It is a while since I've been out into the NW corner of Cumbria so I decided on a Sunday jaunt out to the Solway plains. I have a solo show in the Shipping Brow Gallery called Both Sides of the Solway in October so I'm re-exploring the area again. I've already painted most of the Pevsner buildings in this region but still one or two to do and...
My experience as a wildcard artist on Landscape Artist of the year. To be a wildcard you must first apply to be a pod artist. You need to fill in an application form with a photo of yourself and photos of at least two pieces of your best work. I received a reply saying although I was not successful I could apply to be a wild card. You are off...
A chilly start but a beautiful drive through the Lakes to Penrith with clear blue skies. First stop Rheged for coffee time with friend, Joyce. Then into the Everest exhibition, a history of the men and women who have conquered the mountain. Some interesting paintings, photographs and memorabilia particularly of The Mallory and Irvine expedition whe...
Rachel, Nanette and I managed to paint on site whilst we were there and Nanette also managed some gardening. The workshops were all very well received. At the same time I managed to get out and about to visit others on the trail. My framers in Brampton were part of the trail because upstairs is situated, the Gallery North West. On my re...
Florence Arts Centre is my venue for open studios. Every year in September, Eden Valley Artistic Network creatle a brochure of artists in north and west Cumbria. Over two weeks and three weekends artists open their own studios or gather in churches or community venues to show art and skills. Two years ago Nanette Madan joined me, last year we were ...
We are now a few weeks in to my exhibition in The Tolbooth in Kirkcudbright. This year it spans the Arts and Craft Trail. With nearly 140 contributors, there is so much to see. We decided to book into our favourite hotel over the weekend to experience the atmosphere. The first thing we noticed when we arrived on Friday was how busy it was. Usually ...
How I love to receive a book token and I was delighted to get one for my recent birthday, and a special big one it was. I was picking up my art work from the New Bookshop, where it had been displayed in the window as part of Meanders, a wonderful annual exhibition of artist's work in the windows of shops in Cockermouth. I had chosen my paintin...
So excited to be back in Kirkcudbright for my second exhibition in the Tolbooth. We arrived as the Gallery and Museum was opening and quickly unpacked and began to hang the work. It has a wire and track system that is easy to use. This time I have paintings of the wider area of Dumfries and Galloway as well as the street views of Kirkcudbrigh...
Here are the paintings I have done of buildings in Carlisle.
Here are the paintings I have completed of buildings in Gosforth.
What a surprise to receive a phonecall from Paul Mooney, the weatherman from BBCs Look North. And what an honour to be asked to be the guest judge in the weather photography competition to choose the May picture to go into the Children in Need Calendar. My immediate thought was that we'd just had one of the biggest weather events in 20 years ...
It seems ages ago that Mrs Alderson asked if I would go into Beckermet School for their Arts Week and do some art work with the children. The brief was to do art work based on the local area. I had a great idea for a project for a village school using the beautiful poetry book by Michael and Clare Morpurgo. I suggested that rather...
There are some interesting buildings in the area. Here are some of the paintings I have done in the area. The Sawmill is a great place to eat and relax. There are some pretty white cottages and stone cottages, the alpine looking lodge of Stanley House and a couple of super pubs. The Mill at Boot is well worth a visit. Why not ...
On Sunday afternoon as the gallery closed for another week, five female artists from west Cumbria descended on the gallery to put up an exhibition called Telling Stories. It took us about two and a half hours to put up the exhibitions with a little help from James and Dave. We were very pleased with the outcome. The work is of a high st...
When I managed to get an exhibition slot in the Tolbooth in Kirkcudbright last November, I travelled up in my van in the late summer and spent three days photographing and painting the buildings in the town. This year I returned to paint more buildings in the wider area of Dumfries and Galloway. My next exhibition in the Tolbooth will be in J...
Here are the paintings I have done of Beckermet. I got a very warm welcome from the community and enjoy the tea and coffee drop ins at the Reading Rooms.
Here are some of my Cockermouth paintings. If you see something you like, get in touch. Some of the paintings are sold but they are scanned and can be reproduced as giclee prints.
I'm sharing my pen and watercolour paintings in a series of blogs. The full list will shortly be on my website. Use my contact details if you see any you would like to purchase. First are some of my Whitehaven paintings. Many of the originals have been sold but all have been scanned and can be printed.