Tony Slater gave me the best tip to stop the black beasts entering my paintings - I purchased a fly pen (couldn't find a sketchbook though) from my local hardware store. It looks like a felt tip pen but contains something much more deadly. This can be applied inside the frame before the glass goes in, forming a barrier. I watch with bated breath to see if this works next year and hope for a better summer and fewer black beasts! If you would like to vist our exhibition, it is open 24 hours/day until the 14th November in The League of Friends Gallery on Floor D (next to the restaurant) at The Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. Plenty of parking in the multi storey, entry free - especially to thunder flies!!