For many of us the past 12 months has brought about a renewed and profound appreciation for our families. Spending more time with some of our closest loved ones, while separated from others, has brought a lot of focus to the importance of making sure our families know how much we care about them.

If my database is working, this email is going to men. Mother’s Day is in four weeks; I don’t know about you, but in my house, mummy has bourn the brunt of lockdown. If this is the year for a spectacular Mother’s Day, this is the email for you. 👍

It’s said the cure for anything is salt water. Through sweat, tears or the sea, we can find whatever catharsis we need. I’ve tried the first two, so the cure for Lockdown must be a visit to the sea. Since that isn’t happening any time soon, today’s theme is a virtual, creative visit to the sea.

I’m having a dry January. After the habits I got into last year, when Lockdown 3 hit I didn’t want to revisit that rabbit hole! It’s probably helping me feel focused, too. 😂 I feel immense energy right now, and I think its helping me develop ideas, including some really cool entry level things we can do completely online (two in today’s reveals).

Some art is dreadful. To that snivelly person in the back that says, “but wait, isn’t all art subjective?!”… er… No. Today’s links are undeniable proof that some art (and design) is so bad, it’ll not only make you laugh, but teach you something about good art (and design) in the process. 😂🤓

Since it's the most popular link from these emails, I have three Reveals to share with you this week. My little Christmas Gift, you might say. 🎁🎁🎁

Last week I turned 50. As you probably know, we produce a lot of thoughtful, creative projects for these sort of milestones, so I should have known something would be made for me. Somehow, I was still surprised, and I was still moved. I got to experience the feeling we try so hard to create for others, and it was friggin’ great.

With the high street shops closed, we are super busy with Christmas deadlines. It seems everyone has to be more creative with buying gifts this year. What can I say but, hallelujah! 😂

To start, a quick word about our approach to Lockdown. Our visits with clients are not social visits, and most cannot be done remotely. The government’s guidelines clarify that professional video shoots can continue, and say nothing about photo shoots, so we’re still doing both. I try not to make this newsletter an overtly sales-y email… but we’re open for business 😊

As Lockdown II looms, I’m feeling surprisingly sanguine. Although we had to cancel 4 art exhibitions this year, and we’ve certainly had a decline in certain areas, our Art Advisory is going really well…! Truth is that everyone’s exhibitions were cancelled, so there is a lot of amazing art out there, languishing in studios, and some great deals, across the market. So this week I’m sharing news from the Art Gallery, including WHY the company is evolving, in the Daydream below.