The fact that David Hockney is spending more and more time in Britain, either in Yorkshire or in London, suggests that he is here to stay, as much as one might be prepared to commit to anywhere nowadays. This could slow the process of deaccession by the Tate of its 98-piece collection of Hockney's work. Seven works there are paintings, with most of the remainder on paper.

Numerous works have of course changed hands on the open market. The 'Portrait of Nick Wilder', (1966) sold for 1.8 million in November 2002. Some while back JG Studholme ('Scaly Joe') sold an early Hockney work of the same period for an undisclosed sum. Studholme, former publisher of 'A Rake's Progress' has always had a keen eye for the market - he is now into historic reproductions and appears to have abandoned contemporary art for good.