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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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, (read 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. (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (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 (read 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 (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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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. Framed paintings for sale 2011(7.5 mg pdf) Mounted Paintings for sale 201 (2.5mg pdf) Exhibitions I have been involved in a few exhibitions (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 & (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (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 (read 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 (read more…)