Young Leo Sayer At St Peters 1960
It was at St Peters that Leo Sayer learned to sing in the choir with Father MacHale. This photograph was 'lost' for many years, packed away in a stored suitcase, and only resurfaced recently. The 12 year old Gerry (as he was known then) has eyes full of determination. Already the roots of his music career were forming. Leo, upon discovering the forgotten image was so moved by the intensity of the boy that he reproduced it on the back of his CD cover Voice In My Head. This powerful image is the basis for the side portrait in the painting of Leo. I think after all these years that young voice at St Peters still sings loudly in Leo's head.


Shoreham-By-Sea
This beautiful historic seaside town near Brighton is where Leo Sayer grew up. Shoreham has its origins in a Bronze Age settlement sometime before 1100BC. The Romans established a port called Portus Adurni named after the River Adur which enters the sea here, and still gives it's name to the entire valley. The name appears to be very ancient, decended from the Celts and their name for it which was Dwyr meaning running water.

The Saxons invaded in about 457AD and named their subsequent settlement Soresham and the name has remained with only small variation. It was fortified by the invading Normans and became a thriving Norman port as it was the nearest point on the English coast to Normandy. Some of the oldest buildings in Shoreham date back to Norman times and earlier. St Nicolas Church  dates to Saxon times (around 850AD).

Shoreham was made a royal arsenal in 1199 and by the 1340's had become a major shipbuilding center. At this time it was sometimes called Hulkesmouthe, referring to the shipbuilding. In 1840 the railway brought tourists to the beach and the port expanded yet again as the main port for the rich Sussex hinterland. Major trade is lumber, steel, oil and cereals.

The port was a major launching point for the D-Day invasion of Nazi Europe. The 'Mystery Towers' are reminders of First World War fortifications, and Shoreham Fort is from defensive installations of the mid 19th century.

During the early 20th century Shoreham Beach became a colony for actors and filmakers. Old railway carriages were floated across the river Adur and set up on the beach as living quarters. This bohemian village was called 'Bungalow Town' Film studios followed as the climate was the best in England with mostly clear skies suitable for outdoor filming.

Shoreham Airport is the oldest in the UK (first flights in 1910) and it's art deco airport buildings attract modern film makers, most recently for the film version of the Da Vinci Code.

Modern Shoreham-by-Sea is a  an important  hub  on the West Sussex coast. With a population of 19,175 (2001 census) it has a strong community spirit that reached around the world to help with the preparation of this web site. Residents are proud of their local boy who went on to sing so many famous hits. For more information and to see lots of photographs of Shoreham-by-Sea click here.

Origins Of The Painting
The Archibald Prize is an annual portrait art competition in Australia that requires a famous subject. More info on the Archibald Prize here. My subjects have included World champion swimmers and Federal Government Ministers. For this year I wrote to Leo Sayer and he enthusiastically said yes. That was at Christmas time 2005. By March 10th the portrait was ready for delivery to the Art Gallery of NSW for judging. As I write this we await the results.

I initially met Leo at a local Cafe. This gave me a chance to  talk and assess the man as opposed to the  star. Leo is a delightful man to know,  excited about life and open about his hurts and loves, fears, and successes. It quickly became apparent that I wanted to show a reflective Leo Sayer surrounded by his performing alter ego, and that determined boy from West Sussex, first learning to sing and brushed with a touch of determined brilliance even then.

The portrait and it's meanings