Allotment pencil visual sketch

Initial pencil drawings for an allotment picture

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…

Drawing of County Hall, London

Drawing London in January

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…

Watercolour of a Vespa Scooter

A watercolour of A Vespa and Rider

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…

images for sale

A Christmas present from me and big thank you

A big thank you! As it’s coming to the end of the year I thought I would take the opportunity to extend a big thank you to everyone who bought my work, commissioned a piece or indeed just passed on encouragement, whether it be face to face or via whatever social network is your particularRead more…

A painting of the view from battery park

I am exhibiting at this year’s Affordable Art Fair in Battersea 2012, London.

I am exhibiting at this year’s Affordable Art Fair in Battersea, London. ‘The Affordable Art Fair is returning to London this Autumn, with a feast of contemporary art from £40 – £4,000. With Battersea Park with over 100 galleries, finding the perfect artwork has never been simpler or more fun’ Would like a free ticketRead more…

Final Goodwood Painting

An oil painting commission of ‘Glorious Goodwood’ racecourse

Last year I was approached to paint a picture of ‘Glorious Goodwood’ in West Sussex, England. This being one of the UK’s premier rececourses. It was a large and complicated composition so I thought I would write a quick blog on my journey along the way.   The first step was to get to theRead more…

St Johns College Cambridge

An exhibition of Oil and watercolour paintings at Addenbrooke Hospital in Cambridge – 1st of August to 26th of September

  I am pleased to say I have an exhibition of Oil and watercolour paintings with ‘Addenbrooke’s Arts’ at Addenbrooke Hospital in Cambridge. From the 1st of August to 26th of September “Addenbrooke’s Arts enhances the hospital environment for patients, visitors and staff, by lifting the spirit and bringing pleasure through an innovative, stimulating andRead more…

A profile and scrapbook about me

My illustrators agent IllustrationX have out a quick scrapbook together about me and my work. They asked a number of questions and a selection of which they posted on their site. If you have five minutes spare than do have a look.  

Illustration web image

I have recently joined the Illustrationweb Illustration agency

I have recently joined the IllustrationX Illustration agency. They are a great bunch of people and have offices in London, New York, Paris, Hamburg and Shanghai.   “We have been representing leading illustrators since 1929 which makes us the world’s most established illustration agency”   I am really looking forward to working with them andRead more…

I am featuring in June’s Artist & Illustrators magazine

When I popped over to The Royal Academy of Arts to deliver this year’s hopeful painting for the Summer Exhibition I was interviewed by a Journalist from ‘Artists & Illustrators magazine’.   I never thought much of it, though I have discovered that they have given me a small bit of room on page fiveRead more…

We have moved from London to Pilton

After 23 years in London we have finally decided to move out to the country. We are now living in the Somerset village of Pilton, the home of the Glastonbury festival. They tell me we have free tickets for life. Now that’s not bad.   It’s a fine location for a painter as it’s onlyRead more…

Pork Pie

I painted a pork pie

During the Christmas break I made a vast Pork Pie and filled it with six eggs and half a pint of pork stock jelly.   Once completed I sliced out a great hunk and painted the remainder. Looking at the final piece it has ‘Country Farm house’ written all over it.   The truth couldRead more…

Yearly Roundup 2011

I have written a quick round up of this year.   Some of the articles link to blogs in the site if you wish to see more detail. Exhibitions I have been involved in a few exhibitions and was lucky enough tofeature again in The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition in London. It’s always a unique pageantRead more…

Painting of North Parade Bridge, Bath

I sold my watercolour painting at The Bath Prize

I am very pleased to hear this very dull Monday morning that my painting I entered in The Bath Prize had sold at the auction on Friday. A tricky competition to do as they choose where you paint. It is of ‘North Parade Bridge’ which would not have been my first choice by a longRead more…

Affordable art fair paintings

Preparing for the Affordable Art Fair, Battersea (AAF)

The last few weeks and it seems like months, have been wholly swallowed up preparing for the Affordable Art Fair. I am surprised how much work it turned out to be in the end. The invitations have been written and sent, all the bills have been paid, the labels have been produced and trimmed out.Read more…

Grayson Perry, The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman – A Layman’s Point of View

  6 October 2011 – 19 February 2012 at The British Museum ‘This is a memorial to all the anonymous craftsmen that over the centuries have fashioned the manmade wonders of the world… The craftsman’s anonymity I find especially resonant in an age of the celebrity artist.’ Grayson Perry RA, Turner Prize winner   TheRead more…

I am exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair, Battersea (AAF)

I  am exhibiting at this year’s Affordable Art Fair in Battersea, London.   Over the years the AAF have generated a unique, buzzy and informal atmosphere with dozens of galleries selling their works all for less than £4,000. There is also a wide range of activities for all ages so there is plenty to doRead more…

Drawing and painting at the Royal Hospital. The home of the Chelsea Pensioners

  The powers that be were kind enough to allow me in to the allotments at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.   A bit about the hospital The Royal Hospital was founded by fun loving so called “merry monarch” King Charles II in 1681 for soldiers of good conduct who were no longer fit forRead more…

