This time of year seems to be all about preparing for upcoming exhibitions. This year it starts with a group exhibition by Brigantia at The Station in Richmond (North Yorkshire) from 27th February to 26th March, and the North Yorkshire Open Studios Preview exhibition at Craven Arts House in Skipton from 21st March to 10th May. Then it will be time to prepare for the Open Studios 7th/8th & 14th/15th June.

Thank you to all of you who bought one of my artworks during the year. I hope they will bring you joy for decades. Thank you for every card, print or calendar, and especially for those who commissioned paintings. They are often a challenge, but one which I enjoy! 2024 was a tough year for many artists, but sales of cards, prints, calendars, and paintings, have kept the wolf from my door. Or to paraphrase Tom Holt, not so much kept him from my door, but at least allowed me to install a wolf-flap, so the beast can come in and out without causing too much trouble! (T. Holt, 1987, “Expecting Someone Taller”).

I do have a few calendars left, for anyone who hasn’t got one yet. Please contact me and I can post one to you. Thank you.

I hope you are having a good Christmas, with shelter and food, and friends.

North Yorkshire Open Studios is a great weekend for visiting artists throughout the county, whether you want to talk about art or techniques, discover that special painting for your wall, or simply look for gifts produced by artists. I’ll be taking part from Wold Pottery in Loftus, TS13 4HG, with Jill Christie (potter). Also in Loftus, you will find Emma Donoghue, who specialises in porcelain, and within 20 miles you will find other potters, painters, and glass artists. All selected artists and their locations can be found at Nyos.org.uk

The Open Studios start on 1st of June. This year over 170 artists have been selected, so there will be an artist near you, if you’re in North Yorkshire. The full list of artists, details and map can be found at nyos.org.uk

I will be taking part from Wold Pottery in Loftus, TS13 4HG. I will be there for the weekends of 1&2 and 8&9 June, from 10am to 5pm. You can come and chat about art and you will see some of my oil painting on canvas, as well as some new work including pastels and watercolours. And of course you will also see Jill Christie’s pottery workshop.

Feel free to contact me if you’d like a private viewing during the week (please phone 01287 643030).

The Brigantia exhibition at The Bath House, RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate is currently under way and runs until the 9th of June.

While it is still January, I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year! Thank you to all those of you who have bought my artwork throughout 2023. You have been amazing, whether you bought a few cards, a print, a calendar or a painting. And a huge thank you to those of you who have commissioned a painting (or more than one!). Commissions have been so diverse and interesting this year, I’ve really enjoyed creating those archival memories for you.

So here’s to 2024! I’ve been working on a commission since early January, which is a brilliant start of my year. There will be the North Yorkshire Open Studios preview at Danby Inspired-by Gallery starting on the 10th of February (running until12 May), a Brigantia exhibition at The Station in Richmond (29 February to 27 March), another Brigantia exhibition at Harlow Carr in Harrogate (10 May to 9 June), and the North Yorkshire Open Studios on the first two weekends in June (1+2 and 8+9 June). And of course I’m open for commissions, if there is a special painting you would like me to create for you…

I hope you all had a good Christmas!