Artlounge days

I’ve been thinking a lot about where to start with all my memories of Charlotte Latham, Charly, Moon Monkey, Naughty Squirrel, Mrs Marsden, the yummiest mummy of all- she has been all of those at one time or another to me.  I have to admit I can’t lay claim to Moon Monkey or Naughty Squirrel- Charlotte invented those and called me those many times but I reckoned they worked equally well for her and they kind of stuck.  So let’s start at the start, it’s a very good place to start.

I remember the first time I set eyes on Charlotte Latham- the person who up until that point had just been a name attached to funky resin polka dots on canvas.  I think it must have been either late 2001 or early 2002 when she walked into The Artlounge with Chris on a Saturday afternoon with some new pieces for us to sell, totally cool and in control.  I admit to feeling a little bit intimidated by this talented, creative, stylish, strong woman.  I felt Charlotte’s strength of character instantly and to this day her strength remains her defining feature to me.  Before long she came to work with us at The Artlounge and we quickly realised we were going to get on well.  Still feeling slightly inferior to this amazing new lady that had just arrived in my life, I remember my elation when one day, as we were tidying up the book display, she asked me if I would like to maybe go to the cinema one evening.  I would never have asked as I did not consider myself anywhere near cool enough to be her friend but I felt giddy that she had asked me out!  So we quickly put the talk about going out into action and I started to get to know the real Charlotte and the life she had led up to that point.  I heard about many stories about her growing up in Germany, her family, her little house back in Peterborough, her time at H&M, at Thomas Cook, going to art college with John, and her escapades with Caroline.  I heard about her work, the exhibitions she had had, her cherished times in America with Wendy.  I got to know the Charly that could let her hair down and who knew how to have a great night out coupled with the always in control Charlotte that was busy working, painting, creating a home and a new life in Birmingham with the man she loved, always perfectly turned out and ready with the right thing to do and say.  At the gallery there would always be some situation or another that required sorting out and Charlotte was always the person you wanted there, the only one with the guts to say what everyone else was thinking.  I saw Dinah’s message about Charlotte’s ability to ‘say what needed to be said without being mean’ and it is so true.  If ever anyone needed an honest opinion about anything then they got it.

Whatever drama I brought in with me to the gallery, Charlotte would be the first person to notice and draw it out of me, or pack me off to go and take care of myself when I was poorly but still went in to work.  She was the first person to laugh with me and the first to cry with me, although we had far more laughter than tears.  What had started out as two work colleagues getting along had become a true friendship.  Charlotte was the first friend I had had that I viewed as someone I wished was my big sister.  And as that big sister figure of course it was natural that I was envious of her wardrobe.  Charlotte was the most well-accessorised and stylish person I had met.  Of course she had used her years at H&M wisely and I think had managed to acquire most of their collection.  We all had to wear black in the gallery but Charlotte could not supress her love of colour and each day she would add in some cheeky little coloured beads, a belt and shoes- all matching of course.  I remember being in awe of her shoe collection- surely enough to rival Imelda Marcos- as there seemed to be a new pair for every day.  There were a couple of pairs that freaked me out a bit though and they ended up being given nick-names.  There were the ‘cheese shoes’ in a pale brown leather with lots of holes cut out that I thought made them look a bit like Swiss cheese, and then there were the ‘cloven-hooved’ Nike trainer-type things that had split toes that were brought out on exhibition hanging days.

And on those re-hang days we would be there until the small hours, Charlotte swinging off the top of a ladder, always at the centre of the action. She was the queen of getting stuck in, and when we opened a new gallery in Manchester, she was up on the train helping to get it set up.  It was all a bit frantic in the lead up to the opening and we joked that we were going to get rickets as we left our little rented staff flat in darkness at an ungodly hour each morning and returned home each night long after the sun had set.

I was never a natural sales person and always felt a bit scared of talking to clients, but with Charlotte’s work it was easy.  People would always stop and look at her work in the gallery as it was so unique, and they always wanted to hear more so it was never a hard sell.  It was so good to know her so well and to be able to truly convey what had gone into the creation of her pieces.  I loved being able to skip into the office on a Monday morning when I had sold one of her paintings on the weekend.  And of course we all became very good at chasing off pesky art students who would always be coming in trying to sneakily take some photos of her work.  Charlotte’s work was among an elite few in the gallery that always caught the eye of the art students.  At the time we thought they were naughty rip-off merchants and just used to chase them off with a broom (well almost), but thinking about it now, I suppose it was actually one of the greatest compliments that could be paid.  Hers was the work that they aspired to, that they wanted to emulate.

