Tennessee and I got on like a house on fire ‘“ and he nearly burnt the house down once with his cigarettes. We were friends and neighbours in London in the late 70s. I met him through Ava Gardner, who had a balcony flat in Kensington. I was doing a portrait of Ava, which I sadly never finished. Tennessee said that he and I were kindred spirits and wanted us to work together. Painting was a passion for him. He did it as a second profession.

It started around the 60s when his career as a playwright had a bit of a dip. The famous plays were behind him then. He was dedicated to painting and found it very therapeutic. Tennessee was always doing something. He was like a precocious child, really. We painted together every day. He presented me with half a dozen of his works, which are going to be in the exhibition. They’ve never been seen in public. I think they’re little treasures. There’s a self-portrait and one of me bare-chested.

I said, “I don’t like taking off my shirt, Tennessee.” He said, “Oh go on, I want to learn anatomy.” I said, “All right but put the fire on ‘“ it’s mighty cold.” So there I sat like a complete dolt with my shirt off. But I loved the portrait. It’s a little bit of history for me. He did it in pencil, with an oil wash - diluting the oil paint in turpentine and spreading it over a canvas-type paper. It came out like a watercolour.