Diary extracts for September 1933 to December 1935

[unknown date]:

Of course we had no money practically, this was the difficulty. But here my mother came forward and said ‘Well, I’ve saved something out of the housekeeping. If you can build a house for £700 I’ll give it to you. But over that I expect you to pay for it.’ And we built this cottage for £500.’

16th Sep 1933:

Looked at plots up at Dibden Purlieu [in The New Forest, Hampshire] and came to the conclusion that it was the spot for us. Spent the night in Hythe (Drummond Arms). SS Olympic in Southampton Water.

August 1934:

Richard only had one painting in the Redfern show above but it sold at a milestone price.

I did a painting from a barge at Weymouth in the harbour there which was the first large painting I did. When I say large, it was just over four feet by just over three feet. And they came along to see that and they said ‘Oh good heavens we must have that on view and get the Contemporary Art Society interested.’ And they bought it for a hundred pounds which was the first picture I had ever sold for a hundred pounds. ['The Blue Barge, Weymouth' (1934)]

[unknown date]:

The house in Dibden Purlieu is about 4 miles as the crow flies from Southampton.

Before all these trees grew up we could see Southampton quite well, you could see into the docks and everything.

December 1935:

I can remember the Christmas after our son was born we were really down to our last shilling. Of course we had the house which was nice. I was really wondering what to do when a telegram came saying ‘Just sold your picture of The Ship Inn, Weymouth for £100 to Liverpool.’ So of course everyone wondered why we were looking so bright!