I was in London recently seeing clients and doing a bit of Christmas Shopping too. London is a master at generating the ‘Christmas feeling’; In Liberty’s chocolate emporium you can almost see the ghost of Dickens shuffling about with the worrisome spectre of Scrooge fussing with his purse. On a chilly break I glancedRead more…
I was recently asked to do an illustration for a magazine article on food poisoning. The idea being that it is easy to think that only low grade produce such as van burgers and greasy kebabs are the only foods that carry harmful bacteria and viruses. Of course the best quality foods can be equallyRead more…
I arrived back from London at Castle Cary station on an October afternoon. Autumn was on its way, it was blowing a bit and none too warm; what turned out to be an excellent Summer was certainly in the past so I picked up the pace to get to the car and get aRead more…
Oil on Board 29cm x 12cm I was pretty busy last week with commissions and various other commitments, and although it always good to be busy, and its a great job you can sometimes get a wee bit full. So on occasion you need to just get out with your easel and a flask of coffee andRead more…
To help stem the chaos of an artist’s life A few years ago I did a great deal of work studying Time Management, I even bought a few books on it. Something had to be done as the ‘things to be completed’ tide was eventually going to sweep me out to sea forever. OverRead more…
‘Come to the AAF Battersea. With everything for sale between £40 and £4,000, and a fresh and friendly approach to contemporary art, a day out at the fair is the easiest and most enjoyable way to view and buy art from more than 100 galleries under one roof. Paintings, original artist-made prints, sculptureRead more…
I have just finished Somerset Art Weeks (mentioned in a previous blog). It was my first festival and lasted two weeks at Worthy Barn, Pilton so I thought I would post a small summary. As I am a recent resident of the village of Pilton, I thought I would do mainly local workRead more…
The magazine was issued on the 2nd September 2013. The brief was to advertise ‘Coach’ bags. Coach was established in New York in 1941 and the client wanted a classic New York City montage which needed to include the Brooklyn Bridge and the Highline. It did not have to be geographically accurate as this was not forRead more…
I visited the The Royal Bath & West Show earlier in the year and was so impressed by the showing of pigs that I did a blog on the whole proceedings and this drawing of a handler skilfully tapping his pig around the arena. The drawing measures 23cm x 19cm and is mounted onRead more…
I am currently putting my work together for this year Somerset Art Weeks (SAW) an artist-led organisation and Somerset’s only countywide agency dedicated to developing the visual arts. It is running from 21st September to the 6th October. This is my first year exhibiting with SAW and I am looking forward to it.Read more…
I have recently been illustrating for ‘MEED’ – the business magazine focusing on the Middle East. As an example of how the modern world works; I am in rural Somerset, England and this particular client is based thousands of miles away in Dubai. We work together entirely over the net as sadly theRead more…
I give away a drawing with each newsletter I send out. The most recent winner has sent over a few comments about the drawing he won which I have posted below. If you want to win a drawing too then just sign up to my newsletter in the box provided and it will automatically addRead more…
This framed painting is available to buy here or to buy as a limited edition print here I was recently commissioned to do a watercolour of Borough Market in London at the south end of London Bridge in Southwark. Although sellers have been on the site for well over 1,500 years the market wasRead more…
I was talked into entering the Pintar Rapido – create a picture in a day. This is a self-explanatory exhibition based in Kensington and Chelsea, London. Essentially you have a day to complete one picture in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea and deliver it to the Town Hall in Kings Road to be hungRead more…
I will be giving away this preparatory drawing in my next newsletter in a few days. If you would like to take part in the free draw to win her then just sign up in the box to the right or just mail me. Who is she? I was working on an oil painting ofRead more…
I paid a quick visit to Porlock Weir on the North Coast of Exmoor National Park. This is a very tiny fishing village tucked beneath the high hills and bluffs of the National Park, accessed by a single and often precipitous road. As you enter the village there is a short terrace of ancient cottages built directlyRead more…
As a lifetime ‘Towny’ I have to confess that I had never been to an agricultural show in all my life so I jumped at the opportunity to pop over to The Royal Bath & West Show. It was a fascinating day with every aspect of country life catered for so I have to editRead more…
I have recently completed a commission for a client who requested three views near the Thames at Waterloo in London. The location was the only restriction really and within that area it was a pretty open brief. I had a generous deadline too so I could look about and choose carefully. Perfect What toRead more…
