I had been painting the swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath when a bloke started talking to me about a hill ‘south of here’. He said he couldn't remember exactly what it was called but it started with a ‘P’. Shortly after I found myself on Parliament Hill painting the views over the city to the south and Highgate to the east. Whether he meant Parliament or Primrose Hill I don't know, but some time after I discovered Primrose Hill for myself. It was winter and as popular as ever. One of my early paintings from 2004 was a large canvas called (above), which took several sessions on site. I would work on grey days anticipating that fleeting twilight hour. One day I rocked up in horrendous wind and rain. When three men passed me and one of their brollies turned inside out, I grabbed a small board, which I keep