We worked hard but played hard in our way too.  I remember working one Christmas Eve cheekily sharing some Bollinger out of takeaway Costa cups behind the counter feeling very pleased with ourselves.  I remember nights out in the Mailbox that started with the 2 for 1 cocktails in Santa Fe that usually ended quite late and a little worse for wear, mostly because Charlotte and Amanda used to only drink one of their cocktails and force their second on me.  I remember us laughing like crazy on one particularly ‘girl power’ day when I had to kick the door in of the office as Charlotte had managed to get locked inside.  I also remember the beaming smile I walked into one Monday morning in January 2005 when Charlotte announced that Chris had proposed on the Friday night.  A major dream had come true for her that day and I feel honoured to have been part of seeing her other dreams come true later in life as well.

There are a great many more stories than I have space to share just now, and I seem to have gone on for far too long already.  There will be more I promise.

Love you Charlotte xxx

These photos were taken 17th March 2005 (you might be able to spot Charlotte’s newly acquired engagement ring).  We went for a meal in that big restaurant on the corner of the cross in Moseley that is always changing its name. At the time it was an Italian and you could bring your own wine which was a bonus. Charlotte and I hadn’t remembered it was St Patrick’s Day but Amanda was well aware of it and had nicked some Guinness hats for us from her pub (in the bag on the seat next to her), which we plucked up some Dutch courage to wear later on in the evening when we moved on to the pub!

I knew Charlotte for a short while in our early twenties. We worked together on the ‘display team’ window dressing for Westgate dept stores.

My memory is rubbish but what I can recall is some hilarious and fun times on our travels dressing windows in the likes of Corby, Cowley, Cinderford & Lowestoft! Our team would head off at the crack of dawn listening to one of Jeremy’s mix tapes, stopping off at McDonalds on the way. We would have to stay overnight sometimes at places such as ‘The Swan’ in Beccles where we would eat garlic mushrooms and giggle at the waitress who had a very gravelly voice.

I remember Charlotte being very driven and passionate. She was driving an old red VW (was it a Golf?!) and had bought her own house near The Glass Onion. Back then we had to design our own window runs and make our own props. One of Charlottes that comes to mind was a window for washing machines etc. Instead of the normal bog standard white goods window, she had us painting massive sheets of MDF in blue & white and cutting square holes for the washing machine to sit behind, we were balancing tumble dryers on plinths. It looked great in the end but perhaps was a bit too forward thinking for the Co-op back then!

Charlotte was always strongly opinionated about art and I can remember the strong debate with another colleague over the Tracey Emin ‘My Bed’…

Charlotte and I lost touch when she moved on from Westgate and it was only last year that we made friends on Facebook. I could see that Charlotte had gone on to fulfill her dreams and become an artist as well as a wife and mother. Sebastian and Olivia are beautiful and look just like Charlotte! (I remember us having a joke that Charlotte was a Jodie Foster lookalike!). Having two children myself I cannot begin to understand her strength. My youngest daughter Tess, shares Charlottes birthday in fact – 20th Oct.

Of course I am always happy to be contacted & I send much love xxx

Hi Seb and Olivia

Well where to start…… I met you and your Mum and Dad about 8 months ago. You both went to nursery with Ella and Archie and Seb you started school with Ella up at highdown. That’s how I got to know your Mum so well. We use to do lots of afterschool play dates, bowling and cinema trips.

I have to admit I am very bad at writing things – should have paid more attention in English lessons…..but what I do know is that you Mum is one of the kindest, loveliest, most genuine people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Nothing is ever too much trouble for your Mum and she is fantastic at getting people and children together who will get on and have fun. At the bottom there is a photo of the Halloween party she put together for everyone – including home made toffee apples 🙂

We plan on being in Portishead for a long while so you should always be able to find us when you want more stories! I guarantee I’m better at telling stories than writing them down.

Lots of Love

Becca

Dearest Charlotte

Charly first came into our lives with a bang at the Arthur Andersen Summer Ball in 2000. We had heard a little about you from Chris (very little in fact), so we were looking forward to meeting you. I seem to remember a great evening was had and it was lovely to meet you. You certainly made an impression, Tim particularly remembers you borrowing the bucking bronco owners trousers so that you could ride his horse (Chris was not impressed) and also the moment that Chris accidently managed to pull down your dress whilst dancing with you (surely one of Chris’s finest moments).

