The following year (after Manchester Polytechnic), 1980 I gained a post graduate place at the RA Schools for Painting. I moved to London in September to start the three year course. I remember my first morning vividly. I got off the train at Green Park and walked up Piccadilly and then left up Burlington Arcade past some of the most exclusive shops in Europe. At the top I turned right and immediately right again off Burlington Gardens down a passageway to the School entrance. I walked down the steps to be met by a uniformed attendant who asked my name, ticked me off on a register and pointed to the door to the Life Room. I went in to the large studio, the clock struck 9am, the model disrobed, the small group started drawing and that was the start to my three years there. The first year group spent the first term in the Life Room everyday drawing from the figure and learning about anatomy and physiology. The drawings were to be presented to the Keeper Peter Greenham at Christmas to determine whether students would progresss.
Peter Greenham : Life Class 1979
