Doing what he enjoys.
Local Artist: Geoff Taylor from Clovelly Interview James Hutton Photo Barbara Taylor Clovelly artist Geoff Taylor enjoys painting and drawing and has done several works featuring our local area. Geoff was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in October 2018 and has since lost the use of his right hand and arm, but has somehow managed to teach himself to paint and draw with his left hand. Geoff actually painted this month’s beautiful cover image with his left hand, and we are grateful for the opportunity to showcase his work.
What's your favourite beach? Probably Coogee, for the swim across the bay or out to Wedding Cake Island. I swam with Randwick & Coogee Amateur Swimming Club at Wylies Baths since the early 1990s and with Coogee Penguins Winter Swimming Club for many years. I used to love bodyboarding at Bronte, and Gordons Bay is a great place for a swim.
How long have you lived here? My wife Barb and I moved to our semi in Clifton Road, Clovelly in 1985 and have been here ever since.
What's your favourite eatery? I have Motor Neurone Disease and cannot swallow, so I am fed via a tube directly into my stomach, but before I got sick we enjoyed going to Pizzavelly and Wet Paint. Pinto Thai was my favourite for takeaway.
Why do you live here? I like to be near the ocean. Clovelly is a relatively quiet place, but still close to everything.
Where do you like to have a drink? Again, MND means I can’t swallow, but before COVID-19 we loved going to Starfish
40 The Beast December 2020
Club at the Clovelly Bowling Club each month for great live music. When I could drink I enjoyed their Reschs on tap. Best and worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? It’s a shame there are so many cars, but I support the idea of the pop-up pedal park in the Clovelly Beach car park, and widening the footpath on Coogee Bay Road was an improvement. It’d be better if it was just pedestrianised. How would you describe your art? My art is quite varied. The main groups are Jackson Pollock style, with paint splashed onto the canvas; wood cut outs - as far as I know, no one else does this kind of thing - where I get a sheet of particle board and jigsaw out pieces so the overall shape is understandable, then I varnish the timber; dot
