An Illustrator's Life in Sixties London

"London was the centre of the music scene of the time. England bands became worldwide stars and there was an amazing explosion of musical talent, with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones at the front. Music was everywhere.

Pop Art was also going strong.

... David Hockney appeared at the art shows in a gold lame jacket and showed paintings of Celia Birtwell and Ozzy Clark, who had a shop in the King's Road. Michael Chow's restaurant in Knightsbridge had paintings by Jim Dine, Patric Caulfield, R.B. Kitaj and Eduardo Paolozzi on the wals.

Allen Jones had some 3D chrome-plated women's breasts in the Meridiana next to a Coca-Cola logo, which was changed to Cosa-nostra by Harry Peccinotti, as well as a sculpture by Paolozzi on the terrace upstairs. Everywhere you looked you saw seriously good art on show.

60s Fashion 1965

The rag trade was booming too. Carnaby Street opened up selling trendy gear and the King's Road became magnet for thousands of people on Saturday afternoons...

I remember seeing Keith Richards in Alvaros wearing a black Spanish hat and the round black sunglasses with a sheepskin on his shoulders and a large German iron cross on his chest.."

Illustration Magazine #36 / Summer 2013