From Community Focus to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: Laurent's Journey

Community Focus artist Laurent Barsotti  has achieved something extraordinary.

In this special episode of Dis-labled, we follow Laurent’s journey from Community Focus to exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2026, one of the world’s most prestigious art exhibitions.

We begin at Royal Academy varnishing day, where Royal Academician Humphrey Ocean explains why Laurent’s London bus painting stood out from thousands of entries and earned a place in his room. We also hear from comedian Harry Hill, an admirer and collector of Laurent’s artwork.

In the second half of the programme, Laurent and his mum Chantal share the story behind this remarkable achievement. From developing confidence through art at Community Focus to seeing his work displayed on the walls of the Royal Academy, it’s an inspiring story of creativity, perseverance and passion.

Community Focus is an Arts Centre for children and adults with disabilities. We are based in the borough of Barnet, North London and offer a selection of creative and well-being activities for all ages.

00:00:16 - Intro
00:01:06 - Live from the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2026: Varnishing Day
00:03:04 - We speak to Humphrey Ocean RA
00:04:12 - We speak to comedian and fellow artist, Harry Hill
00:05:07 - Reflections on the day
00:05:53 - In the room we have...
00:06:12 - Laurent and his mum, Chantal join us in the studio
00:06:22 - Laurent answers questions from the Dis-labled crew
00:13:44 - Chantal answers questions from the Dis-labled crew
00:21:15 - What were the highlights of the day?
00:25:53 - Final Thoughts

Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell
Editor: Phil Powell

Huge thanks to the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund for supporting our Dis-labled podcast. Learn more about their amazing work: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

All enquiries: podcast@communityfocus.co.uk
Website: https://www.communityfocus.co.uk/

Theme Music: Rastko Rasic & the students of Community FocusOther Music: Jazzy Frenchy by ⁠⁠⁠Benjamin Tissot

Transcript

Start

Laurent 0:00

Community focused. Community focused. We're here for you. Our point of view.

Intro

Jonathan 0:17

In this special episode of this label, we take you inside the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition to celebrate an extraordinary achievement by community focused artist Laurent Barsotti. We begin at the Royal Academy Varnishing Day where Royal Academician Humphrey Ocean explains why he selected Lawrence London bus painting from the thousands of entries. We also meet comedian Harry Hill, who became an unexpected admirer of Laurent's paintings. In the second half of the show, Laurent and his mum Chantel share the story behind this remarkable journey from community focused exhibiting one of the world's most prestigious art shows. It's a heartwarming conversation about creativity, determination and following your passion.

Live from the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2026: Varnishing Day

Phil P 1:07

So we've just been to the service in the across the road in St. James's Church with uh all of the other artists on Varnishing Day. We've just got into the Royal Academy and we found Humphrey Ocean's room, and we had the most exciting thing which was to find Laurent's picture. And we've just found it. Here we have Chantal, Laurent's mum. How do you feel after seeing Laurence picture up in the Royal Academy?

Chantal 1:38

I'm absolutely thrilled. I just couldn't believe it. He looks so good, and it's very good because it's at high level and you can really see it. I was afraid it might be a bit too high, but it's just perfect. Oh, it looks so good, Laurence. Congratulations to you. You're wonderful, wonderful. Yeah.

Phil P 2:00

How do you feel, Laurent, seeing it up and I feel very pleased?

Laurent 2:05

MCW. Metro bus. They've got orange interior.

Phil P 2:12

How did you feel when you came around the corner? You spotted it straight away, didn't you? And it's gonna be up here for the whole of the summer. So are you gonna be bringing lots of friends and family over the summer?

Chantal 2:25

I will, definitely, to start his twin brother and uh friends, and uh yeah. We will spend a lot of time looking better and slowly you know.

Phil P 2:37

And another amazing thing is that Laurent got his um name in the catalogue. That was quite exciting to see.

Chantal 2:43

Um very impressive, very impressive. Congratulations, you're wonderful, wonderful.

Laurent 2:50

Oh yeah oh do oh oh a Phil do they serve coffee around here?

Phil P 2:59

That's what that's what Laurent's really bothered about is where the coffee is.

We speak to Humphrey Ocean RA

Phil P 3:04

So I've just spotted Humphrey ocean, so we're gonna go and try and talk to Humphrey.

Chantal 3:08

Oh my goodness.

Humphrey Ocean 3:17

Yeah, no, I really love that painting. And I've hung you over Paul Simonon. Congratulations, Well done. Yeah. I'm so glad. This is a very, very nice thing.

