New Things
A Summation of very recent "News"
I am delighted to be showing these two sound drawings, No. 420 and No. 429 at the RGI, John D Kelly Gallery Exhibition. "Music, Mackintosh & Murder"
2nd May - 13th June 2026
They are companion pieces to a small exhibition "The Mac Sounds Out"
8th May - 13th June
at the
Glasgow School of Art
Book Launch
Seeing Is Believing
Alison Cameron and the Buckingham Bookshop
warmly invite you to an early evening event and a glass of wine on
Thursday, April 16th 2026 from 6.00 pm
in the Radcliffe Centre, Buckingham
(Church St, Buckingham, MK18 1BY, parking available at the University campus, Hunter Street, MK18 1EG)
to celebrate the publication of Robert Cumming’s new book
SLOW LOOKING, Book Two, Seeing is Believing
Lutterworth Press have produced a beautiful book illustrated by fellow Buckingham resident Gino Ballantyne. His lively original drawings for the book will be on display.
The evening starts at 6.30pm in the Radcliffe Centre, when Robert will give a succinct illustrated talk about the SLOW LOOKING SERIES, and how it came about. Gino and Robert together will then be in informal conversation with Alison Cameron to answer questions.
At 7.15pm there will be a chance to mingle, enjoy a glass of wine, and purchase signed copies of
SLOW LOOKING
Book One, Learning to Look
Book Two, Seeing is Believing
We hope to welcome you and any friends or members of your family who would like to come with you.
reply to book.shop@buckingham.ac.uk
Slow Looking
Book Two,
Seeing is Believing
Lutterworth Press
By Robert Cumming
with illustrations and reflections by Gino Ballantyne
Published March 26th 2026
PRAISE FOR SLOW LOOKING
from ARTISTS
Robert’s wonderful book takes us on his own multi-sensory grand tour of the greatest European paintings, even taking us out for mouth-watering lunches. Erudite and insightful he teaches us to look and taste for ourselves. His own pioneering story of seeing and understanding is the fascinating subtext.
Professor Chris Orr MBE RA
I was immediately intrigued by the authors skill in engaging the reader with his interpretations of his chosen paintings along with amusing personal anecdotes. There was a surprise inclusion of a Pollock drip painting which gave me a new insight. The illustrations skilfully take us a step away from the actual work making the paintings much easier to appreciate.
Barbara Rae CBE RA RSA
From the COMMERCIAL ART WORLD
Robert Cumming is a wonderfully intelligent, civilised and illuminating guide to the adventure of looking at paintings. …. his bold analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of 20th century art is particularly refreshing and timely.
Philip Hook, author of Breakfast at Sotheby's
From the MUSEUM WORLD AND ACADEME
This book is a primer in how to look - how to allow looking to develop by doing it with intensity and total concentration and not accepting what one is told by art historians. I strongly recommend it.
Sir Charles Saumarez Smith former Director, National Gallery (London)
He is in the business of making us look far more carefully than we usually do but also wants to make us think very hard. He is triumphantly successful on both fronts… I never stopped wanting to turn the page.
David Ekserdjian, Emeritus Professor of History of Art and Film, University of Leicester
Lillie Art Gallery 2026
17th January - 20th February
I am pleased to be exhibiting these two oil paintings at the Lillie Gallery
with
The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts to "celebrate it's 150 years of Royal status"
Royal Glasgow Institute
of The Fine Arts
"Celebrating 150 years of Royal Status"
Lillie Art Gallery
Milngavie
G62 8BZ
17th January until 20th February
Royal Glasgow Institute
RGI Kelly Gallery, 118 Douglas Street
I am pleased to be exhibiting these two watercolours with other artists of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts to celebrate
Christmas
15th November - 20th December 2025
Improvisations
Painting Sounds
The Radcliffe Centre
Church Street
Buckingham
14th July - 19th July
2025
Hearing Colour Seeing Sound
Evening Concert
14 Jul 2025, 20:00
The Radcliffe Centre,
Church St, Buckingham MK18 1EG, UK
Beethoven: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat major Op. 16
Poulenc: Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet
Christopher Redgate: Sextet for Piano and Winds (Premiere)
Debussy: Syrinx (for solo flute)
Christopher Redgate - Oboe
Gino Ballantyne - Artist
Celia Redgate - Flute
Catriona Scott - Clarinet
José Lluna - Horn
Rachel Edmonds - Bassoon
Stephen Robbings - Piano
Hearing Colour Seeing Sound is a unique concert blending live music and visual art. As the music plays, artist Gino Ballantyne will paint live on stage in response. At its heart is a creative exchange between artist and musician. Inspired by Gino’s earlier works, Christopher Redgate composed a new piece for wind sextet. Gino will respond to this and other pieces, with Chris improvising a solo in reply—continuing their artistic conversation live.
