Welcome to episode 168 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. 

Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can now get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved in your Spotify library.

This is a conversation with Roy Dunningham – he was my high school art teacher. Now, I was terrible at art. But I know Roy’s four top students. So I wanted to talk to him. The seeds for this podcast were sewn late last year when I talked to Freeman White (one of Roy’s top four). I had, in one of the earliest podcasts, talked with my good friend Matthew Couper (another of Roy’s top four. I’ve yet to talk to Regan Gentry for the podcast but he’s also a friend from school – and whilst Roy’s other top student is older than me and didn’t go through high school at the same time as me he is known to many of us – Phil Judd. I’m writing a book about Phil and he’s been a podcast guest also. And Roy’s name has come up a lot in my life. 

He was also my brother’s teacher. My brother was far more successful than me as an artist – and it was through Mr Dunningham that Kane introduced our family to the music of Schnell Fenster. 

Since retiring Roy has contributed articles to art magazines and been an advisor to the local council on public art. He has a fantastic personal art collection. He is mentioned in Buster Stiggs’ Audio Culture essay about the formation of the Swingers.

Earlier this year I cold-called Roy. He’s still living in Hawke’s Bay. In his 80s. And he remembered me. We had a series of phone calls and then I met up with him at his home a couple of months ago to have this conversation which I now share with you.

So here now is episode 168 of Sweetman Podcast, my conversation with Roy Dunningham 
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