Blog

Spring Mists

Apr 19, 2019

Spring Mists

There are all sorts of things that influence me when I'm choosing the colours I am going to work with. The influence behind this painting was the planning for one of my workshops where I was wanting to use some contrasting / warm / cold colours for people to experiment with. I was drawn to a number of already mixed greys which is quite unusual for me as I do tend to want to mix my own greys generally but these lilac / blue / greys in this painting really got my attention and have worked so well with the Senellier Chinese Orange.
As if the day...

Feb 27, 2019

As if the day...

My time for painting is very limited so when I do get a couple of days completely free I like to scale up and let loose on a large pieces of Arches paper.

I'm not really sure where the inspiration for this painting came from other than the dark autumnal colours; it isn't a scene that I recognise. Sometimes a painting just comes about because of the colours that I want to use and I was really wanting to create a large scale imposing clouds scene. 

Making cold wax medium

Feb 12, 2019

Making cold wax medium

Since I started using the cold wax medium with oils I have always bought it off the shelf, ready made. I was aware you could make your own but the idea of heating up solvents wasn't really on my bucket list. However spending 2018 teaching the use of cold wax medium I thought it was about time to experiment and really get to know the medium a little more. 

Saltaire Arts Trail 2017

Jun 27, 2017

Saltaire Arts Trail 2017

So Saltaire Arts Trail has been and gone for another year.  A big thank you to all of you who were able to make the event, especially friends and family who came to provide support, cake and for taking us to the pub at the end of each day. If you didn't get chance to visit us then here's a lit...
Bradford Open Exhibition

Jun 22, 2017

Bradford Open Exhibition

So no longer had the RBSA exhibition finished and I was off to the Bradford Open show.  Bradford being my home town and Cartwright Hall being a stone's throw away from Saltaire,  I was very pleased to find that I had one of my oil and cold wax paintings selected for this open competition. When I ...
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA)

Jun 20, 2017

The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA)

Oh what an exciting month June has been for me.  Firstly it is my birthday month... which as I become older I always manage to string the celebrations out over a week or so!  Secondly it has been a grand month for exhibition openings and closings.... yes an exhibition closing is a new one to me b...