Welcome to the November 2019 edition of the Jack Russell Gallery Newsletter.
We hope you enjoy reading about what we’ve been up to.

Jack Russell MBE

WORLD CUP WINNERS!

I can’t find the words adequate enough to describe what a brilliant summer it’s been for cricket. I was lucky enough to be in the thick of it with canvas and brush, if only on the boundary edge. My old car sponsor and pal Steve Patch managed to find me a way to purchase a ticket for a seat in the top of the Mound Stand at Lord’s for the World Cup Final.  

It cost and arm and six legs but was worth every penny. I wouldn’t have missed it for all the tea in China! What an amazing experience. Priceless. The first 50 overs were fine, England were in a good position at the break, but the second 50 overs, plus two extra “Super Overs” were absolute agony. I now understand what friends and relatives go through when they’re watching you in action.  

When you’re out in the middle it’s fine because you’re so wrapped up in what you are doing that you don’t get time to get nervous and bite finger nails (which is not easy in any case with big black gloves on!). For a long time we looked out of it until Ben Stokes started dragging England up by the boot laces and even then I’d thought we’d lost when we tied after our 50 overs but lost more wickets than New Zealand. In days gone by that would have meant certain defeat.  

I needn’t have worried though because when there were overthrows deflecting from Stokes’ bat I should have realised then it was going to England’s day. As if by magic a “Super Over” tie-breaker appeared. As the sun was setting right in our faces low over the new Warner Stand and the shadows lengthening the tension was unbearable. The whole ground held its breath as Joffra Archer delivered the final ball. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as the ball came back in from the boundary and Jos Butler ran out New Zealand’s Guptill for yet another tie!! 

But victory was ours because it had been on the big screen that another tie was no good to New Zealand on a count back of boundaries. Don’t ask me to explain it, it's all too complicated for my three brain cells but when Guptil dived towards his ground, still a yard short, and Jos whipped off the bails, England were World Champions and that’s all that mattered to me!!! Between biting already short finger nails I managed to make a few sketches and take some notes so I could eventually capture this momentous occasion on canvas.  

I spent the next few days in my studio working out the look of the final painting. Over the Winter I will have the pleasure of reliving that magical day by painting one of the greatest moments in English cricketing history. Through demand already we have decided to make a print from the original World Cup Final painting. Thank you to all of you who have been in touch by email and on twitter. Anyone interested, with no obligation to purchase, please drop me an email  jack@jackrussell.co.uk or tweet me @jackrussellart  and we’ll make sure you all see it. 

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THE ASHES 

I was also lucky enough to paint at every Ashes Test this summer. Thank you everyone at the counties involved for making it possible and repeatedly giving me the best seat in the house to set up my easel and canvas. I hadn’t painted an Ashes series since that epic contest in 2005 (even then I didn’t paint the Lord’s Test) so it was great to finally paint my first full Ashes Series.  

Those of you who know me know that I can never take the straightforward route so I added an extra challenge by trying to capture the first ball of every test.  I’d done this before at Cardiff in 2009, the first ever test match in Wales, and again for The Oval’s 100th Test Match last year. It’s always special to capture a particular moment in history, to immortalise a specific point in time. I'd forgotten how intense a battle the Ashes Test Matches were. Every ball is critical! It was a great thrill to be close to Ashes action again.  

Arguably one of the greatest Ashes innings of all time (together with Jack Leach’s 1 not out!) and without doubt one of the most amazing test matches in history. Again we have already had enquiries so as above, if you would like to see the finished limited edition, without obligation, please get in touch so we can keep you posted.

WOMEN'S ASHES 

To complement the men’s Ashes I had the pleasure of painting my first ever Women’s Ashes Test Match courtesy of everyone down at Somerset County Cricket Club. Due to past rivalries with my home county when crossing the border into Somerset I used to have to go in disguise! Only kidding, its a friendly rivalry.  

I’ve always got on well with the supporters in Taunton and it was a pleasure to be back on a very different looking ground to my playing days. The venue has come on a long way and credit to everyone involved at the county for the way they've developed over the last few years including most importantly producing a number of home grown international players. 

I was sad to see this year the retirement of the brilliant Marcus Trescothick, but he’s entitled to call it a day after all he has achieved for club and country. I can remember him as a little boy presenting him with an Evening Post Young Players Award for Keynsham CC back in the very early 90’s, I’ve still got a picture in one of my scrapbooks somewhere. Boy does that make me feel old!

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EXHIBITIONS

In between all the drama of the World Cup and The Ashes again we were on the road with our travelling exhibitions. This year we had some new and interesting venues for the first time including New Close, Newport, on the Isle of Wight. Another Newport, Newport Cricket Club in South Wales who hosted first class cricket again after 54 years of absence at the club.  

This was at their new ground Spytty Park as opposed to the old Rodney Parade ground where legend has it Walter Hammond hit the ball so far he started smashing windows on a nearby factory! And it was an honour to be part of Yorkshire County Cricket Club playing again in York.  

Thank you to all the officials at the county and local cricket clubs for looking after us so brilliantly and making us feel so welcome. We hope to see many of you again next season. In addition to the grounds we were delighted to be part of the annual cricket exhibition at Chris Beetles Gallery in Ryder Street, St. James’s, London. www.chrisbeetles.co.uk

There are plans for another one man show with Chris as soon as the artist can get his act together and paint enough paintings! There is also a possibility we may show a small number of paintings for The David Shepherd Conservation Foundation in their annual Wildlife Exhibition in the spring at The Mall Galleries in London.

Watch this space for details, or better still go to www.davidshepherd.org to see what amazing work they do. As you know from previous Newsletters David was a hero of mine and there’s an article on David’s website telling the story of how he influenced my career as a painter.

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LANDSCAPE DELIGHTS

It’s not been all cricket! I’ve been working on several landscape commissions including a visit to the Lake District where I was asked to paint a landscape as a “blank canvas” auction prize by www.championsukplc.co.uk to help raise money for their rainbow charity which gives terminally ill youngsters a few moments of joy before it’s all too late. How could I say no!

Also this beautifully tranquil garden with some of the most amazing colours I have ever painted for patrons of mine Doug and Kate Wright (please see previous newsletters).  

THANK YOU

I really should stop writing now so I can let you all get on and I can carry on painting pictures for all the people who are waiting! Before I go I will say, as always, without your support this artist wouldn’t be an artist.  

Thank you all for enriching my life with such amazing adventures. Have a wonderful winter and we'll catch up with you again for some more fun in 2020.

With very best wishes,

Jack Russell MBE