Discussing all things books and paint
An evening with Emily Howes and Chloë Ashby at The Yard, Hampshire
Earlier this week, I ventured yet again to The Yard, Hampshire, for another thought-provoking discussion led by Rebecca Fletcher, this time with the topic of; stories hidden by paint.
I love these events, set in an intimate, rustic barn where I’ve seen Emma Gannon and Daisy Buchanan.
Authors Emily Howes and Chloë Ashby joined Rebecca to discuss their latest novels, which recurringly featured paint. There’s the saying of watching paint dry—the evening was anything but that, acting as a beautiful canvas for conversations about art and paint itself. Sometimes the topics you know least about can be the most interesting. As I found it, I learned something new about art, wanting to broaden my interests. I’d initially been put off Art since studying it at GCSE, but now all I want to do is go to a gallery!
They each described how their novels came about, with different themes of sisterhood (Howes) and fertility (Ashby), with links to real-life paintings that inspired their work.
We all see art in different ways, especially when context is added. I’d not come across each of the paintings before so much can be implied in each of the photos. You may think one of the Gainsborough sisters is pulling the other’s hair when, in fact, she’s moving a stray piece.
Ashby has written for several publications about Art, whilst Howes’ background is in psychology, although she loves history!
I recently read Second Self ahead of the event. Ashby admitted the novel acted as a canvas for her own feelings, although protagonist Cathy is quite different to her own life. Meanwhile, The Painter’s Daughter is a historical fiction piece based on real-life painter Thomas Gainsborough and his daughters, Peggy and Molly, whom Howes explores through their portrait – famously cut in half would you believe?!
Each gave a glimpse into their next novels in the works which sound super exciting! But I won’t say anymore… mwahaha!
The beauty of these evenings is that I come away wanting to read even more books in different genres – not so good for my bank balance. I would never have imagined myself wanting to read Howes’ The Painter’s Daughter, but you can now consider it added to my TBR pile!
A wonderful evening as always as led by Rebecca and The Yard – I look forward to the next one!
BOOKS MENTIONED