Nicholas Engert | Inspiration

Once Christmas is over and the decorations and lights have been packed away for another year, the house can seem very empty and, as we head into the depths of winter, a little cold.

My grandfather came to live with us after becoming a widower. I think the year was 1965. He arrived as a ready made throwback to the pre war era - baggy trousers, combinations, detachable collars, waistcoat complete with pocket watch and chain and a trilby hat. And his pipe!

Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House: a modernist icon where elegance meets detachment and beauty challenges the idea of home.

All things age and over time they can morph into a new, sometimes subtle, sometimes surprising, form of beauty.

The early postage stamps of Queen Elizabeth II capture a nation in transition — graceful, confident, and beautifully made. A meditation on design, dignity, and the quiet power of miniature art.

Many years ago I arrived early one morning in St Mark’s Square, Venice, before the crowds had started to gather. The air was fresh and cool and the sky a clear blue.

It may be mid September but there has been a distinct chill in the early morning air and dusk arrives earlier with every passing day.

Blankets or duvet? At the end of the day, however, it is my bed and I must lie in it!

I have always been fascinated by reflections in both the natural world and the built environment. Reflections are an opportunity to see things differently albeit distorted, rippled or exaggerated.