The Easel

Damien Hirst at Houghton Hall: As if painted with a throbbing hangover

Nothing like a new Hirst exhibition to agitate the critics. Where to start – the venue? One of Britain’s most elegant country houses, it gives Hirst “class” while he gives it “sex appeal”. And the paintings? His studios have to date produced over 1,400 of these ‘Colour Space’ spot paintings. “They are… pleasant …  have jolly colours and jazz up the joint”.