Richard Scott Blog - 11th May 2025

I am busy typing this to you, on Wednesday night, at 30 000ft above the ground over Africa somewhere on an Emirates flight to Newcastle. All while I watch Joanne sleeping, or trying to sleep, as I recollect on the first few days of my week. 

Monday I drove into Cape Town with Joanne and dropped her off at her office. Schools were back. Blah. I then popped into SHIFT to get a coffee injection, did my banking and admin, planned the bronze sculptures and then headed home to get some work done in the studio for the two shows in Surrey and Munich.

I did a lot of printing as the James, with his new Gallery Kaizen, in Surrey, wanted to represent me in the area with my prints.

Tuesday was a repeat of Monday, only I didn’t have to drive into town. I could get stuck straight into the studio. For the first time in a few years, I sat up late painting by the fire.

Nonetheless, Espen and his wife popped into the studio, all the way from Norway. Espen is a huge fan of my art and always comes to say hello.

Espen and his wife Kjersti.

Four new art works on the way to Norway.

Espen sent me a picture of his doggie and the Richard Scott tree pillow. Such a beautiful dog.

Wednesday I went into overdrive. I committed to take some art with me on my travels to London and Munich. The plan was to make up two different boxes each with a 1m x 1m artwork in them. James, in Surrey, was adamant he could sell the last remaining Wonderwoman, and Jay at the gallery in Munich wanted a Candy Ana. So, I decided to do it. They both also ordered a range of prints which had to all be packed up and only weighed 23kg. I use to take art with me on my trips around Europe. It was a little nerve racking as Frans, and I added and removed art out of the home made crate to get it to its right weight. Blah, you know the travel drill. I am still in awe at the large amounts of luggage people carry with them when they travel. Once our gift filled suitcases were weighed and checked in, along with the two large boxes, all we had was two small backpacks.

Stamping a Munchen print.

Signing a I LOVE Hamburg Print, with Gold Leaf.

Posing for a picture. These prints will be available in Munchen next week.

And we were off. I once said to myself that I would not drive from Cape Town to Johannesburg. I feel now, at my age, that I wanna apply the same rule to travelling from Cape Town to London in economy. How do we do it. 

Made use of a porter to carry the big boxes to the Oversized luggage.

Taking a photo of the new British Airways plane to send to Richie.

The flight was ok.

We arrived at Newcastle airport and grabbed the oversized luggage. I was actually quite surprised how easy it was to lug 2 huge boxes across the world. 

Back in South African when I was online looking and planning on how to get the 2 large boxes from Newcastle airport, Joanne suggested using Uber Xl. I said there is no way that there is Uber Xl in Newcastle, and low and behold I booked it, and Thomas came to pick us up and bingo we were in Darlington in 45minutes.

My sister Angela and my brother in law Stewart Morgan doing what Stewart Morgan does best.

Rummaging through Angela's canvas shopping bags to look for bags to paint on for my new "Circular" series.

It was great to see my mom and dad. Always great to spend time with them. Joanne and I had a nice cup of tea and then I arranged for the art to head off to Surrey and Munich respectfully.

Me, ever so proud with my mom and dad.

Photo for the family group.

Joanne wanted to go for a walk around Darlington, so we headed out and took a long walk to Morrison's to get a sim card, for my phone.

Me and the streets I grew up in.

Then it was supper time and Darlington Fish and Chips in dripping was on the menu. Nomm Nomm.

We had an early night as Glasgow, Scotland, was on the menu Friday.

Friday morning, we got up nice and early and had a nice breakfast. We headed off to Glasgow. It was only a 3 ½ hour drive which was quite pleasant. 

Road Tripping. Trying out a Scottish Ginger Beer.

We were off to Glasgow to go see Murial Vanoli, an old collector, who lives there. Muriel acquired a Kevin’s Girl painting from me in 2024 that she wanted the boots painted red. I thought it a good idea to just go to Glasgow for a day and do that.

Got the pic, just in time.

There she is. The red certainly made the piece POP.

Meet Muriel, my only Glasgow collector, as far as I know.

Muriel put us up in a really posh hotel, Hotel Du Vin. We checked in and headed off to Muriel’s house. It took me an hour to paint the boots red and then she treated us to a delicious lunch in their wonderful home. So now we know someone who lives in Glasgow. How cool is that.

After lunch we said goodbye, as Murial headed to the airport, and we headed down to the hotel to off load and get a jacket, as we wanted to walk the town that evening. It was a beautiful day in Scotland, yet it does get a little cold at night.

Nomm Nomm lunch with Andrew and Muriel.

Muriel has a "Pack it like a boss" piece.

The walk around Glasgow was ok. It’s a city that has its own character. We walked for about an hour and eventually sat down at La Lanterna Italian restaurant, street front, and ordered some nice Italian food. Then we headed to the Piano bar and then back to the hotel for a light supper.

We did not realise that Glasgow was such a big University town.

Got the picture.

We ordered a starter and then a main and released it was actually 10pm and the light was. Then it was bed time as we were heading back to Darlington the next morning early. 

Treating my beautiful wife to some nice food on the streets of Glasgow.

La Lanterna winning lots of awards.

Checking in.

Joanne and I living the life at the beautiful Hotel Du Vin.

Spending as much time as I can with the love of my life and my beautiful wife, Joanne.

Chilling in the foyer admiring the stained glass windows.

You gotta love those old beautiful, carpeted hotels.

Saturday was up early. The hotel only started serving breakfast at 8am and we wanted to be back in Darlington before 11, so we decided to head out and find a nice coffee in Glasgow. We found out that not many Scottish people get up before 8am, as we could not find an open coffee shop, so we were off to find something on the road.

Road tripping 101.

Trying to get lost.

Joanne and I added a tour of Scotland to our future travel plans.

The drive back was quick and easy. Then it was unpack, hand out the gift we bought for my mom, some Scottish Shortbread, and pack the car again and head down south to see Joanne's sister in Leicester for 3 days.

Saturday afternoon was all about catching up with Joanne's sister Clarissa and her husband Paul. The sisters made us a delicious curry stew and we sat up late.

Sunday was a trip to Cambridge. In pictures:

Joanne and her sister's family having lunch in Cambridge. Paul, Megan and Luke.

Got the photo of the river.

Something about Newton's Apple tree.

Managed to get a few Tags' in.

Spot the Scott with Megan and Paul.

Got the photo in one of the beautiful buildings.

Joanne caught me smiling and happy.

Ice cream time.

Pistachio and Honeycomb.

Thanks for reading and viewing.

Until Next week. 

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