As your relationship flourished with Chris we met up several times over those coming years and it was great to see you both move into your new home in Birmingham and we spent some great times with you both.

We shared several hilarious New Years Eve’s which seemed to always involve so much laughter and alcohol and normally a few fancy dress outfits. I particularly remember yours and Dave Whatley’s matching Scooby Doo outfits.

We will never forget the outcome of you and Tim conspiring to convince Chris that we where holding a tarts and vicars partly in reverse. Poor old Chris turns up to our house in a full on ladies outfit to be greeted by all of his friends dressed in casual outfits. To say he did not look amused was an understatement!!! You were always so much fun to be with and Tim and I both always looked forward to seeing you both.

It was with great pleasure when our youngest daughter Isabel was born that we asked you both to be god-parents to her. I know all three girls have loved spending time with you and will cherish their memories of you.

We both knew you would eventually get married and I know that Tim was very honoured to have the privilege to be Chris’s best man at your wedding. I remember seeing you in the Church and wow you looked so beautiful, your dress was gorgeous and you looked so happy. Chris also looked so proud that day to have you as his wife. Its funny we both remember the day so clearly still, it really was so very special to be part of your wedding day.

I remember meeting up with you and Chris and our tribe at a pub to see you before you gave birth for the first time. We sat in the garden and talked all afternoon about your excitement and apprehension about giving birth and being parents. So we were so excited to here not long after that lunch that you had given birth to a little boy named Seb. And what proud, fantastic parents you were when we next met up.

Then came your move to Bristol, we still remember coming to visit you in that freezing cold house, I am sure it was warmer outside, but it was great to see you both settled and to meet Seb again. You had started to do some Art and it was great to see you both so happy. I was always, and in fact still am, amazed at the wonderful paintings that you did. Tim particularly liked the one you did for our new home which sits proudly on our bathroom wall over our roll top bath, the girls used to call it the painting by Charly of the two mountains, which now the girls have realised weren’t mountains after all!

We kept in touch over the next two years, but never really seeing enough of you, life just always seemed so busy. Then came your move to Portishead. And we were pleased that you were to become a mummy again this time to a little girl Olivia. Tim and I remember the first time we saw you as a family at our house that summer and it was such a special memory to see you all together so happy.

We all enjoyed our weekend with you in your new home what a beautiful spot you found a gorgeous house, you both seemed so happy and Olivia and Seb were growing up fast. But it was great to catch up with you all. All your plans for Seb starting school and Olivia settling into nursery, Chris settled at work and you looking and being so content as a mummy.

Charly you are such a wonderful, kind, very beautiful friend, wife and mummy. We have so many happy memories which we have shared with you, Our wedding, your wedding, Christenings and some great New Years parties and weekends, the girls particularly remember Bristol Zoo and Kite flying as well as our lovely walk along the Pier in Portishead. I have so many memories another one that comes to mind was your hen weekend, which was such great fun.

You will always be our Queen of the Karaoke/microphone hogger. Many evenings were spent with several bottles of wine and particularly you and Tim singing on singstar. I even remember Tim going out to buy cordless microphones before you stayed one weekend so that you could dance and sing!!!

Seb and Olivia, if you would ever like to talk about all the memories we have of your mummy, we will always be here to talk to you and spend time with you as you grow up. We will also be here for your Daddy to help as friends in anyway we can along yours and his journey. We are both privileged to have had you Charly as very special friend.

With much love always,

Abby and Tim

Dear Olivia and Sebastian,

I first met your Mum in 2007, I visited  Artlounge, a small gallery in Birmingham on the off chance of showing my work. In those few years we became friends, she always supported and helped me in work and in my personal life, generous and intelligent, she was a true friend.

Her art was of an exceptionally high standard, creating things of beauty seemed so natural to her, your Mum and your Dad kept a most stylish apartment  in Moseley for some years before moving to Bristol.

I particular remember one afternoon, Charlotte was painting in the studio and we drank pineapple smoothies, a true connoisseur of soft drinks.

Not only was she interested in the creation of art but also the promotion of her contemporaries, she would consider others before herself and introduced me to her agent Bill and deb.

I will always help you both, in any way I can, for your Mum and Dad.

Much love Andy Reid.

