Wealden Times | WT188 | October 2017 | Kitchen & Bathroom supplement inside

more like works of art than working models.
Sue and Dave Donkin are both artists. They studied
Art and Graphic Design at Sidcup Art College (now
sadly demolished). Sue went on to learn print-making,
while Dave became a model-maker. Keith Richards
from the Rolling Stones attended at the same time.
Dave shows me a picture of them, back in the stylish
day – Keith Richards looking impossibly, and almost
unrecognisably, young and fresh faced. “Yes, there
he is,” says Dave, smiling. “They told him that if he
spent more time working, rather than in the boys’
cloakroom playing his music, he might do better…”
After college Sue and Dave both became art
directors in different advertising agencies. Sue then
decided to leave advertising and started teaching
in art colleges and Dave went freelance, as a model
maker for advertising, BBC and publishing. Dave
has made some amazing models, many for national
ad campaigns and the couple have travelled all over
the place sourcing materials for his pieces. Sue and
Dave always painted too and now that they’re both
free to paint more, their work is closer to home – in
fact it is at home, in the converted garage that’s now
a part of the house. It is a useful space for working
in and is a great asset at the Open Studio events they
participate in. “We don’t really sell ourselves, but the
Open Studio was popular and got good footfall,”
Top: The downstairs loo is a homage to political satire Above: The dining
room is painted a tranquil green
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