Earlier this year, I was approached by the RSPB to paint a Redwing for their Autumn/Winter publication. As part of the commission, the RSPB also asked me to create an accompanying tutorial to show readers how to paint one themselves. It was an interesting project, as I don’t usually stop to think about how IRead more…
I got a call from two local farmers who wanted to commission a painting of several of their favourite animals. As a city person I know absolutely nothing about farms, in fact I find some farm animals a bit intimidating – especially the larger cows (and most of the smaller ones). I was chased byRead more…
Sign up to my newsletter to enter a free draw to win my signed, original painting of sheep in a field in Pylle, Somerset worth £150, This painting is 35cm x 22cm, signed & mounted on acid-free card. Newsletter sent 23th-Feb-23 I look forward to your sign up in the box on this page. ThereRead more…
Win this original painting of a fishmonger and Brill in Beer, Dorset worth £120. Sign up to my newsletter to enter the free draw This watercolour study of this fishmonger and a Brill fish is 25cm x 20cm and is signed, and mounted on acid-free card. The newsletter will be sent out on theRead more…
Win this original painting of a Saddleback pig and owner at The Royal Bath & West Show, Somerset worth £120. Sign up to my newsletter to enter the free draw This watercolour preparation study of a Saddleback pig and owner is 27cm x 18cm signed, and mounted on acid-free card. The newsletter will beRead 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…
Although I do go on location to paint, much of my time is spent inside the studio so it’s extremely easy to become unfit, not to mention to pile-on the pounds. Consequently, to keep fit and mobile, I like to get out and cycle a few times a week. To be honest with you,Read more…
BBC Countryfile Magazine contacted me again to produce another illustration based on using SmartPhones to track down, and conserve wildlife. Can technology bring us closer to nature? As a species, for the first time in our history, we have become networked. We carry phones. We check our status updates. We share videos of our friends andRead more…
I was contacted recently by someone who requested a painting of their house as a wedding gift for his bride to be. Painting peoples’ homes is something I do all the time so I was more than happy to help out and I agreed. I was also pleased with the building. A lovely thatched formerRead more…
Sign up to my newsletter and you can enter the free draw to win this preparatory pencil drawing. About this drawing While working on a painting in Commercial Road in Spitalfields, London I spotted this man, and his dog loping across the pedestrian crossing. I noted them down and saved them for an up andRead more…
Sign up to my newsletter and you can enter the free draw to win this preparatory pencil study. About this drawing I was drawing in Broadway Market in Hackney, London and noticed a man taking a photo of one of the buildings. He had a dog at his side, and this dog was craning its headRead 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…
Sometimes I am commissioned to illustrate something that I know absolutely nothing about. That said, however, you have to learn very fast when it comes to specialist subjects because the client is quick to point out all your howling errors. I was asked to illustrate three groups of fish in in three separate illustrations for ‘Pets atRead more…
About North Curry The village of North Curry is situated on a slight rise plumb in the middle of the dead flat expanse of the Somerset levels and Curry moor. Its advantageous position, above the annual flooding, makes it an ideal spot for habitation, so it’s no surprise that there has been a settlement hereRead more…
I was commissioned recently to paint four cats owned by one of my clients. Initially she just wanted simple portraits for the wall. I however wanted to give it a bit more and suggested we do something around their personalities and have them in individual chairs too to add a bit of interest. Once agreedRead 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…