mood when you are outside?" He asks with a beaming smile.
He is right, and anyone who has been on a Mud & Guts adventure day or party comes away having had a brilliant experience. “I always see their shoulders drop, their cheeks flush and their smiles broaden. Most importantly, it’s a day away from screens. It is a day of total immersion in a natural environment and it is a day having fun. Whether that’s learning to build dens, foraging and tracking to climbing trees, no two days are the same”.
Jamie is the first to admit that he is a child at heart, he clearly loves what he does and I can see why. He’s seen the world, while he previously worked as photographer for editorial magazines. But it wasn’t until he and his family moved to Wiltshire in 2011, and after a party Jamie had organised for their son in the local woods that Mud & Guts was born. “The party was such a success, and the children and their parents so keen for more, that I realised I was onto something”
Most important bit of kit to always have on you? Always a bushcraft knife!!
Where is your favourite sun-downer spot? Kimmeridge
Mud & Guts offers tailored birthday parties, adventure days, and camp outs either at their woodland base just south of Salisbury or Jamie and his team will travel within Wiltshire and the surrounding counties. All you need to have Mud&Guts come to you is enough space to build a den and enough children to fill it.
To book a Mud & Guts party or to enquiry about their activities then please drop Jamie an email on jamie@mudandguts.co.uk. Check our their website here and follow them on instagram @mudandgutsadventures.
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Tall Chin Talks to Gift Pop founder Hannah Foster
Tall Chin Talks with Gift Pop Founder Hannah Foster
Welcome to the latest Tall Chin Talks and a couple of recent commissions!
"Tall Chin’s illustrations have an individual sensitive charm, fresh, gentle and very liveable with. His talent in composing the right picture for he who commissions it and catching that fleeting moment in time of the chosen subject is very special".
Walking into the Wilderness
The sun is out and even if it was't my day just got a lot brighter after having a quick chat with Gift Pop's founder Hannah Foster.
Since launching her online boutique 7 years ago Hannah has been on a mission to not only brighten up our lives but to fundamentally build a successful business. She is driven, clearly enjoys a good party and is pretty damn cool. I was intrigued to know a little bit more about life behind the stockroom door.
We start on cooking, "I'm very excited as I have just brought a BBQ, summer is now here, and my children won't have to eat another chicken nugget until October!". Anyone who follows Hannah on Instagram will have been given a snapshot into her home life. Having just moved from a picturesque thatched cottage, (which for the record Hannah had painted pink) to her new house built of glass with only an Aga as a cooker, the decision had been made to turn the Aga off and spend the summer cooking on a BBQ. "I posted a question on instagram this morning about which is the best BBQ to buy and the Webber won".
Instagram is Hannah's domain and her marketing window for all that she sells. "I just love colour, always have done and I find a really good way of selling stuff is by featuring it in my home. If I put something in my house people see it actually working in someone else's lifestyle. I've definitely given a lot of girls confidence with adding colour to their homes, which makes me even happier."
Top tips on growing a brand? "It's not rocket science and it may sound naff but I have just been me. I enjoy it, it's hard work but I am driven to make Gift Pop work, financially as a business and for my family”.
What's in the pipeline? "New homeware, brighter the better!"
For all things bright and fun look no further than @giftpop.co.uk or follow Hannah on her instagram page @giftpopboutique.
Tales of a Mole catcher.
Tall Chin Talks with Moleman Mark
Tall Chin Talks
I know it has been a tough start to the year for many, so I can only hope all is safe and well.
Life at Tall Chin Studio’s has been busy and I have been fortunate to have had some wonderful individual and group portraits commissions, as well as some exciting oil landscapes to kick off the year. So a BIG thank you to everyone who has commissioned and supported me to date.
To kick off my first blog Tall Chin Talks I caught up for a quick chat with South Oxfordshire's celebrated Mole Catcher, 'aka' Mole Man Mark, also my father-in-law, Mark Weedon.
It was on Mark's 78th birthday that he proudly announced to the family that he was coming out of retirement to launch his new paying hobby mole catching. "They fell about laughing, but having said that they sprung to action to help design a website and Moleman Mark was launched!"
There are quite a few myths around how to catch a mole, what is the best way to catch them?
The best way is trapping, which is the traditional method. You can try and drive them away with solar repellers, but none of it really works as they're persistent little buggers, unfortunately. Which is why trapping is the only way to get rid of them from lawns.
Do you charge by the mole, how does it work as a business?
I can do but in practice I don't. What I do is charge 100 pounds. Kind of pocket money. It's not really a business. It's a hobby. But I charge 100 pounds, which gives them three months worth from the day I start. And I keep coming back. Usually each mole needs about four or five visits. The first to meet, set the trap and so on. The second to check and reset if necessary and dispose if necessary. It can take several attempts!
Why mole catching?
Before I retired I spent 25 years head hunting, 12 for Egon Zehnder International and the rest at my own BoardSearch. Before that working for Mckinsey but what I enjoyed most about it all was meeting people. Having spent many years trapping moles on my own lawn I thought it would make a good balance. Plus I needed to get out from under my wife's feet and get some fresh air!
Is this a potential family business?
No! It's a hobby although my eldest grand daughter did help catch one on her fathers lawn.
Where can Moleman Mark be spotted?
Mostly South Oxfordshire, West Berkshire and also East Wiltshire as that gives me an excuse to visit my youngest grand daughter.
Favourite animal?
Having been a fan of the Wind in the Willows, I don''t dislike moles, but I do dislike them digging up lawns. My favourite animal is an orangutang because they're actually very close to us in DNA. And I'm really sorry for what's going on in Borneo particularly and Indonesia in general, where they are cutting down their forests to put up palm oil.
Don’t leave them moles in the dark, you know who to call it’s Mole Man Mark!!
MOLEMAN MARK
07887 480014