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Francis Rossi, 57, was a founder member of the rock band Status Quo, whose first hit single was “Pictures of Matchstick Men”, in 1967. The “Just Doin’ It” tour starts in November, and the DVD of the same name is out on 6 November. Then, out of the blue, he had a telephone call to say that sealed bids were being sought. He won.For the new gallery, he has recruited more talent to his fold, including the Canadian Jeff Wall and the photographer Andreas Gursky, one of the most highly-sought after artists in the world at present.Although some believe that Hauser and Wirth, nearby, is currently London’s trendiest gallery and the New Yorker Larry Gagosian is a bigger hitter globally, White Cube Mason’s Yard is already a landmark in the national art scene.For Jopling’s part, he says he is proud and excited to see the project come to fruition. She works incredibly hard because she’s a mother and because women, on the whole, do balance life-work better But Jay’s a workaholic.

He’s working and thinking about his work all the time, he’s absolutely driven that way.”If he has woken at 7am with a thought on a new project, he will think nothing of calling Marlow to talk about it. “He always says if he can’t be the best at what he’s doing, he doesn’t want to do it. But he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth as far as the art world is concerned.” Jopling’s Mason’s Yard development was a massive investment. The electricity sub-station, a rare development opportunity in St James’s, had been in Jopling’s sight from before he opened his second gallery in Hoxton But it had not been for sale. I think he wants you to take risks and wants you to be part of risk-taking. There’s not a tired attitude of art as some kind of commodity but a relationship and an involvement.”So when Gormley needed feedback on the major retrospective of his work that is being planned at the Hayward Gallery, Jopling was on the phone brimming with ideas.To his fans, Jopling is a charming, impeccably turned out workaholic. “He is supremely enthusiastic and he’s very capable of communicating his passions in a way that makes you want to have the same experience that Jay seems to have in his relationship with art,” says Antony Gormley.”He’s very exciting and it’s exciting to be around whatever is happening around him.

I don’t mind a frayed cuff.”"The buildings he builds, his house, everything about him is beautifully judged. He’s got very astute taste, a very refined sensibility,” adds Marlow.”Sam has a balance that may have something to do with her life experiences. Johnnie Shand Kydd laughs at how pernickety he is over his clothes “Sam gives me all his cast-offs. Once he decides he’s behind you, he’s behind you through thick and thin And he’s unbelievably fun, just lovely and naughty. He works hard and he plays hard.”So at a Jay Jopling party, Little Britain star David Walliams or any number of hardened Groucho Club party-people are likely to be found mingling with the many artists Jopling represents.But not everyone has fallen under Jopling’s spell.