Spies and Peas...

Last night John and I took a drive up to Saltburn-by-Sea, not just for a merry jaunt, although it was a merry jaunt indeed! We took the scenic route over the North York Moors which were covered in snow and rather beautiful, if a little wild in places!

We arrived in Saltburn just before dark, the sky was turning orange and the waves were pounding on the shore...

We found the gallery very easily, yes I said gallery! Last night we attended the Arts Bank Gallery for the launch of Mackenzie Thorpe's Game of Life Tenth Anniversary Celebration. 

We had been invited by Debbie and Brian to meet Mackenzie Thorpe and his wife Susan at the launch event. Knowing that we are new to working with Mackenzie they thought it would be nice to invite us, how very kind!

The event started at 6:30pm and people were very prompt to arrive. Mackenzie and Susan were soon in the midst of a bubbling mass of people, excited, chatty and eager to talk.

The range of people attending was wide with old and young mixing and chatting together. The atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable with a selection of drinks and a pie and peas supper promised!

The evening got off to a fantastic start, Mackenzie's Game of Life pieces were on display downstairs along with the remarked book which is being auctioned off (please see yesterdays blog entry for details). 

We were keen to see everything but especially the original pieces for the two new releases 'In Dads Boots' and 'Man of the Match'.

We strolled through the myriad of rooms and along the corridor's, passing excited collectors as we went. Everyone was happy to talk to each other and to us about their collections and their favourite pieces. 

We soon came to 'In Dads Boots' which was beautifully framed in a narrow black moulding. The innocence and simplicity of this piece is highlighted with the vibrant red of the ball and it holds your eye without needing further explanation.

'In Dads Boots' 

Limited Edition of 195 with 8 A/P's, 8 H/C's

'Man of the Match' once again captures the innocence, the simple figure standing there with his oversized boots, obviously inherited to fill his need to play the game. The look on his face says it all...

"Man of the Match? Me? In these boots?" 

'Man of the Match'

Limited Edition of 75 with 5 A/P's, 5 H/C's

Mingling and chatting we enjoyed the atmosphere, meandering around before being drawn back to the ground floor by the smell of pie and peas. Sure enough everyone was tucking in and there was even a polite huddle of a queue, waiting for the next batch of piping hot pies...

Being an evening focused on football it was the perfect supper! Isn't it strange how people from all walks of life can be drawn together by pie and peas just in the same way as they are by 'The Game of Life'

John and Mackenzie Thorpe... and me!