A video of my walking and painting tour of Cookham in Berkshire

In this video, I’m visiting the charming village of Cookham in the county of Berkshire, during which I managed to do two paintings.

Now, I hesitate to use the phrase “quintessential English village,” but on this occasion I really can’t think of a better alternative – because Cookham truly is just that. It has half-timbered and redbrick houses, roses and hollyhocks in the gardens, a generous sprinkling of pubs, and a lively high street.

At the far end of the village, you’ll find a tranquil river with pleasure boats gliding back and forth. Visitors might be surprised to learn that this is, in fact, the world-famous River Thames. You’d never know it, though – it lies many miles upstream, well beyond the tidal reach. It’s hard to believe that this same water will eventually flow through one of the world’s largest cities, passing beneath the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge.

The Home of Sir Stanley Spencer RA

Cookham also holds a special place in my heart, as it was the birthplace, home, and muse of one of my favourite artists: Sir Stanley Spencer RA. While here, I visited The Stanley Spencer Gallery – a delightful little gallery that houses many of his most famous works, many of which feature Cookham itself. Spencer described Cookham as a “village in Heaven.” He painted biblical scenes set in modern times, casting his friends and neighbours as saints and patriarchs, all against the familiar streets and corners of the village. If you’re a Spencer fan, like me, you can wander around Cookham and play a game of “Spot the Spencer.”

Time for some painting

After visiting the gallery, I decided to start a painting of my own. As it happened to be the hottest day of the year, my subject matter was determined largely by the availability of shade. I chose Holy Trinity Church—not only is it a beautiful building, but it also offers plenty of shade and is the final resting place of Spencer himself. At the entrance to the churchyard, you’ll find the grave he shares with his first wife, Hilda. Curiously, it does not include his second wife, Patricia, to whom he was still married when he died – but that is a bit of a mad a story in itself.

You can purchase this oil painting here

You can purchase this painting as a limited edition print here

I found the shade of a large tree and set to work. Over a couple of hours, I built up the basic tones and the main structure of the painting, finishing the finer details later back in my studio.

From there, I headed down to the river to cool off. Across the water, I spotted some rather swish, eye catching  buildings. This time, I opted for watercolour. By afternoon, a welcome breeze drifted across the river, making it a pleasure to sit and throw a bit of paint around.

Once finished, I felt the piece had potential, so I later worked it up into an oil painting in the studio.

You can purchase this oil painting here

You can purchase this painting as a limited edition print here

I had a wonderful time in Cookham over those couple of days, and I’ll certainly be returning. If you ever find yourself in the area, do visit The Stanley Spencer Gallery—you won’t regret it.