Congratulations to LRG sitter Natasha Farrant on winning major prize

We’re delighted to congratulate Natasha Farrant, one of the authors whose portrait featured in Lots Road Group’s exhibition ‘The Art of Reading’, who has won the most prestigious prize for children’s literature, the Costa Children’s Book Award, for her novel ‘The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk’.  

Natasha was painted in her garden looking amused by one of her earlier novels, ‘Lydia’, by LRG member Hilary Puxley.

The prize winning novel, set in the aftermath of World War I, is a classic adventure story which follows the epic journey of two friends and their dogs on a narrowboat as they set off through England and across the channel to France to find lost loved ones and a place to call home.

Natasha says she was interested in how lives can be rebuilt after a huge trauma, and her story shows her young heroes bravely shaping their own destinies – a theme that must resonate with today’s young readers. 

Hilary Puxley’s portrait of award winning author Natasha Farrant

A tribute to Katharine Whitehorn – by her portraitist Sarah Richardson

Although not unexpected it is still very sad to hear of the death of Katharine Whitehorn, a pillar of journalistic society as I was growing up.

The opportunity to paint her for the Lots Road Group exhibition – and get to know her – over many sittings in my studio in London was a huge pleasure and delight.

Her humour was legendary and she entertained me over many hours.

The sittings were usually followed by a liquid lunch in my kitchen – lovely memories to treasure for always.R.I.P. dear Katharine

Sarah Richardson in her Chiswick studio with pioneering Observer columnist Katharine Whitehorn