A curated love-letter to a mini art explorer. Kit: you might only be one year old, but it's never too soon to dive into the world of art. Here's a record of your summer art experiences...

11 artworks

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Highgate Ponds 1
© The estate of James Boswell / Tate Images. Image credit: Burgh House and Hampstead Museum

Highgate Ponds 1

Summer got off to a great start with a trip to Muswell Hill. It's where your Dad once had a studio flat in James Boswell's house and is just down the road from Highgate.

Highgate Ponds 1 1953
James Boswell (1906–1971)
Oil on canvas
H 33 x W 43 cm
Burgh House and Hampstead Museum

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Reed Beds at Brancaster
© the artist. Image credit: Great Ormond Street Hospital

Norfolk skies

This photo perfectly captures the beautiful skies that amazed you on our late July stay in Brancaster.

Reed Beds at Brancaster
Patrick Gosling (b.1964)
Great Ormond Street Hospital

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Girl with Cakes
Image credit: Dudley Museums Service

Your namesake

Here's a sight you'll see a lot during the holidays - a girl (Mama) eating cake. Christopher Wood is your namesake and you've seen his portrait this summer at Kettle's Yard - one of Mama's favourite galleries.

Girl with Cakes
Christopher Wood (1901–1930)
Oil on canvas
H 92 x W 54.5 cm
Dudley Museums Service

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David Hockney
© National Portrait Gallery, London. Image credit: National Portrait Gallery, London

Hockney's ear... and eyes

I'll never forget watching you stagger through the corridors of the Fitzwilliam on wobbly legs, as we hunted for the lime-green panels featuring Hockney's work. Or the giggles watching the time-lapse painting of his digital portraits.

David Hockney 1970
Francis Goodman (1913–1989)
Square film negative
National Portrait Gallery, London

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Iona Study
Image credit: National Galleries of Scotland

A special island

The big trip of the summer is going to be your first visit to the Hebrides. We'll make a day trip to Iona, where you'll marvel in the special light that Peploe and his Scottish colourist friends captured so well.

Iona Study 1920s
Samuel John Peploe (1871–1935)
Oil on panel
H 22.6 x W 30.5 cm
National Galleries of Scotland

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Scafell Crag
© the artist. Image credit: Mountain Heritage Trust

Your roots

On the way to Mull we'll stop at Rheged, just next to Mama's home town. You'll see the hills she walked when growing up and spot the climbers in this huge and amazing painting.

Scafell Crag 2001
Julian Cooper (b.1947)
Oil on canvas
H 396.2 x W 304.8 cm
Mountain Heritage Trust

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Ben More in the Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides
Image credit: Bridgeman Images

More mountains

You'll see Ben More every morning when you wake on Mull. Maybe we can ask Papa Terry to paint it for you?

Ben More in the Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides c.1932
Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell (1883–1937)
Oil on canvas
H 102 x W 127 cm
Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service

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Sweetshop, Rotten Row
© the Eardley estate. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

Glasgow stop-off

On the way home we'll stay overnight in Glasgow, but I'm afraid we won't let you visit any sweetie shops. Instead we'll take a trip to the Hunterian and see some of Joan Eardley's incredible paintings.

Sweetshop, Rotten Row 1957–1961
Joan Kathleen Harding Eardley (1921–1963)
Oil on board
H 26 x W 15 cm
The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

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Lucky Jersey Boy
© the artist. Image credit: Jersey Heritage

All summer long...

Okay, so we're not going to Jersey, but the subject of this artwork will definitely feature in our summer plans.

Lucky Jersey Boy 2001
Heath Hearn (b.1966)
Oil on canvas
H 135 x W 100 cm
Jersey Heritage

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The Passing Winter
© the artist. Image credit: Tate

Grand finale

We'll bow out of our summer art adventure with a trip to Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Rooms at Tate Modern. I can't wait to see how excited your face gets...

The Passing Winter 2005
Yayoi Kusama (b.1929)
Mirror & glass
H 180 x W 80.5 x D 80.5 cm
Tate

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The Uncivilised Cat
© the copyright holder. Image credit: The Fleming Collection

Waiting at home...

... one cross cat! When our summer art adventure is over we'll have to make it up to Luna.

The Uncivilised Cat 1930
Agnes Miller Parker (1895–1980)
Tempera on board
H 52.7 x W 47.6 cm
The Fleming Collection