Phil P 3:30

It's absolutely wonderful. So we're here with Humphrey Ocean at the moment, and we're in his room, and what originally drew you to Laurent Paint?

Humphrey Ocean 3:40

Well, I have to say that when that painting came up, we look at 18,000 images on screen, and there was a cheer in the room, but I knew, because I'd know Laurent's work a little bit, from Harry, who's got got one, and that and when that came up, I said, I'm having that. No one else is having that. So, yeah, what drew me - seeing it!

We speak to comedian and fellow artist, Harry Hill

Harry Hill 4:15

So, um it's Harry Hill here, and I'm at the uh opening day of um the summer exhibition, and I've uh been lucky enough to see Laurent's. Actually, I haven't seen Laurents' painting yet. Oh, it's over there, yeah. I'm a collector of uh Laurent's work because I I met this guy called um Philip Powell, who showed me the paintings and I loved them straight away, and I said to him, You should see if you can get one of his paintings into the summer exhibition. So I'm not claiming responsibility, but uh I suppose I kind of uh it's great to see Lawrence's work here in this hallowed hall, the Royal Academy of Art, uh and hopefully this will mean that uh he can put his prices up.

Reflections on the day

Phil P 5:11

So we've just got out, we had absolutely fantastic time. Yeah, and how'd you feel after the exhibition?

Chantal 5:18

Elated, you know. Such a big achievement for Laurence is over the moon, you know.

Phil P 5:26

I think Humphrey said that it got a cheer when it came in the room. Really?

Chantal 5:30

Yeah, oh my goodness.

Phil P 5:31

What do you think, Laurent?

Chantal 5:32

How do you feel about the night?

Laurent 5:34

Yeah, good. I lot a lot looking at all the artwork.

Phil P 5:38

And you spoke to some artists as well, didn't you?

Laurent 5:40

Yeah, I've spoken to some of them.

Phil P 5:42

Well, we're just about going to the tube. Next up we'll have the interview with Laurent and his mum. Bye.

In the room we have...

Jonathan 5:53

In the room we have Andrea, Gila, Carol, Jonathan, Havva, Phillip, Chantal, Phil, and Laurent.

Laurent and his mum, Chantal join us in the studio

Laurent 6:13

Today we've got a very special guest here, Laurent and his mum, Chantel. And Laurent's gonna talk about his painting.

Laurent answers questions from the Dis-labled crew

Gila 6:22

How did it feel when you found out your painting had been selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition? Were you surprised, Laurent? Yeah, I was surprised too.

Laurent 6:34

Um I I was surprised I did I did well. I I don't I I I don't realise I'd be so so uh so lucky.

Chantal 6:42

You were surprised you select it.

Carol 6:44

Yeah, select Tell us about the painting that was selected. What bus is it? Why did you uh choose to paint it?

Laurent 6:56

Well, I I've got I've got a passion for the MCW bus uh with the orange check seats. I I I I I used to uh I love the buses with the orange check seats. Uh the Metro MCW was introduced in 1978 as it it started to come out.

Jonathan 7:15

Where did your love of buses come from? Have you always loved them? Do you have do you have a favorite bus?

Laurent 7:22

Uh since since I was little, a lot of like buses. Well well well probably m well probably m well probably my first favourite bus was pr probably uh the one before the Metro bus, the uh maybe the DMS with the blue check seats. When did you start painting? Well well I started community focus long time ago. Um I forgot w which year I started, was it 2000 and uh was it 2010 I started? Yeah. Yeah I I remember when the f I don't remember when the first day I started. Uh oh yeah, I think the first uh thing I ever did was a display of flowers. I did a flower collage. I remember the first time I I did art. I I did a lot of flower collage. Yeah. I did a big display of flowers.

Phillip R 8:24

Um Lawrence, what do you enjoy most about painting?

Laurent 8:30

Um Well well well well maybe I I I I love to draw I I like I've got a passion for trees as well. Um I like to draw nature and and and buses. Yeah, I like to d draw woodlands. Does it does it help you to relax? Yeah, yeah, drawing is very relaxing.

Andrea 8:55

I think your perfect journey would if you got on your favourite bus, Madonna was driving, and you were driving through the best forest ever. I think it's not like the perfect day.

unknown 9:04

Yeah.

Chantal 9:07

That's good of it.

Phil P 9:09

Imagine how do you think Madonna would feel about becoming a bus driver for the day?

Laurent 9:15

Well well I'm not too sure.

