Because finance doesn't have to be black and white.

To the Cork street gallery, for an exhibition of art by Rob and Nick Carter, ‘Travelling Stills’. http://www.robandnick.com  It's sponsored by our long-term client, Ascot Underwriting.

Ascot’s one of the leading lights in Lloyd’s of London, and underwrites all sorts from Formula One teams to skyscrapers to jewellery at the Oscars.

When we met them 5 years ago, the first thing we noticed was their City lair was lined with unbelievably vibrant – nay, kaleidoscopic – modern art.

Martin Reith, the CEO, hosts the event. It’s his vision that’s driven Ascot, and its unique association with modern art.

I love it, I really do, when a company in a defined sector takes on a personality that is so different from those around it. Insurance is a secret art with a history and language all its own, yet Ascot constantly breaks new ground. ‘Terrorism, we’ll insure against it.’ Etc. And they were the first company to embrace that kind of 21^st century challenge.

Creative, market-making, winning, and utterly individual, that’s what a great brand is all about. We are thrilled to have helped create their identity, and their appropriately vibrant new web site, http://ascotuw.com

And also to have helped them prove that finance doesn’t have to be black and white.