Lights Notes

These songs were inspired by an exhibition of paintings by the late Micheal Andrews at the Tate Britain in 2001. I'm not an expert on art but I found these works wonderful, sending my writing mind spinning off in many directions at once. If possible try to find them on the web. I've written a brief inadequate description of each picture below so you can have some idea of where the songs came from.

1. Out-of-doors

A white balloon (with basket beneath) seen from above against a green country landscape, from another balloon.

2. The ship engulfed

A black balloon floats against a background of city skyscrapers lit at night.

3. The black balloon

The balloon is seen in another nightscape floating over a large city river, possibly the Thames.

4. The pier and the road

This is a seaside view of a pier with buildings and with a wide tarmaced road running along the shore. The sun is out! As I come from a seaside town this made me think about the leaving of it.

5. The Pier Pavillion

A large theatre-type building sat upon a pier, reminding me a little of the pier at Cromer.

6. The spa

Plunged back into night time this is another seaside view but overshadowed by a huge suspension bridge populated by a great many cars.

7. A shadow

A simple sandy beach with calm sea disturbed only with a shadow of a balloon.

8. Cabin

A close up view of a passenger jet with a night time coastal scene below.

9. Liner

A passenger liner pulls out to sea in darkness with the coast in the background.

10. Old town

A view of Edinburgh on what feels like a cold rainy day.

11. Estuary

The Thames estuary with a few figures on the edge of the mudflats.

12. Source

The source of the Thames: an impressionistic swirl of greens, browns & blues.