Chantal 9:20

What bus would she drive, do you think?

Laurent 9:22

Well I'm not too sure about Madonna like buses.

Gila 9:27

If you could paint absolutely anything, what would it be? Would it be bus? Would it be somewhere you visited?

Laurent 9:37

Well well what uh well well no, maybe my choice is is always trees. I I got passion for trees and nature.

Chantal 9:47

Our neighbor had an ashtray and when he was little, he loved it.

Laurent 9:51

Oh it's not it's not uh uh I was the most beautiful ashtray uh uh he died. Yeah, it it was really sad he got diseased. It was a beautiful c uh c a common ashtray. And the the the trunk the trunk was enormous. I I I really loved it.

Carol 10:18

Humphrey Ocean chose your painting for his room. How did it make you feel?

Laurent 10:26

Um yeah, I was very pleased.

Chantal 10:30

You know, underneath Lorenz's picture, there is another picture of a famous artist and is a bit uh spooky. If you look at it, it's like a a portrait of a man, but is like a dead man, like a skeleton. So it's a bit spooky.

Humphrey Ocean 10:50

Oh my god. That's scary.

Laurent 10:52

Yeah, I wonder why that's a spooky picture there.

Phil P 10:55

That's the guy from the clash, isn't it?

Laurent 10:57

The clash?

Phil P 10:57

Yeah. Oh yeah, I like the Paul Simenon. Yeah. Well he's next to you. He's next to you. Next to me. Yeah, you know the painting underneath you. Yeah. It was painted by Paul Simenon from The Clash.

Laurent 11:08

Oh yeah, yeah, I was yeah, I was fond of the clash, yeah. Should I stand? Should I go?

Chantal 11:15

So that's good for you really, to have the clash underneath.

Laurent 11:18

Yeah.

Chantal 11:19

Yeah. Shame it wasn't McDonald's.

Jonathan 11:21

That won't go. You have a famous fan in Harry Hill. What was it like meeting him? Uh what did he say about your work? Were you nervous or excited? He liked my artwork.

Laurent 11:38

He collected it, and he really liked my bus.

Havva 11:44

A half a painting. What's your favourite thing? Tell me about the donor. Tell me about the Brookside.

Laurent 12:02

I don't always find it exciting to watch it. I just I just love it. Uh oh I've got I've got a big collection of Madonna stuff. I've got the whole collection and and uh and uh and I collect everything of Madonna. How did it feel when you went to see Madonna? Oh yeah, a long time ago I went to oh how you feel. Yeah, I was very excited. It was a beautiful show. I went to the uh went to the goalie show uh in in Wembley Stadium.

Carol 12:34

Who's your favourite celebrity that you've met so far?

Laurent 12:38

My favourite celebr celebrity Michael George Michael, you know? Oh yeah, I wonder if I've seen George Michael once in Highgate. What what would be your dream day out? Well Well well I've got well I've got a passion for trees and woodlands. I I like to look at trees and nature. Oh yeah, I like to visit the famous close in Liverpool. Yeah, that's what I like to do. It's been refurbished of Brookside Close.

Gila 13:12

What advice would you give to somebody with autism who want to to start painting?

Chantal 13:20

What advice how do they do about it?

Laurent 13:25

Uh do you think practice is good? Um because it takes uh it takes a lot of time uh drawing.

Chantal 13:33

You've been very assiduous coming every week.

Laurent 13:37

Yeah, a club will be a good thing. Yeah, art class is good.

Chantal answers questions from the Dis-labled crew

Gila 13:48

Santa, what was your reaction when you heard Lawrence had been accepted into the Royal Academy summer exhibition? Did you believe it straight away? How did you celebrate?

Chantal 14:03

Right well I got a first I got a phone call from Phil and he played joke on me He pretended that Lawrence didn't uh got selected So I said oh what a shame but it didn't last too long and then he said Ecotin Ecotine and I was on a cloud I was on a cloud could not believe it and sometimes I'm thinking you've been dreaming you know this dream Laurence has been uh uh selected for the Royal Academy, yes, Chantal, yes, yes, yes but it is true, you know, it's funny, you know when you have a dream and then you get up in the morning and in fact it's not true, but it's a reverse, you know.

Carol 15:10

When did you first realize Laurent had a talent for art?

