Vincent

Vincent Van Gogh used to live in Brixton on Hackford Road and would walk to Kent often, his route took him through Streatham Common. I grew up in Streatham and have always felt very close to Vincent, I always remember the urban myth that everyone in Lambeth should look in their attics for the lost Van Gogh painting of Streatham common, no one ever found anything. I discovered a sketch he made of Streatham common that he made the day his landlady's daughter died, he included it in a letter to his brother Theo. This drawing inspired me to go up onto Streatham Common and paint the landscape in homage to Vincent's lost work.

I have since painted the common again and again. I am now living in Dalston and have started a series of works of Hackney, like Van Gogh i believe there is a limitless subject on our doors steps and don't need to travel further than you can walk to find inspiration and beauty.



View of the common after Van Gogh - Conrad Armstrong
Oil on Canvas, 2009 (Private Collection)

The South London Press picked up on this remarkable story and featured an article on it including my painting.


Keith Hill Mp of Streatham also organised a festival which used the painting for its poster.