Peter Connolly

[mcbishop]

Sadly I've just heard that Peter Connolly died yesterday. He drew the Corbridge Hoard for me, shared the driving round Italy once, could never remember my cat's name (and pretended the same with my kids), and told me tales of Russell Robinson (with whom he had also toured Italy). A great guy and a much better artist than he would ever admit (although he would always tell you he was better than 'Mr Prontaprint'... about whom the less said the better). He deserved much better publishers than the ones he got; luckily, the rest of us recognised his abilities and valued him for them.

Best bit of my tour of Pompeii with him was getting him to pose in front of the buildings he painted for his book whilst his on-site recreation of the siege of Alesia for me is something I shall always treasure.

Mike Bishop