Frank Bowling: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Frank Bowling

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Recently, as people began to understand what I am trying to do in my painting.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 June 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 577 →

Irvine Welsh Scottish novelist

Happiness is mostly intrinsic: you’re either a happy soul or a miserable bastard. Fortunately, I’m the former.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 December 2016 source ↗

Timothy Hutton

Playing catch with my son Noah at Fenway Park.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, March 2015 source ↗

Charlize Theron South African-American actress

I couldn't answer that. There are so many amazing things – falling in love, winning an Oscar, moving my mom out to America and just having a simple dinner with great friends.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 March 2009 source ↗

Martin Clunes English actor

On childhood family holidays in Mallorca, with my mum, dad and sister, Amanda.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 September 2018 source ↗

More from Frank Bowling

View profile →

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

In the 1950s I went to the Chelsea Arts Club’s New Year’s Eve ball at the Royal Albert Hall dressed as a Christmas pudding, with swimming trunks under my costume and holly in my hair.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 June 2026 source ↗