15 July 2014

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

RICHARD DIGANCE, the renowned comedian, lyricist and artist, has presented Chequer Mead Arts Centre with a picture to include in its exhibition of WWI reflections this summer.

Richard, who will be bringing his paintings to the centre in November, was delighted to see one of his own works included in the war exhibition.

Centre Manager Pete Jenkins said ‘Richard appeared here in March, and was very taken with Chequer Mead. In talking he spoke about his paintings, and so I offered to show him the gallery.

‘He said straight away that he would love to exhibit here and he also has a great interest in WW1 so when I told him about our programme he very kindly offered to paint a picture for the exhibition.’

Richard drove all the way from his home in the Cotswolds to bring the painting to the centre and has also offered to do something unique for Chequer Mead at his forthcoming exhibition, in which he has collaborated with renowned fiddle player Tom Leary to produce unique pieces of music inspired by each piece of art.

Anyone buying a piece of art will presented with a one-off cd to accompany the painting.

Chairman of the Chequer Mead Trust and Town Mayor Nick Hodges said ‘This is a real boost for the exhibition, brought about in a discussion that Richard and Pete had while discussing the Digance exhibition – it is very generous of him.’

* The WWI exhibition can be seen at Chequer Mead’s Greenstede Gallery from 21 – 26 July.

The Richard Digance exhibition will be on display on 8/9 November.