‘The Plein Air Brotherhood’ at The A & K Wilson Gallery in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

The Inaugural Exhibition of The Plein Air Brotherhood

Last night I dared to venture out of my London manor to The Inaugural Exhibition of ‘The Plein Air Brotherhood’ at The A & K Wilson Gallery in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. ‘The Plein Air Brotherhood’ are A new group of talented artists and like minded souls who enjoy the considerable challenges of painting in the greatRead more…

Painting of Abney Road Cemetery, Hackney, London

A quick watercolour tour of Hackney

I have over the years painted my neighborhood, The London Borough of Hackney.  Hackney could well be the most famous borough in the country and despite its often insalubrious reputation there is still something of the ‘Exciting reckless friend’ about it. Even big international brands have recognised the ‘outsider’ reputation and attempted to buy intoRead more…

I am a ‘Featured Artist’ on the Creative Finder Newsletter and Website

More good news. Creative finder have also decided to make me a featured artist in their newsletter and on their home page too. It’s a really great site to be on and offers excellent opportunities for commissioning work and for other curative’s to see and appreciate the work of their peers.   [contentblock id=1]  

watercolour of lourdes

Part 1: A painting trip to the French Pyrenees

I recently visited the French Pyrenees for a painting trip. It’s a wonderful place, and along with the paintings I took some time to write a small journal for this blog.  Thanks for reading.   Our landing at Lourdes Of course the most famous thing about this modest Pyrenees town, the thing that absolutely everyoneRead more…

Part 2: A painting trip to the French Pyrenees

Luz-St-Sauveur See part 1 I was very glad to get to Luz-St-Sauveur. The day was hot and the car was dry. Luz-St-Sauveur is a lovely pre medieval village sitting at the bottom of a valley on the lip of the Pyrenees National Park and all the views you can eat and mountains all around. AsRead more…

I am the ‘Featured Artist’ on the Winsor & Newton July 2011 Newsletter

I am pleased to say that Winsor & Newton have paid me the honour of being their featured artist on their July 2011 Newsletter. I have never won a beauty parade before (not even on Monopoly) and am blushing as I type. I have heard there are 1,000’s of artist on the database too whichRead more…

Exhibiting for another year at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition

June 7th -15th August 2011 I am happy to say my painting ‘Lazy Afternoon’ was selected for this year’s Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition. This year being the third year in a row.   When I was first selected I was surprised to discover  that on the Varnishing day you are not immediately allowedRead more…

Brick Lane and Sclater Street– Watching over the Big Society

This painting is availabe as a limited edition print I have just finished an oil painting of Brick Lane Market. Well technically it is Sclater Street although most people will know it as part of the Brick Lane market. It’s just tucked around the corner a wee bit. Blink and you’ll miss it. It isRead more…

painting of Cookham

A painting in Cookham

This kind of painting is not really my sort of thing (it has a sky in it). Though as it was sunny and I was ‘between paintings’ so to speak I decided to pop over to the village of Cookham in Berkshire to do some traditional outdoor (plein-air) work. I got to Cookham at aboutRead more…

watercolour of street in Havana street

Watercolour paintings from a recent trip to Cuba

First thoughts on Havana This painting is available as a limited edition print Imagine taking the wonderful, captivating, exciting architecture of Fortnum and masons’ in London’s Mayfair, emptying it out, then leaving it to rot for 30 years and finally moving a pound shop in. That’s what almost the whole of Havana is like. IRead more…

I am working on an oil painting of Brick Lane.

Well technically it is Sclater Street although most people will know it a part of Brick Lane market. Brick Lane Click on the image to see it larger Like any area in transition there are quite distinctive parts. On the south side can be found the Bengali community who replaced the Jewish community, and inRead more…

watercolour of sardines

Threadneedle disaster at Southend-on-Sea and Clacton-on-Sea

At the weekend I went to Southend-on-Sea and Clacton-on-Sea to paint something for the Threadneedle Prize. I was most excited and planned it for weeks. This over planning was the beginning of the as yet unseen problem. In my ferment I had it all done it in my head first before checking the places out.Read more…

Oil Painting of an allotment

finished oil painting of a family allotment

In a previous blog or two i went through the process of how i build a painting up from the drawing stage. Since that time i have painted the picture and it sits below. You may notice there are a few changes since the initial  drawing. I have taken out the landscape at the backRead more…

Modern British Sculpture at the Royal Academy of Arts – A laymans point of view

It all started with that latrine, you know the one, originally cast to be just another receptacle in the privies of Paris. Then in 1917 it was re-cast by Duchamp to take centre stage in a revolution. He signed it, interestingly not with own his name, and boldly declared that anything can be art. ThisRead more…

