Tony Hart

It was revealed today that Tony Hart died aged 83. Hart presented arts programmes for children when I was growing up and long before that. He was largely responsible for the interest I have in art.

It's hard to say why I was interested in art and drawing itself but I enjoyed playing with crayons and felt-tip pens and my Mum always encouraged me, having studied art at school herself. She dropped out before she could complete her exams but it was always a presence when I was growing up. This lead to me studying art at school myself. I managed to get a place on an Art Foundation course which I would have done after my A Levels but I felt I'd had enough of drawing and painting at that time, and pursued an interest in film and television instead.


Although I never pursued a career in art I believe it formed strong bonds early in my life. I had a couple of friends in secondary school and I think we influenced each other. They certainly influenced me. I'd never considered the life of an artist or television director to be a realistic pursuit and though of being a lawyer - a proper occupation. Beside the fact that I didn't have the academic ability to become a lawyer and have yet to make any strides in film or television I think that grounding lead me to being who I am today an the choices I've made along the way.

None of this came directly from Tony Hart but it was his presentation of drawing and painting that was entertaining and educational. I haven't watched any of his shows for year and can only draw on the memories of childhood which may be clouded by nostalgia but I recall a dignity about the man. He presented a show for children without patronising his audience or trying to be wacky in that way some adults think kids relate to. There was a graceful austerity in his presentation.

I don't know when I would have stopped watching his shows but I remember them well, even from the times when I was very young, and I remember them fondly.