[Rob Barron]

I think your idea is good but the attempt to make it more of a sculpture type image is spoiling it. I think if this was a lit cigarette, smoke rising from its glowing tip, resting in the ashtray in the normal way, it would be an extremely powerful image and would tell a strong story.

We see cigarettes as the evil that they most definitely are but in our haste to condemn them as dangerous, fail to recognise the inherent dangers of so many other things. Chocolate is lovely but is one of the major causes of obesity (because of the amount consumed, not because it is bad in itself) which is rapidly becoming as big a killer as smoking. Blue Smarties are responsible for heightened hyperactivity in sensitive children which again is a problem in our world of increasing ADHD-type problems.

I knew the basis of the picture was good Boofers because I immediately felt uncomfortable when I saw it.... always a good sign! May I ask you to consider giving my idea a go and just see if it does produce the strong image I think it will? I don't smoke so can't do it myself and it is based on your idea so don't want to snaffle it away from you.

Cheers,
Rob