Hilary Marshall, former Manager of the New Forest Heritage Centre with examples of Sven Berlin's New Forest work - top, Shave Green Gypsy Mary Cooper and below Self- Portrait in which Berlin wears Augustus John's dressing gown.
It may have been the day we chose whether or not to leave the EU, but Thursday, 23 June 2016 brought together many New Forest Sven Berlin fans to celebrate the life and work of this unforgettable character. Many who recalled his extraordinary presence in Emery Down, near Minstead, in Lyndhurst and Lymington attended and were able to view some of Berlin's Forest paintings and related press cuttings and ephemera from the Anthony D Green collection, representing one of the most creative episodes of the artist's colourful life.
The evening attracted guests from all over the New Forest, including artists and writers, and also those who had known and helped Berlin in his daily life. For example, Andrew Gurd, who appears as 'Spud' in Berlin's only novel Amergin, was the artist's car mechanic, and well-known sculptor Geoffrey Dashwood, a former Forest keeper had brought Berlin a hawk to draw in preparation for a marble carving.
Hilary Marshall, the former Manager of the New Forest Heritage Centre said: It has been wonderful to hold this event at the Centre. It has brought together people who knew Sven personally as well as admirers of his work and other members of the New Forest community.'