Lady Churchill would also try to grab a canvas off his easel when she thought it was done , much to the chagrin of Winston . He had a tendency to overwork a canvas and kill the freshness he ’ d captured on location .
Pont-du-Gard is remarkably carpeted by Churchill ’ s brush , glowing as it does in the last light . In fact this was a common thread with the canvases as they tended to be painted in the afternoon light , probably after his lunch .
I used laminated reproductions around the size of a large post card to find the exact spot on location . This was imperative for me as I wished to line all the elements up with the canvas . Many times it would be identical , quite incredible considering the development along the coast .
I live in Mougins where Churchill visited the Guinness family in the 1930 ’ s and painted the chapel next door , Notre Dame de Vie . In 1960 Pablo Picasso bought the house having also visited the Guinness family and falling in love with the Mas .
This would be Picasso ’ s home and studio until his death in 1973 .
One of the highlights of the book occurred during my research when I managed to discover a small photograph at Chartwell , showing Churchill in a dark robe at Chateau de l ’ Horizon holding a painting of St Paul de Vence . This proved to reverse a decision made on national tv , the BBC ’ s Fake or Fortune programme , and the painting is today in the Churchill collection .