| My Background |
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Page 4 of 5  Raul with Gilbert and George, Damian Hirst and David Stewart at his studio in Spittalfield Market I gradually found my feet and married someone I had met in Cuba who helped me greatly as I began to settle. Patricia arranged English lessons for and me helped me through my first exhibitions and workshops here. She was also with me as I toured with an exhibition of the top 24 black contemporary artists through Gran Canaria and Spain . Unfortunately our relationship did not last but I shall always be grateful to her and have happy memories of that period of my life. The break up of our relationship was traumatic for both of us and I found it hard to create for a while but eventually my work found a permanent home in the ever changing atmosphere of Spittalfields. It was here that I met artists like Gilbert and George and Damien Hirst and it was here too, a year later, that I met Heather whom I married four years later.
Spittalfields was developing rapidly and had become not only expensive but also stressful; as the large buildings went up around it somehow the light disappeared. I found myself pinning for open spaces and so we decided to go to South Wales , which Heather was familiar with, for a short break. That break has lasted until today - almost eleven years - for on a wet and windy May day we visited an Old Chapel in Solva which happened to be for sale and being sensible human beings we bought it! It is our home gallery in which there is a permanent exhibition: we both live and work in it and it is very much part of us. |