Howard Hodgkin

The painter was an immensely popular and generous figure, as well as a singular talent

Pieces of Me: The retailer’s creative director has a background in trend forecasting

The celebrated artist died ‘peacefully in hospital in London’, according to reports

Plus: Finnish women let us into their lives with humour

From the realistic (books, video games, DVDs) to the less so (Rothko Painting No 1, Bond’s Aston Martin), ‘Irish Times’ writers reveal what’s on their Santa lists

John Gerrard, Howard Hodgkin and Richard Gilligan shine at Galway Arts Festival’s visual-arts strand, while Heneghan Peng’s giant wooden see-saw bench is a big hit

Macnas promises street spectacle later in year