Went to collect my portrait of Charles Boyle, from the specialist art printers in Hoxton. On the way from Old Street Tube station I passed the Book Art Bookshop.
Popped inside and found a shelf full of CB Editions – that is, books published by Charles Boyle.
One was by my friend Will Eaves. It was quite a few years ago now, but I remember going to that book’s launch, somewhere near the British Museum.
Last week, when I was drawing his portrait, I told Charles that I remembered the book launch and he said he remembered it too – specifically, with regret that he didn’t bring along enough copies of Will’s book, and ran out while people still wanted to buy it.
Also on the shelf in the Book Arts Bookshop: two books by CB himself, both published under his pseudonym Jack Robinson. I bought one, Days and Nights in W12:
“Ingeniously observed, elliptical and funny. It’s like the best moments from a novel – minus the padding” – Geoff Dyer
As I was paying, the shop owner asked if I knew that the author was also its publisher. That he was writing under an assumed name. I said yes, adding that I’d seen him only a week ago. Weirdly, it didn’t occur to me to say that I was on my way to collect his portrait.
I headed off to the printer, across Hoxton Square where dozens of people stood around making a film. I went under the railway bridge, onto Kingsland Road, then collected Charles’s portrait and another print, of flowers:
I popped back into the Book Art Bookshop. The woman behind the till, Chiara Ambrosio, was talking with a couple of customers. I apologised for interrupting, and showed the picture. The made appreciative noises.
I said this was one of several portraits of independent publishers I’d done so far – added that I want to put them together in a book.
Great idea, said Chiara.
Wouldn’t get that kind of encouragement at Waterstones.
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Posted as part of my Outstagram project: posting here things (mostly visual) that I might previously have posted on Instagram.
1 Portrait of Charles Boyle. See previous posts here and here.
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