The Third Generation

My uncle, Guy Rastall was a great accountant and he helped Fred for years try to sort out his accounts. This was a good thing as it meant we would always see Fred at some point in the year as his accounts needed doing! Judging by the state of Fred’s car and clothes in those early years I am sure book-keeping for such a free spirited ‘En Plein air’ British artist, who kept moving house, was a real challenge for Uncle Guy, but they had a good friendship over many years so somehow, they made the book-keeping happen.

As an adult I read this situation differently, this was just Fred trying to focus and prepare for the day ahead, what painting or location, whilst a youngster pestered him with 20 questions! I have always been inquisitive and that is a major advantage if you are going to collect art. Fred would leave my grandmothers and go out to paint in the morning (often in Tintern) and come back in the afternoon for afternoon tea or the obligatory roast dinner & gooseberry tart. As I sat next to him at the dinner table, he had an energy that was nice to be around, he was fascinating & intriguing, I liked Fred.