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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Michael Gaskell and Philip Heselton

Letters: James Lovelock obituary

James Lovelock National Portrait Gallery
James Lovelock
When James Lovelock sat for a painting for the National Portrait Gallery he insisted it should not make him look like ‘a serious old scientist’. Photograph: Murdo Macleod/The Guardian

I first met James Lovelock at the National Portrait Gallery in London, which had commissioned me to paint his portrait. Jim was with his wife, Sandy, and greeted me with the smile that became so familiar.

In the beautiful early summer of 2010, I travelled to Coombe Mill, his home in Devon, to start the portrait. Jim’s conversation was filled with reminiscences, science, anecdotes and uproarious laughter.

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