We would use large charcoal, large leads, ink sticks, crayons, and were encouraged to file down our Rotring Ink Pens so they became more like a drawing pen.

I noticed that some people were less adept than others in the life classes, and would leave the hands and feet off.

Those people would go on to produce more 3D type artwork or photo based work. I also noticed that some did not come back to the Art School for the second year!

At the end of my first year I was asked if I would like to join the newly formed SIAD (Society of Industrial Artists & Designers) Illustration Course.

This course was to last 3 years and I would be eligible for a grant.

I jumped at the chance as I would be drawing all day long, perfect!

We were set projects and allowed to set our own agenda, and given quite a bit of freedom and trust.

This was when I moved into my first bedsit in Tenison Avenue, Cambridge. Everybody lived in bedsits all around Cambridge and would leave their front doors open for visits.

You couldn't imagine that now, and rent would be paid every week to your landlady or landlord as they did their rounds.

I loved my attic room and would keep just enough food in a little cupboard outside my room, to last just a day or so.

This is where I would draw and finish off drawings started during the day at art school. One of my favourite friends and models was a young lady called Rosemary Curd.

I drew her constantly and also introduced her to the Cambridge School of Art to be a part time model there also.

I enclose some studies and portraits of Rosy on the website.

As happens in Cambridge you move to better bedsits and nicer landlords, just a gas fire in the room, instead of a portable electric 2 bar heater, could swing a change in accommodation!

Copy to follow

So I moved to Glisson Road, Cambridge to a warmer room.

A few black and white photos remain from that period, taken by a fellow student.

Once a week we would have Criticism time [ Known as crit ], this would be with all students, as I recall.

This gave you a chance to be around your fellow students and hear them comment on your work.

Many whole projects went missing from this period, and I was told that the Art School could hold on to students work as necessary.