by Carmen Álvarez
He does almost one painting a day and has sketched his entire life. Although he describes himself as 100% British, he has lived in Morocco for many years.
But he also has a relationship with Uruguay which comes through Francis Mallmann the famous Argentinian cook with Uruguayan ancestors.They’ve been friends for 40 years since the time when Martin had a client to whom he used to sell impressionist paintings in Buenos Aires. He used to go there once a year and would stop on his way back in Garzón to see his friend Mallmann. Martin eventually also built a large house there in 2005 which now belongs to Francis.
That’s the way things are so often interwoven here in the River Plate. That’s why is such a pleasure, with this particular story behind, to introduce Martin’s appealing art work to our readers.
- Could you please tell our readers what has been the main motivation that led you into the field of the arts ?
At my 1st school we slept in dormitories. Parents of leaving boys were asked to donate a reproduction of a famous painting . So after 5 years I could recognise nearly 100 of the worlds most famous paintings. I wanted to get into the world of Art Dealing and selected Arthur Tooth and Sons and The Lefevre Gallery as the Galleries I would like to work with. I eventually spent 7 years with Tooth’s and 33 years with Lefevre as Managing Director. However I didn’t start painting properly until I retired.
- Although there are several topics in your work (food, drinks, animals, butterflies, flowers, jewerly, and so on) some of the paintings are dedicated to vintage which I like very much. Why is that ?
I think ‘yesterday’ was more elegant than ‘today’. I love drinking old wine.
- It’s also a very colourful work. What does colour mean in your life?
Without colour life would be very dull.
- How could you describe the art life in London, the city where your works have been exhibited lately.?
The Art World thrives in London – helped by Sotheby’s and Christie’s and many, many Galleries.
- Why are you living in Morocco? Tell us something you love about it.
A wonderfully exotic country with spectacularly good weather. Instead of £12 an hour for staff ( with luck), it’s £12 per day here. I have wonderful staff.
- Where can your work be seen ? Are the paintings in exhibition somewhere ?
I have had three successful exhibitions at the Sladmore Gallery in Jermyn Street, London. I am preparing a website with over 1,000 images for everyone to enjoy !!!!!
Women in Move Magazine Virtual / Editora Carmen Álvarez.