I’ve always thought this the prettiest pub, with its window boxes, hanging baskets, an gold lettering, so I was delighted to be asked to paint it. After taking all the photos I needed, we sat down for a drink, and were charmed by the relationship between the man and his dog. We think the dog wished he had a flat cap and a pint, too.
“Naomi’s paintings and prints are a fixture of Cambridge. You see them everywhere, and so they have become part of the place she represents in her art. When I was interested in commissioning a painting of the Blue Ball Inn in Grantchester, she was the obvious (and only!) choice. The end product is beautiful and has such a wonderful attention to detail: I love the colours of the flowers and window reflections, and of course the man and his dog sitting outside. It was the perfect birthday present for my best mate, who was a frequent patron of the pub as a student.” D