Nº74: Harriet Gillett
The London-based painter talks funfairs, the pubs she loves (and paints) and a film she can't stop thinking about.
We’re back with Harriett Gillett. Read on to find out what she’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for secret recommendations every week.
Harriet Gillett is a painter from East Yorkshire who currently lives and works in London. When not panicking about a painting deadline she is usually off living in fields.
☞ UPCOMING SHOWS:
Goodeye Autumn 24 Residency Studio Show
January 17th - 19th
*PV 16th Jan 6-8pm*
‘Presently Fragmented’ curated by Eduardo Monti
January 23rd - March 5th
☞ FUNFAIRS: Whilst my hometown local Hull Fair has to be the biggest and best I’ve been to, London always has something going on in some park or other. I find that even just a quick waz on the waltzers and a couple of sugar donuts can sort me out with my funfair fix.
☞ HOT TAKE: I have always had a bit of a passion for the idea that there are big cats living in the UK under our noses. If I ever find myself in a YouTube hole, it’s usually watching home videos of ‘suspicious large cats sightings’ and I have been flirting with the theory that escaped pets that got too big have bred and secretly flourish within our green and pleasant land. I’m fascinated by news clips from the sixties interviewing people with pet leopards, and watching Planet Earth’s ‘Cities’ where jaguars dwell alongside their Mumbai compadres made me all the more certain this could be possible. For a while I made paintings of leopards lurking on dance floors. I’m also obsessed with people who have the ability to speak to animals (if I had a superpower…), and frankly if you don’t believe it’s possible, watch this video and riddle me that.
☞ LINK YOUR OYSTER WITH YOUR RAILCARD: I bang on about this to everyone I know but nobody ever does it so here we are. TFL is lying, contactless is not the cheapest option ! You can link your railcard (£30) with your oyster and save 1/3 on all non-peak travel !! The way they get you is that you can’t do it online: —> get yourself to a station to speak to a real person (shock) and a member of staff can set it up for you there and then. —> save on travel moolah (outside of rush hour) for ever and ever amen.
☞ BAKED GOODS: If you find yourself in Yorkshire, keep your eyes peeled for a Cooplands and buy a curd tart.
☞ FOR THE LUV OF PUBS: I love pubs so much that I paint them. Here are a few London faves that I have/will paint soon:
MAP Studio Cafe, Kentish Town. A cute little café with an upstairs bar that hosts great evening events ranging from chess, poetry, to my favourite open Mic. Real community vibe there and the first place that made me feel at home in London. Sells the best quiche in town.
Tapping The Admiral, Kentish Town. Resident pub cat (maybe a dog too), proper trad folk session on a Thursday, feels like you’re in a ship (!)
The Hemmingford Arms - my favourite pub in Islington (I’m a sucker for an ivy clad building). Full of stuffed animals, chandeliers, random objects hanging from the ceiling. Pretty decent Thai food. Also feels like a ship! (Is this a theme?)
The Colony, Green Park. Initially built by Darren Coffield as a pop up art installation/bar that replicates the original Soho members club that was frequented by the likes of Bacon, Freud and Maggie Hambling back in the day, this little bar is here to stay a bit longer. Go to hear Bowie’s pianist playing requests, and a 4.50 gin and tonic (2008 prices - the year the original Colony in soho closed)
The Pear Tree, Barons Court. A quirky little number with nice potted plants and a loveable lamp or two. My current local.
The Jago Dalston, Dalston - not the Passing Clouds it was before but with much of the sentiment of the original venue, minus the tax evasion. A great spot for a mid week boogie.
The French House is a real taste of soho and the French cider and half pints make you feel like Dylan Thomas writing Under Milk Wood.
Can’t lie, Wetherspoons always has a place in my heart, they are partial to keeping going an interesting building or two and it’s the only place that I’ve seen zero inflation on a pint of Doombar in five years (still £1.99!!!!).
☞ STOP MAKING SENSE: Last year I chanced across the Talking Heads ’Stop Making Sense’ film tour that was screening all over the place and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Jonathan Demme’s direction really captures the essence of the band’s music. The sound quality, the narrative, the style, the SUITS — just Perfection.
☞ DESTINATION UNKNOWN: I’m a diehard fan of the spontaneous staycation. Planning effort is minimal/non-existent, and you can drive all your belongings straight to your door. I recently road tripped through the Scottish Highlands to the beginning of the North Coast 500 in blissful sunshine. Landscapes range from deserted white sand beaches, rocky islands, to risky munros/ridges all within a couple of hours drive from one another. Fair warning - bring midge repellent (I recommend Avon skin so soft - as repped by every rugged Scott I know - the Scottish Seals use it).
☞ RAID YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S WARDROBE: I’m a big fan of taking style inspo from unexpected sources and I find that it really gives the wardrobe a certain je ne sais quois. I spent the summer clad almost exclusively in my grandmother’s lingerie and have recently been channelling Italy, Ferris Bueller’s day of school and my very beautiful cat Bella. Art inspires life and life inspires art and what not.
☞ KNITTING: I cannot even attempt to understand or follow the coded Sanskrit that is a knitting pattern. For those (like me) who are too lazy to progress anything beyond knitting a square, I have devised a method of creating any item of clothing with no further knowledge required than just that. Knit a few, sew ‘em together and voila you have it!
♪ LISTENING TO: Space disco / alt funk / rock ?? I don’t really know what this loose vibe that I am obsessing over is, but if you do, please let me know and send me more.
☠ HATES: Making decisions. Slow walkerszzzZ
Thanks Harriet! Follow Harriet here!
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