Charlotte and I have always been able to say anything to each other without causing offence. She’s that sort of lady. Straight talking, attentive listening, gives as good as she gets. We always talked about going into business together, but couldn’t decide doing what.

She is kind and generous with her time and her house. So many times she would host us all on a Tuesday, making us drinks and showing endless patience with the hordes of children that between us all we have managed to create. Producing a delicious shepherd’s pie, or having all the beautifully chopped ingredients for the children to make their own pizza (although she did burn Polly’s..), hosting Halloween parties, making pancakes, organising day trips and camping trips and drinks for the girls.

My family and I moved to Portishead in 2010. After a difficult first 5 months, not knowing anyone, doing the playgroup circuit ‘speed dating’ other Mums looking for like-minded souls, I met Charlotte at the same Gymtots session as Ruth. Our children already knew each other from Nursery and their rapturous greetings to each other made it plain that we would have to become friends. Two hours of climbing, bouncing and swinging (mostly them), gave us enough time to swap life stories and for me to decide that along with Sarah, I had finally met the women who were going to make Portishead Home.

I said to Charlotte recently how great it is that as friends we were all immediately able to feel comfortable waltzing in and getting the kettle on in each other’s houses. She said actually that was just me, and she had been surprised at the libertyJ.

I was then and still am so impressed and not a little jealous of Charlotte’s drive, passion and amazing artistic talent. She has always known that’s what she wanted to do and she set about making it happen, taking her experiences and inspiration wherever she could lay her hands on them. She never seems to have shied away from anything, this, together with her fierce loyalty, compassionate nature and her sense of fun and the ridiculous makes her a remarkable Mum to Seb and Liv. Her Clown training once proved particularly useful in getting a reticent Jamie to eat his tea, although it totally stopped my two in their tracks as they downed cutlery to enjoy the show!

When we met, George and Liv were only about 9 months old. Now they are best friends and it’s brilliant to see them together. It all looks set for a beautiful marriage….

When I think of Charlotte I think of Kids Tea at each other’s houses. Our children playing, fighting and laughing together – Noah’s Ark, picnics on a sunny day and coffee in the indoor Soft Play on a rainy day. – Sitting by the pool in glorious sunshine after the wettest, windiest camping weekend ever. – Cocktails at Browns followed by drinks at Hyde &Co. – Having a pedicure together

Endless, endless chat about funny stuff, difficult stuff, everyday stuff, important stuff, the children, the nursery, schools, families, art, life drawing, a shared obsession with Rightmove, husbands, the children again…..the list goes on and on.

Seb and Liv. Your Mum is an amazing friend and I love Love LOVE her dearly. X

I couldn’t even begin to write down how many wonderful experiences I have had. In brief, I was at my happiest when I became independent and in control of my own life. Anything prior to that was interesting to say the least.

I love being around people who I have a connection with. From as young as 16 and working part time in a hairdressers on Saturdays all day for £10, to selling my artwork for thousands, my outlook on life, love, hard work and money have never changed. I understood and accepted I would probably never sell my artwork full time so did my best to carve a career out of the things I enjoy, I worked in window display, travel and sales but always continued to paint. It’s what I do.

I fell in love, travelled, moved and changed career direction which originally started as a sales role for a gallery. Little did I know that I had found another comfort zone which I never thought would be possible. The environment, the people, the art, the artists… I loved it. The gallery role grew from sales to directing artists. I still painted. I worked hard. I painted. I worked hard… I had a choice to make… I was selling a lot of work and the time was right to leave an amazing job to do my longest standing desire. Paint. So I did.
I also didn’t know that my future would hold something even more precious and important to me until I held my son and daughter on the days they were born. My life couldn’t get any better than that. Married to the most supportive loving gentleman and having two beautiful children with him.
Of course I can still paint with a baby (I am a quiet, peaceful painter). I tried, I took Seb to my studio twice and the desire to play or cuddle with him was a far greater draw than the canvas (and that takes a lot)… So I decided to be patient as this wasn’t my time to paint, it was my time to nurture. After Olivia’s arrival I realised that things would be on hold for a little while longer but when I could, I would paint.

And here I am still full of ideas and dreams of how my families future will be. How when both of my little ones are at school I will paint and sculpt. How I will look after them until they leave and become independent adults. How I will grow old with the man I love and travel with him and just be.
I have been forced to change my dreams but I do know that I would never change anything in the past 13 years. I also know in my heart that those who count will help keep my dreams alive and support my husband in making them happen. And to those, thank you with all my heart.

