This site is dedicated to the artist William Etty. My involvement with this obsessive painter

of the female nude arose by chance. I knew a little about his work from a study of the fine collection of his paintings and drawings held by York Art Gallery, and I knew a little about the man himself from reading an early biography. Enough, that is to share my knowledge with sceptical visitors to the Gallery. Nipples, however realistically painted, are not to everyone's taste.

My interest at the time was in other 19th century artists, in particular Robert Hannah, represented in the Gallery by a single work, Refreshing the Weary. Being friendly with the secretary of a local

art society, I casually offered to give a lecture on this interesting but rather obscure artist. The secretary thought a moment, and said he thought members would be more interested to hear about William Etty. Disappointed, I said I would think it over.  A few weeks later, I rang to say that I really didn't want to lecture of this purveyor of soft porn. There was silence for a moment. Then the secretary said, "I'm sorry, but I've put out the publicity: you're booked to talk about William Etty".

So that was the beginning of my involvement with "Mr Oddity", York's celebrated artist.