Chantal 15:16

Yeah, at first I didn't realize, and then it started to bring some painting from community focus, and I was looking and I was thinking, this is really good actually. And you know, for instance, like Brookside um characters, and then I was looking and I could see this expression, you know, and um this haunted look. And I said this is really good. And I started to put quite a few in my office, my study, in the bathroom, because I really genuinely enjoy them. And they're really lovely, I think, and he's got a love of colours, and the colours are beautiful, yeah. I always support him and I always make sure he goes to community focus every week. He's got his money for a snack for a little uh lunch in the park. You enjoy his routine, you know. I always phone him, make sure he's uh you know on time and uh yeah. So I supervise things.

Jonathan 16:16

How important has art been in Lawrence's life? Has it helped his confidence? Has it helped him express himself?

Chantal 16:25

Uh to start with, his father, who's an artist, he was a graphic artist, he's now uh pass away unfortunately. And uh I think he probably took after his dad, you know. He always saw his dad painting and you know, and drawing, so and his ma his grandmother, my mother, exhibited in the south of France, you know. She yeah, she used to paint flowers, that was uh you know, and she did reproduction of money and she sold a few paintings. So when he was little you painted a few times with mamita, yeah. Yeah, you did. So I think it's probably in the gene a bit.

Havva 17:06

Half half Lawrence, interest, interest, artwork.

Chantal 17:11

Yeah, I think basically he's got a lot of passion, a lot of hobbies and interest, and he puts it all this passion is reflected in his paintings, you know.

Laurent 17:25

What challenges has Lawrence had as an artist?

Chantal 17:30

Yeah, well to start with, he really started from scratch and he didn't have much confidence. He had very low self-esteem. And little by little, by coming every week to community focused, he built up his confidence, his skill, and he told me I never knew Mama could paint at first, you know. I never knew, he said, you know. And little by little, you know, he he built up his confidence and um he was doing well and better and better.

Phil P 18:03

And he's had some good teachers over the years.

Chantal 18:05

He had very good teachers, and I'm very, very grateful to Community Focus to have supported him. Yeah, encouraging.

Gila 18:16

What does this achievement mean for your family? Are you all proud? What was it like seeing the painting on the wall?

Chantal 18:25

Oh gosh, I was totally elated, you know. It was like yeah, to see it on the wall was especially it was a high level, like I said, so you could see it very well, and uh yeah, and it was so many people, it was such a big atmosphere and it was oh it was you know, you were transported transported very big achievement. We couldn't we cannot believe it. We're very, very proud of him. Santel, was was his twin brother jealous? I suspect he is a bit I think he fell a bit under the weather lately I said to him, I said to his twin brother Mark, what no not nobody's preventing you of entering for next year, you know? Have a look at the gallery, go to the exhibition, take some ideas, see how people paint and so on, and present your artwork next year. He said, Oh maybe, maybe.

Carol 19:37

Is there a moment from Lauren's artistic journey that you'll never forget? Was there a breakthrough moment? Was there a moment that made you especially proud?

Chantal 19:50

Yeah, I remember going to the exhibition, the community focus exhibition, maybe two years ago, maybe, and I saw this big bus, you know, on uh on the wall, and I was amazed. I said, that's really good. I started to realize that, you know, he was getting really good. I was amazed because at first I didn't realise he was progressing so well. Yeah.

Jonathan 20:19

What would you like people to know about Lawrence beyond his artwork? What makes him unique?

Chantal 20:25

Well Laurence is a poet, you know, he sees things differently from us, and he's got a lot of passion, you know, a lot of interest. Classical music, pop music, um trees, Madonna, gardening. So you know I'm very, very proud of him. Very proud of him. Once he starts something, he's got perseverance.

Havva 20:54

What you're proud of?

Chantal 20:57

What I'm most proud of. Well the fact that he's been selected at the Royal Academy of Art, that's a f top achievement. Something you could not hope for. Something I would I was not expecting at all.

What were the highlights of the day?

Laurent 21:16

What was the high highlight of Running Day?

Chantal 21:20

Well, it's all together, you know, to uh all the artists to see them, to see their painting, to start with, going to the church, have the blessing of the priest and uh very traditional, you know, and then going back up the stairs and fun finding out about all this painting, this big room, this beautiful, beautiful setting. And the excitement of uh finding his painting on the wall and all these people, uh artists and art lovers and you know the whole ambience was very, very I believe it'd be very very nice.

Laurent 22:05

My favourite bit. Um I look looking at all the um I looking at all the paintings. Yeah.

Gila 22:18

What has surprised you most about this whole experience? The reaction from from people or the amount of intention the painting has received For me this question Well it's the outcome, isn't it?

Chantal 22:38

The outcome that Lorentz got to pick up. Yeah.