Charlotte (Charly to some) x

This is from one of the best nights out in history, Charly, Hennie & Laron out and about for the night. Started off very civilised with nice tapas in Bar Aqua. It did get ‘dangerous’ quickly though when Charly suggested we’d have cocktails along with our Bubbles. Needless to say we were quite cross-eyed by the end of the night, when finishing off vintage cocktails in our absolute favourite place, Hyde & Co. A night full of gossip, laughs (i vaguely remember some tears too) and an awful lot of silliness.
Charly being Charly, entertained us with stories, jokes, little Challenges for us to do and generally just made it a very happy time, as she always does!

First time i met Your mummy was at your house in Julian Rd, Sneyd Park at a mummie’s coffee morning. You Seb, were only 9 months and got on like a house on fire with Oliver who was the same age. We had just moved to Bristol and i was a bit nervous about meeting all the mums that already knew each other. I didn’t have to worry as your mummy made me feel very welcome and we ended up chatting all morning and afternoon about our mutual love for art deco houses, dragonflies and art. Sofie was in nursery that day but the three of you soon became great friends.
That day was the start of a new and very special friendship. We met up almost every day after that, tea-time at each other’s houses, picnics at the Zoo, lunches at the Paintworks where we’d dream about holding the Exhibition for our collaboration Art meets Fashion and we’d look at studios for her. We never stopped talking about art and fashion – what inspired her to paint, what inspired me to make my dresses and how amazing it would be to combine these two.
We’ve had endless trips out and about, locally and further afield. One favourite was our last trip to Saunton Sands before we moved to Norway. We had the whole day there, enjoying the October sun, rolling down the sand dunes, picking shells off the Beach and of course, testing out your mummy’s brand new fire engine red Hunter wellies 🙂

I remember her calling me when i was on summer holiday in Norway – She was so excited and had wonderful news. She had just found out she was expecting you, little Olivia and she was over the moon. When the nine months had past, i got the honor of being mummy and daddy’s on call-sitter. I rememer one night, around 10.30 pm your mummy called and said she was absolutely sure little’Liv was coming. I rushed over, confirmed everything was going to be at home and sent them off. You Seb were fast asleep and completely oblivious as to what was happening. A few hrs later, they came back home, with no little’Liv but slightly blushed cheeks. Eeer, false alarm, Your daddy said and went in to the Kitchen. He told about the scary looking nurse with a wart on her nose that had been on duty and he was sure she had made you, refuse to come out 🙂
It wasn’t long though till you decied to come out and meet the world. As soon as you were all home again, i came over to see you and although tired, i don’t think i have ever seen your mummy as content and happy as at that moment, sitting on her sofa with Olivia on one side and Seb on the other. A very proud mummy!

Not long after, you moved to Portishead to a wonderful New home with a lovely garden and fantastic surroundings. It was a bit more difficult seeing eachother every day then when not just round the corner anymore but we decided that we’d take in turns to come to each other’s houses and meet up in parks and at the Zoo. We did manage that and we had lots of fun days, trips, epic Halloween parties and birthdy parties.

The time with your mummy was so much more than just trips to the park though – She quickly became my best friend. Anyone who knows Charlotte, knows what an amazing and loving person she is. One strong feisty cookie though and you know you’re always going to get the tuth from her and you’d know exactly where you’re standing. We have shared secrets, tears, laughs, ideas. We’ve had days of just chatting, trying to resolve whatever issue that day and planning for events. We could have moments where we had nothing to talk about but we were just comfortable with eachother….. although it would never be lasting moments of no talking because your mummy always had a story or news to tell 🙂
I remember a night away in London, we were just lying in our beds in the hotel chatting all night. We had our first time away alone and could have had all the sleep in the world which we were desperate for but instead, we couldn’t stop ourselves talking and i think it wasn’t till the first bird got up that next morning, we finally closed our eyes 🙂

Your mummy’s one of the most amazing and inspiring people i have ever met and she is always with me. I am Lucky enough to have had time to be part of her life and had her in mine. We have had so many wonderful days together and i have a lot of pictures to remember these by. I am also very lucky to have two fantastic paintings on my wall by your mummy, two paintings that are very very special to me.

Thank you Charlotte for always being an amazing friend xxxxxx