Drawing of an Allotment

The beginnings of an oil painting

I though I would blog the process I use in developing an oil painting. Initially it begins with a very simple idea or message. This is often very loose and oddly for a painter who paints a lot of architecture the characters can come first. These are often based on people who I have metRead more…

drawing of a church in Bath

Drawings for the Bath Art Prize

We went to Bath over the new year and I took time out to get wrapped up and get a few sketches together as a spot of pre planning for the Bath Art Prize in the summer. I am not sure which one i shall do yet. I think I will go back in the spring toRead more…

Oil painting of Whitechapel Road

london seen – nine man show 10 January – 10 February 2011

At the LLEWELLYN ALEXANDER (Fine Paintings) LTD London I have a water colour exhibition at the Llewellyn Alexander in Waterloo. All six are scenes of London. Do pop along if you have the time. Chase away the January blues! “Familiar and unusual scenes of London by this group of nine well-established artists: Dianne Branscombe, RoyRead more…

Christmas Cracker 2010 exhibition at Byard Art in Cambridge

An inspirational Christmas collection of paintings, sculptures, original prints, ceramics, glass, textiles, craft and exclusive jewellery will be on show in the gallery. I will be showing three paintings at the show (see two below) and the opening times are: Byard Art, Cambridge Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm & Sunday 11am – 4pm ClosedRead more…

A christmas show at Panter and Hall 2010

When I plan my paintings of the gardens, allotments and such I often do small studies for reference. Secondly i have begun to collect those dreadful discarded ornaments that are found in charity shops. I suspect these are just picked up in house clearances and handed to the shops en masse. They all have aRead more…

William Cashmore recalls his family’s annual trip to Sutton-on-Sea

William Cashmore recalls his family’s annual trip to the Lincolnshire coast The end of an era this year for the Cashmore family. My mother sold her holiday house in Sutton on Sea, a small, unassuming seaside place (not resort) in Lincolnshire. From 1956 onwards we went there every year. Many of my contemporaries had theirRead more…

A painting of Whitechapel High Street

An oil painting of the Whitechapel Road

This painting is available to buy as a limited edition print This is the Whitechapel Road in East London. I have painted this scene a number of times and i am still drawn to it. A street like this will at first site appear static, unchanging. Though on closer observation you notice it is inRead more…

An oil painting in sutton-on-sea

I have recently been commissioned to paint a scene in Sutton-On-Sea. The client’s mother used to own a house in the town though she is now too elderly to visit so he thought a painting which would recall many a happy holiday would make a nice present for her. I had never heard of Sutton-On-SeaRead more…

Oil painting of an allotment fair

In the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition for another year in 2010

Really pleased that the Royal Academy has again accepted one of my paintings for The Summer Exhibition. And I am happy to say it has sold before the opening. This allotment by the sea may seem fantasy though the site is not entirely fictitious. It is based on my mum’s allotment in Portsmouth which is locatedRead more…

Caravan in Snowdonia

A painting visit to Betws Garmon, Snowdonia, Wales

I managed to do a few paintings on a short art break to Wales, staying in a tiny village at the foot of Mount Snowdon, Betws Garmon. An idyllic place. Of course you had a view of the perfect mountain range from the front door step, in addition, however, you are also provided with a clearRead more…

Wartercolour of Great Suffolk Street

Watercolour and oil painting exhibition in London

Latest news. I have an exhibition entitled London Scene, A Capital Exhibition at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in waterloo. Exhibiting both watercolour and oil paintings. From the 11 January – 10 February 2010. Gallery Open 10am to 7:30pm Monday to Saturday: 124 -126 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LN UK (Opposite the Old Vic Theatre)Read more…

I have an article in the guardian regarding “stop and search” watercolouring

See the article here Taking a photograph in a public place has become the quickest way to attract police attention, as increasing numbers of photographers can verify. But now it has emerged that anti-terrorism officers are uneasy about a far less sophisticated piece of surveillance technology: the watercolour brush and canvas. Liam O’Farrell, an artistRead more…

watercolour of silvertown Sugar Factory

I have a letter in the guardian on friday 18th december 2009

I was stopped and searched twice near London City airport – for watercolouring! I was not even facing the airport. I was painting the Tate and Lyle sugar factory opposite. They said they saw me on a camera and thought that “no one would want to paint a factory”. I explained that LS Lowry didRead more…

Allotment Fair Drawing

The allotment fair drawing

am currently working on an oil painting and the preparatory drawing is above. The painting is based on an event at my mum’s allotment. As the growing season nears its end the members organise an “Allotment show”. Quite a jovial affair. They pitch a large marquee, have a jumble sale and sell cake. At leastRead more…

A water colour painting of Borough Market

Three watercolours sold on the first day

All good news that three of my six paintings have sold on the first day of the exhibition at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in waterloo. One of which is featured above. It is of the bridges above Bourough Market. When i was painting it every second person kept telling me “That pub was in BridgetRead more…

Oil painting of a garden

Art exhibition in Waterloo, London

Latest news I have an eight man show at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in waterloo. Exhibiting both watercolour and oil paintings. It starts on the 8 – 28 November 2009. Private view on Wednesday 4th 2009. Gallery Open 10am to 7:30pm Monday to Saturday: 124 -126 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LN UK (Opposite theRead more…