Sponsored by: Tina Mitchell, in memory of Ray
During the festival Gino made live drawings, creating a portrait for each performance. He will use these portraits to create an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra.
The polyphonic symphony will be printed as musical score and exhibition.
Seeing is Believing
"Enigma"
after Leonardo's
Mona Lisa
charcoal on watercolour paper
"The Buckingham Literary Festival"
The Vinson Building
University of Buckingham
Buckingham
Glasgow Blythswood Festival
https://glasgowblythswoodfestival.co.uk/
Exhibition: ‘Dear Green Place’
May 3 - May 31st
RGI Kelly Gallery, 118 Douglas Street
I am pleased to be exhibiting with other artists of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts to celebrate Glasgow’s history, culture and resilience in this 850th year as a Royal Burgh.
Slow Looking, Book One, Learning to Look The Start of an Eye Opening Adventure
"With illustrations by the artist Gino Ballantyne, Slow Looking – Book One is the start of an eye-opening adventure"
“Lutterworth Press have produced a beautiful book by Robert Cumming illustrated by Gino Ballantyne”
Robert says: “SLOW LOOKING is part autobiography telling briefly how I came to discover the pleasures of looking at works of art. It is also part travelogue as I take you to Madrid, Tuscany, St Petersburg and New York to look at four famous paintings (Velazquez / Fra Angelico/ Canaletto / Jackson Pollock) that have had a great impact throughout my life. In the book I talk about them much as I might talk about famous people who have similarly, for better or worse, had a great influence”.
SLOW LOOKING, Book One, Learning to Look has already received many favourable comments.
Robert Cumming begins in compelling autobiographical vein, and then moves on to examine the four paintings whose scrutiny forms the heart of this book. He is in the business of making us look far more carefully than we usually do, but also wants to make us think very hard. He is triumphantly successful on both fronts, and it is arguably an even greater tribute to say that - for all that I sometimes found myself unable to agree with certain of his ideas - I never stopped wanting to turn the page.
Professor David Ekserdjian, Professor of History of Art and Film at the University of Leicester, Former Editor of Apollo Magazine
Robert Cumming is a wonderfully intelligent, civilised and illuminating guide to the adventure of looking at paintings. He trains a perceptive gaze on to old masters; and his bold analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of 20th century art is particularly refreshing and timely.
Philip Hook, Novelist, historian and former Director of Impressionist & Modern Art at Sotheby’s
Robert Cumming has spent his life encouraging people to look closely at works of art and experience them directly. In theory, looking at paintings is easy, but looking intensely and documenting the experience is not much done, or regarded as important, by art historians, nor is it encouraged by museums. This book is a primer in how to look — how to allow looking to develop by doing it with intensity and total concentration and not accepting what one is told by art historians. I strongly recommend it.
Sir Charles Saumarez Smith, former Director, National Gallery (London)
You are warmly invited to an early evening event and a glass of wine on
Thursday November 14th 6.30pm - 8pm
The Buckingham Bookshop
and Vinson Auditorium
University of Buckingham Vinson Building
21 Hunter Street
Buckingham MK18 1EG
to reserve a space contact
“Lutterworth Press have produced a beautiful book illustrated by Gino Ballantyne. His lively original drawings for the book will be on display”
The evening starts at 6.30 pm in the comfortable University Lecture Theatre when Gino and Robert will be in informal conversation with Alison Cameron who runs the excellent Buckingham Bookshop.
At 7.15 pm there will be a chance to mingle, enjoy glass of wine, purchase signed copies SLOW LOOKING, and browse the Bookshop.
Dates of the London Launch to follow
Slow Looking at The Rebecca Hossack Gallery
Author Robert Cumming shares with Rebecca his wealth of experience looking and appreciating art. 12th February 2025
