Rudi Patterson

The dining room, the very heart of Garden Lodge and the scene of many famous get-togethers, was particularly memorable given its high-gloss citrus-toned yellow walls with green details. Freddie’s choice of his favourite colours was dramatic and warming, and is said to have reminded him of his childhood in Zanzibar. So involved was he in the realisation of this scheme that he painted the cornice and ceiling rose himself.

The room was originally hung with brightly coloured works in co-ordinating green gloss frames by his close friend, the British-Jamaican artist Rudi Patterson (1933-2013). Two works were specially commissioned by Freddie for the room (to Rudi’s delight) including the 'Tropical Landscape' seen here; indeed other commissioned work 'Great House at Night' is possibly the largest work Rudi ever painted.