Bluebells at Eagles Creek. Memories of Skye. Bluebells seem darker than in Yorkshire, and the flowering season is very long there, they were still opening at the end of June. I love those trees. Lots of lichen too, which show the air is pure. And when you step out of the woods, there are those BIG skies, with ever changing clouds… (love Skye). I’ve been working on this between commissions. It does capture the feel of the little woods on EaglesCreek Croft. At one point I thought it was finished and I took the painting outside to photograph it. The sun suddenly came out and shone through leaves onto the painting. I realised then that was the effect I wanted, so it went back to the studio for some reworking. Serendipity, always love it.

It is a wonderfully warm summer in Yorkshire this year, but rain or shine, I paint. Here is my latest commission, just finished.

Here is a little watercolour painting which was sold through The Geallery in Grosmont, last month. Dancing with stars. Although I paint mostly landscapes, I sometimes wander into imaginative imagery, influenced no doubt, by the illustrated fairy tales which inspired me to draw and paint.

Here are two other watercolour paintings of my imaginary woods from the same year.


This much larger painting, in oils, which started out as a night time view of Runswick Bay, has a central tree rather than a forest, but then all trees are magical.

Here is the series of small watercolours I painted on the isle of Skye in June. The weather was (unexpectedly) good, and friendship was heartwarming.

Whitby Art Fair is this weekend, Saturday 30 June + Sunday 1 July 2018, at Whitby Spa, Whity, North Yorkshire. 10am til 4pm.
Lots of artists are taking part, including me. Sunny forecast, if you’re near Whitby, do drop in.
Sorry I haven’t updated recently, I’ve been working on commissions, and spent the last few weeks on Skye, I hope to find time to frame a few small watercolours I painted there before Whitby Art Fair.
PS. 3 July. Thank you to all those who came to see Whitby artists! See you again next year, or at Staithes Art Festival in mid September.

I’ve been reworking this painting. It was shown at Staithes art festival last year, but I felt it needed something so it waited patiently on my wall, instead of going to a gallery. In between commissions, I took the time to rework the sky and its reflection. Et voila.

May is probably the most flowered month in England. I hope you have found time to walk in the woods, bluebells and wild garlic have been wonderful. Here are two recent paintings.

My latest one, Sandsend. Started last month, interrupted while I flew to the South of France to see my father and brothers. Now I’m back, and the painting is finished.

And here is the latest commission. I’ve been thinking about it for several weeks, but finally painted it. My working title was Seaside Dragon…

This is my latest commission, Loftus Bluebell Woods, oil on stretched canvas, 50x70cm. Soon to be sent accross the big pond…
PS. 29 May. This painting is now in Canada.