A teenage trip around the galleries of Italy sparked a life-long love for the arts, and as soon as he could Simon Martin, art historian, author and the director of Pallant House Gallery, returned. After a ‘Swallows and Amazons’ childhood he’s studied in the most prestigious institutions in Venice, been knocked out in a train station in Delhi, experienced an inexplicable rush of energy when being touched by the Dalai Lama, curated exhibitions in Japan, explored visual artists’ response to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, enjoyed artistic surprises in Copenhagen, researched and many books and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices