Forty years of 'Spy'

From a bustling London studio to the frost‑covered Thames, the narrator recalls a childhood steeped in art and royalty. Tales of his mother’s friendship with Wilkie Collins, visits to Westminster Abbey, and a mischievous school life at Eton weave a vivid portrait of Victorian society. Alongside his father's frescoes and the shadow of the Pre‑Raphaelites, he discovers a love for drawing, theatre, and the theatricality of everyday people.

Adulthood brings a restless curiosity that leads him to adopt the moniker “Spy,” a pseudonym under which he sketches the movers and shakers of his age. From caricatures of politicians and actors to intimate portraiture of queens and poets, his work captures both the flamboyance and the frailties of his subjects. Listeners will hear anecdotes of heated debates, smoky clubs, and the quiet moments that forged a unique voice in the art world.