Ovenden Court Case

Yesterday controversial English painter, photographer, writer and architect Graham Ovenden was accused in Truro Crown Court of being a paedophile who sexually abused young girls in London and Cornwall. Four woman claim he abused them when they were aged between six and 14. He faces nine charges of indecency with a child and indecent assault. He denies the charges (CLICK). Shown are two of his images of young girls: his beautiful photo Sam (1972) and his painting Maud (1984). The Tate gallery owns a collection of 37 of his photos and paintings, including sepia-toned images of naked young girls (CLICK). Life studies have been important to artists for centuries. There needs to be trust between artist and model, also between artist and the parents of child models. Let's hope this case doesn't shatter that trust.