Yesterday we posted about Jemma Egan’s exhibition at Nottingham’s Trade Gallery, Swiss Dogs. After much head scratching in the Article office we decided to ask her the story behind it all.

What happened in Switzerland?

Nothing much happened in Switzerland…I ate lots of cheese and lots of chocolate and bought lots of Swiss-made coloured pencils and stationary (which I like a lot). And spent a lot of time on my own drawing from Swiss postcards and tourist information leaflets…and drawing lots of St Bernard dogs over and over again (while eating more cheese and chocolate).

Why St Bernards?

I was attracted to St Bernard dogs that featured on Swiss postcards while I was away in Switzerland. I have an obsession with dogs in general…and I went through a phase as a child of watching the film Beethoven quite often!

The size of their heads is terrifying

They do have massive heads! I recently got slobbered on by a St Bernard dog - it was quite scary.

Have you ever seen a St Bernard save a man’s life or down the brandy from its collar?

I’ve not - maybe that would ruin it. They do walk like they’ve had a bit much to drink. However, I think they would struggle to open their own barrel of brandy - I suspect they’re not alcoholics.

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