High rollers, James Bond, glamour and money beyond your wildest dreams seem to sum up Monaco. A tax haven for millionaires and a hub for commerce.

Steeped in history and glamour, Monaco is so rich that it is fun to just stop and gaze. Sports cars of all shapes and sizes glitter in the sun outside the Casino and Hôtel de Paris and Hôtel Hermitage. Police with dark glasses and ties stand on duty and top-hatted door men great the guests as they wander into the lobbies of these world famous buildings.

Simply from an architectural view it is worth the visit to Casino square, the buildings are fairy-tale beautiful designed by Charles Garnier with details and colours that will never be seen again in modern buildings. The principality is proud of its history and the distinctive red and white monaco flag can be seen flying from all locations.

Monaco is one of the most highly populated and built up places on the planet - but it is also one of the safest and cleanest. It is a very real place, but it seems very unreal for the visitor. World famous and with an ability to influence politics on a world scale this tiny 2km square principality cannot be overlooked, so even if it is for a cup of tea and a slice of cake at the Hôtel Hermitage, do pay Monaco a visit. You can escape very quickly to the beaches of Menton afterwards for a swim !

We exhibited at the Belle Epoque Hôtel Hermitage, Salon Jardin d’Hiver.  The impressive entrance to this salon takes you under the amazing Winter-Garden foyer dome designed by Gustave Eiffel and it made a dazzling introduction to our exhibition.

•Place du Casino isn’t typical of Monaco. Monaco is full of modern sky scrapers

•There is a lovely coastal walk at Monaco - a real surprise

•Some car parks will rent you an electric bike to get around - but with so many stairs, lifts and escalators you might be better off on foot

Painting shown:

Artist: John Dyer
Painting: “Casino Cuddle, Monte-Carlo”

Size: 24 x 24 inches

Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy of Gallery Monaco