Geordie Greig, who was close to David Hockney for more than 50 years, interviewed him countless times, sat for him and drove round the Hollywood Hills with him, pays tribute to his witty and wonderful friend

Hockney moved from London to Southern California in the 1960s and was an innovative painter, photographer, stage designer and printmaker.

He was subversive and bold, yet also playful and accepting – putting the fun into pop art and finding freedom and fulfilment amid the blue skies and pools of California. David…