In 2007 Romany Mark Bruce, Irish-born lawyer and self-taught artist, was confronted by a stranger while walking his dog in Kemptown, Brighton. 'I want a word with you,' said the mysterious fellow, and walked off, without further explanation. Two days later, Romany received a follow-up email: would he consider mocking up a design for an AIDS Memorial statue, to be erected in the south-coast city? An open-call competition was underway: there were ten days left to enter. Having lost his deare...

Susan Ryder has long been one of the country's leading portrait painters. A member of the New English Arts Club and past vicepresident of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, she has painted many notable sitters including HM The Queen, Diana, Princess of Wales and many more.Inspired by the work of Edouard Vuillard and the teaching of Bernard Dunstan, she is still passionately in love with lamplight, to her it is more thrilling than the most beautiful sunset. Setting her scene be...