When I visited New York for the first time 18 years ago I spent a wonderful few hours in the National Museum of the American Indian right at the bottom of Manhattan island. At that time I was obsessed with beadwork and in particular the beadwork of Native Americans. I filled my sketch book with carefully drawn designs from the pieces I saw in that museum.

So as soon as the trip to NYC was booked for this April, the first thing I checked was that the museum was still there and open. This time, with the invention of the digital camera I was able to snap pictures of my favourite pieces for inspiration.

But as well as the permanent collection of pieces there was also a temporary exhibition of the work of TC Cannon. His story and his beautiful paintings are sure to inspire some future work of mine as well.