During the mid Seventies Robert would, from time to time during the summer, open the front door of his street level studio/room to the public. He would do portaits in pencil for £2.50. There was about enough space for a sitter and himself with the door open. The sketches took about 20-25 mins.

In this exterior view of the artist's studio on The Barbican, taken in 1979 by Dr Philip Stokes, we see a sign advertising drawings of "people and pets" for a fee of £3. The left-most poster in the window states "Portraits, Oil on canvas: technically accomplished, all commissions accepted ... (rest illegible)." The fee appears to be £70. The second poster is advertising the Self-Portrait Project exhibition, then current. Eliza is seen, right.

(Image © White Lane Press. Used by permission)

I have a lovely drawing of the faces of my 3 young sons, drawn by Robert, in Plymouth, in 1973. He was eating a green apple at the time & only took a very small amount for the drawing. I have always treasured the picture.

I recently bought at auction (Bearnes), a painting with the given title 'The Stokes'. It shows a young man and woman with their hands clasped together. After some detective work I found that this was a painting done by Lenkiewicz as a wedding gift to the son of his accountant. The painting was one of a number of paintings stolen from the studio at one point - but later recovered. Clearly The Stokes didn't get to receive their wedding gift - but it hangs in pride of place in my house and I love it!