This is the first portrait I have finished in over two years. For a long time Babs has been staring at me from on top of a bookshelf.

For those under 40 (or not from the UK) Babs Lord was in Pan’s People, a legendary dance troupe that appeared on Top of the Pops in the late 60s/early 70s. They did very literal dance interpretations of song lyrics, so for instance if it was ‘Paperback Writer’ they’d pretend to be typing, if it was ‘Smoke on the Water’ they’d mime smoking a cigarette then do a swimming motion. They really were inspired.

I’m (very) slowly working through some of my favourite icons from early childhood. Next up will possibly be one of the Beatles. Or a Blue Peter presenter. Or maybe even Harold Wilson. Or next door’s cat.