You sing it Bob and then I'll Paint My Masterpiece, says Dot
THE sound of Bob Dylan's Tombstone Blues can be heard very clearly over much of Chapeltown. Artist Dorothy Anne must be painting again.
When she heard that the star was coming to perform at the Arena in April the first thing she did was to buy her ticket.
She's been a fan ever since she first heard him in the Sixties.
And the second thing she did was to grab her paint and brushes and start work on a series of paintings inspired by his songs.
She likes to hear him as she paints. Over and over again!
"I must drive the neighbours mad but I play the music because I want the rhythm to come to me," she says.
Dorothy Anne, known as Dot, doesn't fit the usual stereotype of an artist. For a start she's a 64-year-old granny.
Then hers are not handy-sized canvases but at five foot tall are nearly as big as she is.
Dorothy Anne is her artistic name. Her surname is Rason. The Diary has difficulty spelling it correctly. "Don't put an 'i' in it or I become a sultana," she quips.
If she has a favourite track it's probably Visions of Johanna. "It started me off painting. I can't stop myself!" she laughs.
She's already painted about a dozen canvases in acrylic although his track When I Paint My Masterpiece is not one of the inspirational songs!"
Dot has been painting all her life and her tutors at the Millennium Gallery art class she attends reckon she ought to put them on show.
But she doesn't know where. Sheffield isn't exactly overstocked with art galleries and she's looking for an exhibition space.She says: "My paintings are a bit like montages. And there's a person who looks like Dylan in each."
While she's a great fan she's not holding out much hope that the man himself will ever see her work. She's e-mailed asking him if he would like to take a look "but I don't expect he'll even see it".
Her paintings have already been exhibited on the internet and she's had a couple of offers from the United States but she's unsure what to charge.
If you can offer Dot exhibition space call her on 0114 245 3043 or take a peek at her paintings on www.flickr.com/photos/dorothyanneartDoes your home deserve makeover?
HOW To Be On TV - the Diary's famous feature. Home Makeover, new TV show is looking for a richly deserving family who need a complete transformation of their home.
Perhaps you've overcome a difficult situation or have always put others first while your house suffers.
Apply or nominate someone by calling 0208 222 4658 or e-mail andy.tippins@endemoluk.com
Photo is a winner
THIS photo by Ray Brightman of two youngsters at Peak Rail, Rowsley, has won a prize at Sheffield Photographic Society's annual exhibition at the Botanical Gardens this weekend. It's one of 180 prints on display in the demonstration centre which will, on past form, be seen by several thousand visitors.
"The standard is high. The judges had to be very selective because there is not enough room to display all the entries," says society president Eileen Cooke.
The society was founded as far back as 1864. Yet it keeps up with the times. "We are well and truly in the digital age," says publicity officer Meg Julienn.
The exhibition, entry free, is open Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm.Real ale on a rail trip to Scotland
OUR railway companies don't get a good press but you've got to warm to the only one to regularly serve real ale in its buffet cars.
Green Express Railtours (www.greenexpressrailtours.co.uk), based at Hunmanby, near Filey, runs a once-a-year train from Sheffield to an unusual destination.
It specialises in calling at smaller stations to encourage use of local transport.
On Easter Saturday April 7, the Cumbrian Mountain and Highland Explorer leaves Sheffield (calling at Swinton) for a 700-mile round trip to Stirling and Perth and you can choose where to be dropped off.
It goes via the West Coast Main Line so there are great views of Morecambe Bay and Solway Firth.
"We've found many of our passengers have not used a train in the last year, some not in the last 40," says the company's Nick Harvey.
The diesel-drawn train will bring back memories of British rail's Merrymaker Tours of the Seventies.
Tickets cost 45. Book on 01723 891 400 .
Distant drums
SOMETIMES you can try too hard in press releases.
Sheffield-born violinist Andy Long is bringing his 18 piece orchestra to the Retford Majestic on Saturday, March 10, for a Some Enchanted Evening of classics.
In his press release he says: "I am very excited to be performing so close to my home city again."
Andy, Retford is 28 miles from Sheffield!
Book on 01777 706 866.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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