I met TOny Hart twice, about 20 years ago. He was unfailingly polite, good natured and never mentioned anyone without having a good word to say about them.

What surprised me most however, was when he confessed that he was disappointed that he would never become one of the Great Masters. 'Oh, don't get me wrong,' he said, 'I know I'm competent... but I would have loved to have been another Rembrandt.'

Well, perhaps in his own field he achieved more than Rembrandt ever could. For with his gentle humour and unfailing enthusiasm, he encouraged generations of children (and the not-so-young) to take up art. He may not have made it into the National Gallery, but he certainly made it into children's hearts and minds... perhaps the great gallery of them all.

:)