Both national and personal, the events of the lying-in-state were hugely significant at Parliament, and can now be seen reflected in these artists’ works. They are on display in Westminster Hall where the Queen lay in state and the public paid their respects.

Over the last 4 years it’s been my brilliant team’s pleasure and privilege to work with these 6 artists (L-R) @lach #LachlanGoudie #JuliaMidgley #CarolineWalker #TinaCrawford #EleanorCrook #DrydenGoodwin and to bring their creative responses to the Parliamentary Art Collection.

A Historic Farewell: Art as Witness to the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II is now open at @ukparliament.parliament.uk

Wrote about the joys of a Munich holiday - museums, swimming, food, friends www.spoonsontrays.com/blog/munich-...

Love this shot of my nomination with the original @antiquaries.bsky.social ballot box!

After over a year of planning, today is day 1 of my lecture course based on and developing my book #LookingforLongitude. 6 lectures over today and Friday for North Wiltshire Arts Society …

Inspiring day at @royalsociety.org for this conference on ‘Scientific portraits and portraits of science’, reconnecting with colleagues and ideas, and thinking about how a story of commissioning at @ukparliament.parliament.uk fits into this #histsci

A day working on the series of lectures I’m giving to The Arts Society North Wiltshire next month. A first for me consulting my own book! Enjoyed revisiting some of the brilliant characters in the #longitude story www.tasnorthwilts.org.uk/general-2-1-...

#Arcadia by #TomStoppard at the Old Vic. I first saw this maybe 25 years ago. It first got me interested in 18th-century history and seeing it again I realise how well it entwines stories of science, art and culture in the ways I now hold dear

Now in its eleventh installment, I reflect back on my favourite cultural visits of the year in a 'Best of' on New Year's Day. For 2025, I seem to have enjoyed a similar palette of colour and pattern in shows that made me look and think differently www.spoonsontrays.com/blog/best-of...

Finally managed a blog post on architecture and museum moments in Brussels lnkd.in/e5ETTgFm

Love this thank you! And snap

#MuseumofShadows @ukparliament.parliament.uk

Look what arrived in the post! Now out in paperback so much more affordable, and still looking pretty good, though I say it myself www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....

Home from an exceptional week with Oxford Cultural Leaders #OCLResidential2025. Could not have asked for a more perfect set of trainers, activities, locations and colleagues. Now for the reflection, absorption and change to begin!

… how we dwell in buildings and bodies, how materials and movements hold memory. I found it exciting, calming, energising, reflective. 2/2

#DoHoSuh at #tate is as visually beguiling as I expected from visitor’s posts but it’s also deeply compelling. Working with ‘fabric architecture’ he measures, rubs and records his domestic spaces, making you reflect on the fabric of space, place and memory … 1/2

Excited and humbled to have got a place on #OCLResidential2025 later this year. Looking forward to everything I can learn from my cohort and the Oxford Cultural Leaders team

#OftheTree by #marshmallowlaserfeast newly installed at @rbgkew.bsky.social. A beautiful day, so many people pausing, being drawn in. Left me thinking how far technology can make us look differently at nature

We’re looking for new trustees at @oldoptheatre.bsky.social! Particularly if you can bring expertise in medical, commercial, fundraising or social inclusion, get in touch! oldoperatingtheatre.com/vacancies/

Well this is exciting post! Congratulations @atinybitwaring.bsky.social @rhiggitt.bsky.social Richard Dunn, Simon Schaffer, Alexi Baker. The #BoardofLongitude mark 2!

Gorgeous marbled papers by #TirzahGarwood at #DulwichPictureGallery. Really want to do a marbling course now!

Artist commission now open for proposals at Science Museum Group! I was excited to consult on this project for an artist to contribute to the new 'Tomorrow: The Bennett Gallery', which will explore how today's scientific discoveries are shaping our future.

#LuxMuralis at @stpaulscathedral.bsky.social Spectacle threaded with history, art and ideas. An inspiring way to spend an evening

Best of 2024 blog is now up www.spoonsontrays.com/blog/best-of...

#Outofoffice on for two weeks. It’s been a busy, intense year. Focusing on family, friends and feasting for the coming days …

For the next 3 weeks #Parliament is hosting ‘The Embarkation of Saint Ursula’ in St Stephen’s Hall. This is on loan from the #nationalgallery to mark the gallery’s foundation by Parliament 200 years ago. What a joy to work on bringing this painting to the Palace!

New on the blog. Working through my obsession with Cesar Manrique developed on holiday to Lanzarote - essentially his total artwork from culture to landscape. www.spoonsontrays.com/blog/lanzaro...

Pretty pleased with this, thanks to #printquarterly #LookingforLongitude

Works by Seven Sisters, Claudette Johnson, Lesley Sanderson, Rita Keegan