"The painting and nature has been a lifeline"

I have to apologise for writing this blog so late! I returned from France at the end of July with 33 kilos of luggage having experienced 3 seasons! My main concern was for the paintings to arrive safely and fortunately there were no leakages! It was hard to imagine when I left the UK in early March in the midst of the flooding nightmare, that I would be away for 5 months. The painting and nature has been a lifeline.

 I watched with interest the growth and development of the sunflower crops and was finally rewarded by standing in amongst them mixing my yellows and gold palette. The landscape was lit up by the dazzling yellow heads in all their various shapes and sizes.

 One memorable day, in the midst of painting a landscape behind a tall hedge, I was interrupted by an unusual sound and decided to go and investigate. As I peered round the hedge I came face to face with a tall Frenchman wearing a straw hat with a canister of weed killer on his back and various pumps. I don't know who was more surprised but was greatly relieved when he said he would return the next day to finish the job!

Painting in 34 C degrees was quite challenging and I was getting through the paint at the rate of knots. I was very taken with a Renault van which I was told was 61 years old the same age as the owner of a local vineyard. I loved the subtlety of the grey paint work.

I departed from Toulouse airport and arrived back in the UK to a grey sky and massive drop in temperature. I plunged myself back into the Shropshire life and spent some idyllic days painting harebells in a friend's meadow. It was a joy to see the variety of garden flowers and not to mention a favourite of mine, nasturtiums. I was fortunate enough to paint at Wild Bunch, cut flower company. https://wildbunchflowers.co.uk/order-flowers/

 Since then I am currently taking part in a mixed exhibition at Red Dot Gallery in Painswick, runs until the 1st November: https://reddotpainswick.co.uk

 I will be taking part in the Open Art Exhibition at Ludlow from 31st October until the 22nd November 2020.

 https://www.theartistsgalleryludlow.co.uk

Cherries & Orchids

Welcome to my blog and thank you for your interest in my work.

A few changes since April, mainly that lockdown ended here in France on the 4th May and I moved to a new area. I'm now living in the Tarn region,  reminiscent of Tuscany with rolling hills,  vineyards and crops. I'm staying temporarily at Puech Blanc (gites), friends of mine I've known for 30 years. 

The visual highlights of May were the cherries and orchids.....no pesticides used here! A visual feast and fortunately I had enough paint to mix those glorious tones of black crimson and bright scarlet for the cherries. 

I spent a few days painting the house, extremely challenging getting the shadows and light of the stone in 30 degrees and no shade.

As the house is off the beaten track I walked miles in the local neighbourhood, through vineyards and along dirt tracks....often getting lost. The  verges are alive with butterflies and insects, alliums and scented broom.

I've adjusted to walking up into a field in order to make a phone call due to internet set up, often losing the connection and walking in circles until re connected! 

I'm watching with anticipation the growth of the sunflowers which should be in full bloom end of July. I will have to ensure I have plenty of yellow paint. One disaster recently was when I finally received my paint order from the UK (7 weeks) with only 4 tubes of gouache instead of 20 tubes! 

This month I'm planning to sell small originals from my website.

Wishing you all well.

A Golden Day

Awoke to hard frost and blue sky, very good weather forecast for the day.

Packed the rucksack with art materials and various bottles of water and set off to the beauty spot I discovered earlier in the week. Drove for 12 kms round hairpin bends, my first experience of driving in this part of France, plenty of deep breaths.

Arrived in hamlet and walked for five minutes before entering a wooded track...clambered under a fence into the glade. The local church bell ringing...sat on a bank amidst the wood anemones next to a fast flowing stream in full sunshine, birds singing. I couldn't wait to remove my socks and start mixing the paint, enjoying the subtle violet pinks of the petals.

I managed to forget my hat so made a makeshift one out of two sheets of kitchen roll! The odd butterfly flew past my nose, Brimstone and Orange tip, exquisite.

I painted undisturbed for a blissful five hours feeling incredibly fortunate and joyful.

Still Life with a Black Background

Monday 23rd March 2020, Pyrenees

It's hard to imagine the changes that have taken place in "our world" since writing my last blog. I am still the same person who lives and breathes colour, just in another reality.

I'm experiencing "lockdown" along with billions of other people, the sudden restrictions on where I can go and what I can do. The simple act of shopping has taken on a new regime whereby I am required by French law to fill out an official form indicating my movements when I leave the house. I was so nervous the first time, I forgot my shopping bag and found myself smiling at people as if to reassure myself I'm still human being. 

Despite struggling to concentrate after reading various text messages about the horrors of the virus, I plunged myself into my painting. I set up a still life of flowers and decided on a black background adding a little spectrum violet. I felt the longing to do large painting, however I only have small watercolour blocks with me. 

My fridge has taken on a new look with the shelves stacked with palettes. I'm taking each moment as it comes and enjoying the Spring and dawn chorus....I have the odd panic attack of running out of paint...forget loo rolls! 

I wish anyone reading this love, health and inspiration. 

The Joy of Flowers - Talk at Pegasus Art

Join me for an illustrated talk and colour mixing demonstration ‘The Joy of Flowers’ on Saturday 24th April 2021 at Pegasus Art.

Time: 2 - 5pm

Tickets are £8 and are available to purchase online HERE.

Location: Attic Studios, Pegasus Art, Stroud, Glos GL5 2AZ

Kindly sponsored by St Cuthberts Mill

I was delighted to be asked to give a talk and colour mixing demonstration at Pegasus Art using my favourite Winsor & Newton gouache on Saunders Waterford paper, made by St. Cuthberts Mill. They kindly gave me two large watercolour pads to take with me on my travels to the Pyrenees and are sponsoring this event. Incredibly, they have been paper makers since 1700’s in their beautiful mill in Somerset. There will be paper samples to admire and take home at the talk.

I’ll be talking about my work as a colourist for the Liberty Design Studio and will share my experience of modernising the 19th century designs from the archives held in the head office, London W1. Connected to Liberty’s flagship building by a wooden bridge, the unique in-house studio is occupied by 18 highly skilled creatives who re-work and hand-draw artwork, creating over 250 fabric designs every year.

Enjoy a colourful slideshow exploring classic Liberty designs and the ‘Colour Bible’ that I used to produce multiple colourways. I’ll talk about the materials and techniques I learnt and still use in my work today, particularly colour combinations and bold palettes. There will be a chance to buy some of my giclee prints (prices start at £75) and greetings cards (£3 each or packs for £18) on the day.

As a fashion textiles graduate my first commission was a rug for The Conran Shop, quickly followed by a four year stint in the Liberty Design Studio. Since then my flower paintings have been exhibited at many galleries both private and public including the RWA, Bath Society of Artists and the Thelma Hubert Gallery. From 2000 I spent five years living in the Netherlands surrounded by tulips, an irresistible landscape for a plein air painter which deepened my love for colour.

In 2016 I was delighted to win first prize for ‘Flowers & Blue Jug’ at the Strand Gallery in London; an event sponsored by the Greenfingers Charity. There is much to look forward to in 2020 and beyond and I continue to paint every day.