I’ve just finished this one, and I’m rather pleased with it. I usually paint places I know, but this was painted as a commission, from a photograph.

It was just a photograph, but I liked the distant hills and there was a story which came with the image, and I thought it would be a challenge. I started thinking about it in May, and by June had a black and white underpainting.

Then it was summer, North Yorkshire Open Studios, going back to my roots in the South of France, enjoying the sun, finishing another commission, making jam till I ran out of empty jam jars…  But the thinking/incubating time is a very precious time indeed, and seems to lead to better work.

This is the finished piece. Oil on canvas, 30x90cm (12×36 inches).

My art tutor (from college over 20 years ago, but we have kept in touch) came to see me yesterday. He was keen to see what had happened to the striking black and white sketch. He was pleased. He said this may be one one of the paintings I’ll be remembered for. Praise indeed. (He doesn’t usually do praise, more constructive criticism, which is most useful).

I’ve really enjoyed painting commissions in the last year or two. They’ve been challenging, but rewarding, all different as the final image is a weaving of the patron’s ideas and mine. If you want to commission me for an oil painting, please give me 2 or 3 months. It seems to have worked so well for the last 2 commissioned oil paintings, and I don’t charge for the thinking/incubating time, just the painting time.

Sandsend. Mixed media (acrylics and oils), 50x70cm.

A few lines to tidy up, and then I think it’s finished. And when it is finished and dry, it will go to a gallery, and then maybe someone will see it and love it. I like galleries. The good ones provide a beautiful space for artists’ paintings, and friendly staff who know the artists and their work. But it’s not always easy. ArtsBank in Saltburn is closing down, and I went to collect my paintings from there at the weekend. It was a huge building, with hundreds of artworks from many artists, trying to bring art to Saltburn. It didn’t work, not enough people were buying art. Maybe it was too big. I like smaller galleries, and I hope they prosper.

NB. Meanwhile, someone I hadn’t seen for many years has found this website. So maybe this painting will not go to a gallery as there is someone who loves it already, someone in London who needs a bit of Yorkshire coast on their wall… wait and see…

I love summer, and its flowers. Here are some boxes I painted last week…

This weekend, 20 and 21 July, from 10am to 4pm, the first WHITBY ARTS TRAIL!   Venues in Whitby, Newholm and Loftus, come and meet the artists…

Thank you to all those who came to see my work during the open studios season. It was lovely to meet you.

Only 2 more days and the doors of artists studios will open again for the final weekend  throughout North Yorkshire. Last weekend was great, visitors came and showed interest in my work, some were old friends, some were new faces. The sun shone, flowers bloomed…If you want a reason to drive through the wonderful landscapes of North Yorkshire, look up www.nyos.org.uk , to find a list of all the artists selected for this event. If you come from the North, there’s a nice route along the coast, starting in Loftus, then to Staithes, East Barnby, and Whitby, going back through the moors via Egton Bridge, Glaisdale and Commondale. Or you could carry on down the coast via Robin Hood’s Bay and Staintondale, to visit artists in Scarborough… Wherever you are in North Yorkshire, you’ll find an artist near you. And maybe you’ll come and see me!

www.nyos.org.uk

The NYOS13 start tomorrow, over 120 selected artists open their doors to the public. Find out more by looking at the site: http://www.nyos.org.uk

We’ve been tidying our studios, sharpening our pencils, done risk assessment, and everything, and it starts in 12 hours. I hope you’ll visit some of the artists if you’re in North Yorkshire, this weekend and next weekend.

Finished. And they liked it. which is nice. great, really.

Now I’m preparing to open my space for the North Yorkshire Open Studios 2013. Next 2  weekends! 8/9 and 15/16 June. 10.30am to 5.30pm. 123 selected artists to visit throughout North Yorkshire, including me :  http://www.nyos.org.uk/Artist.aspx?id=115   So if you are in North Yorkshire, there will be artists opening their studio near you. Go and have a look!