Reading Paintings

The Reading Paintings Podcast

Arts EN ↓ 14 episodes

Welcome to the Reading Paintings podcast created and presented by David Johnson and Harry Baxter. In each episode they visit a specific museum, gallery or cultural institution and explore works of art through live audio description and discussion. The conversations that are recorded are unscripted, informal and spontaneous. They consist of two artists intuitive verbal responses to a work of art. David is a blind artist, Harry is a sighted artist and audio describer. Through this interplay between conversation and description, Harry’s verbalisations are led by David's blindness. This process le...

Author

Reading Paintings

Category

Arts

Latest episode

Jun 12, 2026

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Episodes

Reflection Self Portrait, David Hockney and the Queen 12.06.2026

In this third and final episode at the National Portrait Gallery Harry and David look at four paintings in the Lucian Freud exhibition: Reflection (self portrait) from 1985, Portraits of David Hockney, 2002 and Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, 2001 and one of Lucian Freuds final paintings; Self Portrait, Reflection from 2002. 

Girl with Roses and Hotel Bedroom 12.06.2026

In this second episode at the National Portrait Gallery Harry and David look at two paintings in the Lucian Freud exhibition: Girl with Roses from 1948 and Hotel Bedroom, 1954.

Self Portrait with a Feather 12.06.2026

In this first episode at the National Portrait Gallery we visit the Lucian Freud exhibition entitled 'Drawing into Painting'. We focus on a self portrait painted in 1943 'Man with a Feather'.

Cupid Complaining to Venus 10.05.2026

This month David and Harry visit The National Gallery in London. In this episode they explore Lucas Cranach The Elder's painting 'Cupid Complaining to Venus', made using oil paint on wooden panel in 1526. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to The National Gallery and their staff for their...

Rain, Steam and Speed, The Great Western Railway 10.05.2026

This month David and Harry visit The National Gallery in London. In this episode they explore JMW Turner's painting 'Rain, Steam and Speed, The Great Western Railway', made using oil paint on canvas in 1844. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to The National Gallery and their staff for the...

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary 10.05.2026

This month David and Harry visit The National Gallery in London. In this episode they explore Diego Velazquez's painting 'Christ in the House of Martha and Mary', made using oil paint on canvas in 1618. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to The National Gallery and their staff for their co...

Conor Harrington 06.03.2026

Conor Harrington is an Irish artist born in Cork in 1980, he currently lives and works in London. He has a background in graffiti and street art. David and Harry explore his new show of paintings at Ben Brown fine arts in London, entitled 'Pallium'. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to Be...

Black Painting, and Still Life and Wedding Portrait 06.02.2026

Introduction In this the third part of David and Harry's trip to the Royal Academy of Arts they look at two more of Kerry James Marshalls work. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to the Royal Academy of Arts for this episode of the Reading Paintings Podcast.

School of Beauty, School of Culture 06.02.2026

Introduction In this second part of three episodes, David and Harry continue to explore the work of Kerry James Marshall at the Royal Academy of Arts .  Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to the Royal Academy of Arts for this episode of the Reading Paintings podcast.  

Knowledge and Wonder 06.02.2026

Introduction This month David and Harry visit the Kerry James Marshall, The Histories exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts , Piccadilly, London.  This is the first of 3 parts exploring the artist’s work.  Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to the Royal Academy of Arts for this episode o...

Self Portrait, Vincent Van Gough and The Card Players, Paul Cézanne 24.01.2026

Welcome back to our third podcast at the Courtauld Gallery in Central London.  In this episode David and Harry look at 2 paintings: Vincent Van Gough’s Self Portrait (with bandaged ear), 1882, and Paul Cézanne’s The Card Players, 1895. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to the Courtauld Ga...

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, Édouard Manet 24.01.2026

Welcome back to the Reading Paintings podcast. In this second episode from the Courtauld Gallery in Central London David and Harry look at Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, 1882. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio production: Ian Rattray Clear Voice Enterprises.org   Our thanks to the Courtauld Gallery and their staff for their co-opperation...

Jockeys Before the Race, Edgar Degas 24.01.2026

Welcome to the Reading Paintings podcast first episode!  In this series David and Harry visit the Courtauld Gallery in Central London where they look at 3 paintings.  In this first episode they look at Edgar Degas’s Jockeys Before the Race c.1879 which is on lone from the Barber Institute of Fine Art in Birmingham. Credits: Podcast Creators and Presenters: David Johnson and Harry Baxter. Audio pro...

Reading Paintings Introduction 17.01.2026

Hello and welcome to the Reading Paintings podcast introduction.  My name is David Johnson and I'm a blind artist, and with me is my good friend Harry Baxter who is a sighted artist and audio describer.  This is a short introduction that shares our concept of the podcast with you.  We do hope that you give our podcast a listen and let us know what you think.

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