Earlier this week I had a message via social media. It was very exciting with regards to my late father’s artwork.
As blog readers here will know I’ve written a book about my father’s artwork. I’m trying to get The Sussex Surrealist out into the wider world to publicise the unique artwork of BSHuntbach. You can buy a copy here. My father was a completely self-taught artist. He was one of the founders members of the Brighton and Hove branch of the Society of Catholic Artists.
https://www.blurb.co.uk/b/11093838-the-sussex-surrealist

The book is full of photographs of my father’s drawings, sculptures and paintings. During his lifetime (1935-2006) my father created a large body of work. But he wasn’t good at keeping a photographic record of his work, or a log of what got sold or given away, or to whom.
So when I received a message, from a woman I didn’t know (I’ll call her Jane), with a photograph of one of my father’s drawings attached, I was thrilled! I recognised the drawing, it was signed, and we have a photograph of it in the family archives.
The drawing with its moon-headed creature and pig is a great example of my father’s expert penmanship. As well as the moon, the apple, staff, and numbered label crop up in other drawings.

Jane explained how she had won the drawing in a raffle when she worked at a hospital many years ago. But she’d since had the drawing in storage for several years. Moving house meant that the drawing was unpacked and no doubt prompted her search to find out more about it. Social media…..you can find people and the name B S Huntbach is unusual! And I imagine that my blogging or promotion of The Sussex Surrealist bought her to contact me. I was able to tell Jane that my father had worked at the same hospital – in the laundry – although briefly, many decades ago. Throughout his life he did a series of mundane, manual labour jobs. It is possible that he donated the drawing at the time. And of course I was able to let her know about many other aspects of his incredible life story and artwork. I have produced a smaller booklet about his work, which I posted out to Jane.
Jane is looking forward to displaying the drawing, and I’m delighted that she wants to keep it, and plans to display it, in her new home. This little piggy can be enjoyed for many years to come – and Jane can delight in telling her friends and family all about her unique, and original artwork.
If you discover a piece of artwork by B S Huntbach, but unlike Jane, don’t want to keep it, do get in touch. As a family we are happy to have back any originals. Who knows what surprises await around the corner?