Looking for subjects to draw and paint can be a bit frustrating sometimes. It’s not that there is nothing on offer to work on in London; it’s totally the opposite. There is far too much choice and I end up springing a trap on myself looking for the perfect subject and I end upRead more…
I was recently invited to exhibit at the Scrap Book Live event organised by IllustrationX at The Griffin Gallery in London. It was a great night which included live portrait painting by Sarah Beetson and some great calligraphy demonstrations too. Exhibiting my work next to such great talent is always a bit of worry thoughRead more…
The weather in the last year in the UK has been nothing short of appalling. There are only so many winter scenes or rainy landscapes an artist can cope with. Yes, this last year would have even challenged the great Turner. I have to say though the last week things are slowly moving to aRead more…
I was recently asked to illustrate a cover for ‘The Celebration of Dubai Airports 2013’ brochure cover. I used to do technical illustration in the pre computer days and this piece is a bit of a throwback to that. It was very enjoyable to do despite the request for ‘next day delivery’. I stayed upRead more…
Today it was sunny, really cold but sunny. Even though I have loads of studio work to do I decided to make the best of this rarest of days and do some work outside. Grabbing my gear I took a short walk through the village and out on the hills at the back ofRead more…
I give away a drawing with each of my newsletters. The winner is picked out at random from those who wish to take part in the draw. The last drawing which was a preparatory drawing for an oil painting was won by Bea from Hove, UK. She was kind enough to write a fewRead more…
I will be giving away this (8cm x 16cm) mounted drawing in my next newsletter which will be sent on the 4th March. The winner will be picked randomly from all those who put in a request for him. A drawing will be on offer for each newsletter from now on so if youRead more…
Getting to New York The flight we were told would take around eight hours. I mused on the fact that eight hours is a whole working day. Nothing wrong with musing I thought as I fiddled with the hopelessly optimistic ‘What to do in case of a crash’ card, I can muse all I please;Read more…
Dogs, dogs and more dogs East 17th Street and 3rd Avenue My first mornings drawing taught me that New York is a city of dog owners; there must be thousands of them parading up and down day and night. 5th avenue is a pampered pooch dog/catwalk show and one soon realises thatRead more…
The House, 121 East and 17th Street When embarking on any large city break I always try to find a place which is a sort of ‘home from home’, a place I can just take it easy at any time and feel welcome with good food and drink. Never too loud though not dull either.Read more…
Times Square As I ambled back to Times Square I felt guilty about being a bit pleased to see a proper NYC mugging just like in the films, I consoled myself to the fact that he would never catch them so would not incur any injury and his phone will be insured too. I stillRead more…
A typical house in Hudson I could describe this street to you in detail though you know it already; you have seen it in those films. The white and pink clapboard houses, the squeaky screen doors, the stars and stripes on every cane chaired porch. The crickets chirping the church bells chiming and somewhere thereRead more…
Verdigris Tea Room 135 Warren Street Hudson, NY 12534 This is an olive and white painted corner tea shop and gallery along Hudson Street, as well as tea they also do a nice line in cakes, chocolate and cookies too, not to mention the odd Tarot reading evening. The interior is a perfect mix ofRead more…
Those nice people at The Royal Society of British Artists have put me on their website for the 296th annual exhibition at The Mall galleries. The exhibition begins on the 6th March until the 23rd of March. I am looking forward to it, Its good to get out a bit.
Not the biggest news in the world though I am rather pleased with it. It was taken in an allotment in Portsmouth. This allotment is one of my favourite hang out places for gardening and person inspiration. I wanted to capture the idea that I am every where. Everywhere that is with my sketchRead more…
I heard late last week that my painting ‘Brick Lane Market’ has been selected for The 296th RBA Annual Open Exhibition at The Mall Galleries. I am really pleased about getting in as I know the competition is rather brutal and the gallery is such a lovely place to show work. I didRead more…
I am currently working on an oil painting for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. No guarantees of getting in of course as the competition is brutal as the whole of the Cotswolds apply. They have, however, let me in a few times before so it is certainly worth a punt and the pageant is goodRead more…
I am currently working on a commission to paint a number of scenes around the Waterloo area of London. I began just before Christmas drawing in the main façade of the station featuring commuters, Christmas shoppers, and those going on holiday. All pouring in and out of the main entrance. On site atRead more…
Just before Christmas I was commissioned to paint a Vespa and rider. It was for a clients husband. He got in to Scooters in his younger years and the love of all things Scooter never quite left him. The client specified a 1960’s model and in light blue too. Well I was happy toRead more…