Nick Trend Releases Debut Novel And Appears At Sea Fever Festival, Holt

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Nick Trend, best known as as the Chief Culture and Consumer affairs editor of the Telegraph Travel desk, is appearing at the Sea Fever Festival on Saturday 17th June in Holt, North Norfolk.

For the festival, Nick, who is also an art historian, will be taking a special look at JMW Turner and the sea. To coincide with his festival appearance in Holt, NorfolkPlaces wanted to bring you some information about Nick’s debut book, Art Firsts.

The story of art doesn’t have to be all about art-historical ‘isms’ and complex academic debate. It often revolves around some very simple firsts. The first time an artist painted his – or her – self portrait, the first representation of a kiss or a smile, the first real place to be depicted, the first feminist artwork, the first to take a stance against the evils of war. 

Art Firsts focuses on 30 of these ground-breaking creative leaps. It pieces together a highly original approach to discussing and understanding some of the world’s most famous paintings and highlighting their importance as moments of innovation. It explains how and why these breakthroughs happened and it offers fresh insights into the works themselves and the impact they have had on later artists. 

The book makes striking links between, for example, the work of Giotto in 1300 and Banksy’s provocative 21st-century graffiti; between Botticelli and Jeff Koons; Artemisia Gentileschi and Lucian Freud; and Kazimir Malevich and Rachel Whiteread. In all, more than 100 paintings are reproduced in full colour.

Art Firsts offers a refreshing and fascinating narrative. It is a new way of looking at paintings – aimed at those who want to understand more about some of art’s great ‘masterpieces’ and the flashes of brilliance that inspired them.

irst abstract painting: The Ten Largest, No. 8, Adulthood, Hilma af Klint (1907) © The Hilma af Klint Foundation

About the author:

Nick Trend is a journalist and art historian. As Chief Culture Editor for the travel desk of the Daily Telegraph, he has spent nearly three decades writing about the world’s art treasures and has produced guides to many of the greatest museums and art collections. He has also worked on the curatorial staff at the National Gallery in London and has a degree in English Literature from Cambridge and a PhD in Art History from the University of East Anglia.

Nick Trend - author photo - Art Firsts -small image

Where to Next?

Here’s a few more articles of interest and things for you to do to keep you occupied.

Enjoy more books by local writers or about Norfolk or read some of our articles about UEA, including their fantastic literary events.

Explore Norfolk’s heritage, where you can find museums (including steam railways), stately homes and gardens.

If you enjoy walks around Norfolk then check out some more of our articles on our Norfolk walks around the county (and just over the county border too) or browse the rest of our articles.

Find things to do or somewhere to stay in Greater Norwich.

Why not check out our Norfolk quizzes and games.

Check out the NorfolkPlaces Directory:

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