Earlier this week, I took another small step toward my goal of inspiring the whole world to take up a bit of painting. Why do public speaking? I believe in putting down the phone, stopping the doomscrolling and picking up a pencil, some paper, and a bit of paint would do us all good. WithRead more…
Postman’s Park has always intrigued me. In the past, I would occasionally stumble upon this wonderful space while walking through the City of London. However, it was always by chance, and I could never locate it again. Its exact location—and even its name—remained a mystery. So, I was delighted earlier this year when a clientRead more…
The Creaky Shed is a local greengrocer that specializes in seasonal produce, offering many unusual and intriguing varieties. Its rustic interior evokes the charm of an old allotment shop, while its front displays are impressive enough to rival those at the Chelsea Flower Show. The painting is for sale here A limited edition print ofRead more…
The original painting of Clifton Nurseries in Maida Vale, London, measures 25cm x 27.5cm, and with the frame, it is 29cm x 31.5cm. You can buy a limited edition print of this painting here While working another job in Maida Vale, London, I was walking back to Warwick Avenue tube station. Part of myRead more…
Sign up to my newsletter here to enter a free draw to win my signed, original painting of Rocky Mountain Nurseries, Somerset worth £160, This painting is 29cm x 20cm, signed & mounted on acid-free card. Newsletter sent 8th-August-24 . I look forward to your sign up in the box on this page. There willRead more…
Since I’ve been creating videos about my paintings, a very long list has developed and as painting allotments is something I’ve always done and always really enjoyed, I’m really pleased that finally, this subject has come to the top. A set of six Greetings cards You can buy this set of greetings cards hereRead more…
You can buy a limited edition print of The Caravan here. A fictional scene based on the many traveller caravans situated around the foot of Glastonbury Tor in Somerset. At it’s core, the painting is a celebration of the idea that happiness is about fulfilling and celebrating our needs rather than the mere accumulation ofRead more…
In this blog I am going to talk about my exhibition from the 14th of April to the 16th of June 2023 at The Crown pub in Pilton, Somerset. Pilton is also the place that I’m fortunate enough to call home so I didn’t have to travel far with my paintings for a change. SeeRead more…
I was asked to paint a watercolour painting of Clissold House in Hackney, East London. Though London is often perceived as a sprawling metropolis, it is also blessed with an abundance of public parks and open spaces. Many of these began life as private country estates with Clissold House and park being an example. Clissold House (originallyRead more…
I was delighted to learn that my painting ‘A bee in a country allotment’ (yes, there is a bee in there) has been selected for The New English Art Club’s (NEAC) Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in Central London between 23 June to 2 July 2022. You can buy a limited edition printRead more…
During the lockdowns, I decided to embark on a large project based in my home village of Pilton, Somerset. I mused over a few ideas but finally settled on the village allotment. You can buy a limited edition print of the painting here Over the years I have painted many allotments, some real locations andRead more…
I often get asked to paint book and magazine covers, but rarely whole books. When books do come along its difficult to guess what they might be, so I was much intrigued when asked to illustrate a book on cultivating mushrooms. My knowledge of mushrooms I have to say that I know absolutely nothing aboutRead more…
Occasionally I get asked to paint client homes, and last year I was pleased to be asked to paint a family home in Warrington, Cheshire. This property is about 200 miles from my home in Somerset but, as I also had jobs booked in Liverpool and Salford at the same time, I decided to bookRead more…
When the first lockdown hit, obviously I could not get out and about like I used to, so I had to come up with a solution that included a bit of exercise that might prevent me turning into a bit of an old hermit. My solution was to take up regular exercise and, to keepRead more…
I was asked to paint a small allotment in the village of Fonthill Bishop. This modest village is about nine miles from the Wiltshire town of Warminster. It may go unnoticed but for the Fonthill Park Estate. Fonthill Park Estate In one form or another, the Fonthill Park Estate goes back to 1533 and from 1830Read more…
I get asked to work all over the country but, for this commission, I did not have to go far as it was in the village of Pilton, Somerset where I live. See the final painting here The property looks as though it began as a modest farmhouse that over the years was enlarged dependingRead more…
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Lisa Grainger of The Times newspaper. Lisa explained that she was writing a feature about artists who take commissions on painting houses and requested that I contribute. I really enjoy doing house portraits, to me, they are not just straight architectural images, they are about the historyRead more…
When I used to commute through London, I would often see an allotment from the train window. It was quite a modest affair jammed between the track and a row of Victorian terraces pushing from behind. You can buy a limited edition print of the painting here I love allotments. They are one of theRead more…
Sign up to my newsletter and you can enter the free draw to win this signed limited edition print of an allotment worth £120. Details Unframed: 39cm x 21cm (not including the white boarder paper) giclee print. See below for Additional Information A bit about The Allotment show. The painting is based on an event at my mum’sRead more…
Sign up to my newsletter, and you can enter the free draw to win this original watercolour of two pieces of broccoli. About this watercolour Earlier this year, I was given a packaging commission. The idea being that I would paint a series of separate vegetables reflecting various ingredients. Each would then be montaged togetherRead more…
St John The Baptist Church, Pilton Village, Somerset. Grade 1 listed building. After growing up in the City of Portsmouth in Hampshire, I then moved to London. I lived in that mad bad and most thrilling city for near on 24 years. I still work mostly in London, though I now live in the delightfulRead more…
I am having an exhibition of my paintings, prints and drawings in my home village of Pilton, Somerset as part of ‘Somerset Art Works’. It is located in a lovely barn, and overlooks the Glastonbury Festival Pyramid stage which is a bit of a change from the big city. Do come along if you can,Read more…
You can buy a limited edition print of this tractor here I was asked to do this painting of a local scene here in the Somerset village of Pilton where I live. Although rather idealistic, it is fairly close to what the fields around my house are like. Long rolling hills separated by hedges, stretchingRead more…
See this painting larger by clicking here West Compton is a modest hamlet a few miles up the road and over the hill from the village of Pilton where I live. A local resident asked me to paint their home in oils. It is beautiful 18th century home with a lovely extension on the side,Read more…
Sign up to my newsletter and you can enter the free draw to win this preparatory pencil study. What is it? When I first came to live in Somerset from London I went to The Royal Bath and West Show. I never knew there were so many varieties of pig around. One of my favouriteRead more…
You can buy a limited edition print of this painting here I pulled into the near empty sea front car park in Dymchurch at about 9am. It wasn’t the best of weather to say the least. The sea was in a foaming, booming rage. I peered through my flapping wipers with dismay. The gale wasRead more…
You can buy a limited edition print of the painting here ‘I got it from a man I met in a pub!’ I was in the Barley Mow Pub in Shoreditch waiting for a friend of mine. After a short time he texted me explaining he would be late. Normally this is a bit ofRead 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…
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…
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 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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
I have recently finished another oil painting. ‘The Garden’. Oddly, all the plants are poisonous. You will find Hemlock (little sprigs of white flowers bottom left) among them. Socrates was forced to take Hemlock for upsetting his fellow Greeks. The daddy of them all however would be the Castor plant (the red one mid right).Read more…
I visited the Stanley Spencer Gallery the other week and like many artists I jammed my nose right up to the canvas to dissect the mysteries of technique and style. I noticed flecks of sky blue on the top of the leaves. It was pure blue and fairly strong as well. I stood back andRead more…
I am pleased to say that my recent work “Waiting’ successfully made it into the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition this year. (click on the image to view it larger) The opening event was an odd day. I expected to turn up at Burlington House, have a few glasses of wine with the great and theRead more…