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…)
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. (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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (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…)
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 (read 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 (read 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 (read 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 (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…)
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 (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…)
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…)