Celia’s life in Hockneys

A MUSE for David Hockney for over 50 years, the designer Celia Birtwell was surrounded last night by more than 25 images of herself at the opening of the artist’s show at the National Portrait Gallery.

‘It’s like a kaleidoscope of my life, seeing all these different pictures,’ said Celia (left). ‘We speak almost every week, even while he is in France.

‘We’ve always just clicked. Is there anyone better company and who has changed our view of the world?’

The opening of Drawing From Life was a rare sighting of the 82-year-old Hockney — in flat cap, red tie, green cardigan, white spectacles and sky-blue jacket — who spent most of the evening on a small balcony having a cigarette or three.