Laurent 22:42

Well I'll I'll look at all the pictures.

Chantal 22:46

Yeah.

Laurent 22:46

He said he wants to go back and have a good Yeah, I'll I'll have to look at all the g the girl. Yeah.

Chantal 22:52

Yeah.

Carol 22:52

Because it was too many people What would you say to the other disabled autistic artists who dream of exhibiting their work one day?

Chantal 23:03

I think it's room for everybody. You need to have confidence, faith in yourself, and you need to be perseverant. It takes time, you know? Because Lauren started from scratch and he improved his skill as he went along and he grew more and more confident.

Laurent 23:23

I think I was very shy before. I wasn't confident person.

Chantal 23:28

No, but what about your heart? You're growing.

Laurent 23:31

Yeah.

Chantal 23:31

Yeah, you were very shy about being but you had a very good teacher. Very good teacher.

Phil P 23:38

Yeah, we should mention Flo actually, who is the uh tutor.

Laurent 23:42

I'll show you what's good. Yeah, I was very grateful with Flo uh uh Yeah, she was a very good teacher.

Gila 23:55

Loan, got one more question. I'm sorry. Yeah, what's what is your favourite TFL bus to travel on?

Laurent 24:05

Um well well well basically well basically always like the 80s buses, you know like the the old the old Titans.

Carol 24:18

Where on the bus do you like to sit?

Laurent 24:21

Actually, my favourite is always sitting on the top deck because I like to see the view. It's always good to sit on the top deck. Yeah, that's my favourite sitting at the front. Always love sitting at the front of the bus.

Chantal 24:36

At the very front. Yeah, good because you can't see the young. I don't go upstairs.

Laurent 24:45

But uh but but always seem to lock upstairs first because you can't see you can't see the view.

Phil P 24:53

What is your favourite bus route?

Laurent 24:56

Um uh uh actually it's a balance where it's like the 134 route. Uh that that's a nice route, the one three four.

Phil P 25:03

And where does it start and end? Um where does it start?

Laurent 25:08

Um I think it's I think uh goes to North Finchley, doesn't it? I think it used to go to Tottenham Court Road before. I don't know if it's still there.

Gila 25:17

One final question. If you would design any bus that hasn't been out, what would it be?

Laurent 25:27

Well w uh wow was like the classic buses. Uh I like I like I like the old metro buses.

Phil P 25:34

He doesn't want to reinvent the wheel. He likes it the way it was.

Gila 25:46

My final thoughts are Laurent very well done in getting

Final Thoughts

Gila 25:53

into the Royal Academy summer show. Um it well really well done. I really looking forward to seeing to adding gold to the Royal Academy and seeing the photo you've done. Really well done.

Carol 26:13

I f I found your work quite inspiring.

Laurent 26:18

The final thought of Lawrence painting is enjoy enjoy yourself.

Jonathan 26:26

I would just like to say congratulations on your amazing achievement.

Havva 26:32

Um I'm glad you've done it. I I wish you were your future one day and you get it and you go in. One day you get your future and become an artist. Don't give up. Never give up. Never give up, okay? Get your future and become a good artist one day that will take you in. I'm hope I'm glad you've done it. I'm proud of you. Thank you.

Chantal 27:01

Well, um I'm glad that um it's been inspiring for them all, you know, and um I'm very grateful that you know they congratulated Lawrence in such a way and encouraging him and supporting him. So it's been very nice, very nice experience today.

Phil P 27:25

Well, it's all but we're all very proud, aren't we? I mean, in the office, every time something was happening, we were like, oh my god, I can't believe it. He's got through the next round, it's got through the next round. And what's your final thought? Have you enjoyed today, Lauren?

Laurent 27:39

Yes, I did. It was really good.

Phil P 27:42

And you're gonna carry on painting buses?

Laurent 27:44

Yeah, I uh see. But no no, but mm my next uh but um uh uh my next uh bus hunter draw is the Lylan Titan. Uh that's the next bus I'm gonna do. Yeah, the the the one after the MCW Lowren and Shen Tell, thank you for coming for for telling us your your experience. Thanks a lot, thank you.

Chantal 28:13

Thank you for welcome welcoming us and thank you and pleased to get to know you. Thank you, thank you. We see each other again. Goodbye!

Speaker 2 28:31

We're here for you. Our point of view.

Gila 28:35

Community focus is an art centre for children and adults with disabilities. We are based in the Borough Barnet, North London, and offers selection of creative and well being activities for all ages.