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David Hockney remembered | Letters

The Guardian UK Friday 19 June 2026, 15:58 UTC By Guardian Staff 1 min read
Key Points

Harriet Gibson recalls an eye-opening encounter with the artist, while Andrew Keeley talks about the influence of California on his work, and Christine Hayes recalls his ‘letter’ to the Guardian about smokingIn 1963, I was a naive 17-year-old on a week’s introduction to “art” at the Royal Court theatre with a group of about 10 sixth formers. We had an acting workshop with John Dexter, went to a wrestling match and were taken to visit an up-and-coming artist in his studio in Notting Hill. I...

Harriet Gibson recalls an eye-opening encounter with the artist, while Andrew Keeley talks about the influence of California on his work, and Christine Hayes recalls his ‘letter’ to the Guardian about smoking

In 1963, I was a naive 17-year-old on a week’s introduction to “art” at the Royal Court theatre with a group of about 10 sixth formers. We had an acting workshop with John Dexter, went to a wrestling match and were taken to visit an up-and-coming artist in his studio in Notting Hill.

I remember a smallish room with paintings lining the walls. David Hockney (Obituary, 12 June) talked about his work, said he was about to leave for the States and showed us a work on the wall called My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, which he explained was dedicated to his boyfriend who was in the States.

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David Hockney (PERSON) Letters Harriet Gibson (PERSON) Andrew Keeley (PERSON) California (LOCATION) Christine Hayes (PERSON) Guardian (ORG) Royal Court (ORG) John Dexter (PERSON) Notting Hill (LOCATION) States (LOCATION) My Bonnie (PERSON)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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