Happy Days!

Its been a while since I last posted. Ive been busy:-)

In February I went off to Udaipur in India to paint for two weeks with Ken Howard, Peter Brown, Tony Dakin , Patrick Cullen and David Bachman. We had a fantastic time ..but it was exhuasting. Tony, Pete and I all did over 50 oil paintings/Sketches. Painting amongst the chaos that is India was a fabulous and crazy experience, made even better by the fantastic company.
I have posted a few of my efforts below. Cant wait to returm..maybe next year!

Since returning I have been painting like crazy as I have a lot of work to do this year. I thought I would have an easy year as I have dropped out of most of the galleries that I was in just to concentrate on painting for paintings sake and to try and get better. However whilst I was in India I was invited to show in a mixed marine show in Cape Cod in August at Trees Place Gallery with my friend Don Demers and three others. So I have to get a dozen pictures to ship across the pond.

Then my great friend Tony decided to put on a show for the two of us in Cork Street in October. If anyone wants an invite let me know. We will both about 70 pictures each on show.

If that wasnt enough I have work in The Wapping Group show in September in Chris Beetles Gallery, Mayfair, The 3rd plein air Brotherhood show in A K Wilson Gallery, The Rye Society of Artists show and the Autumn Battersea art Fair with Habasco....no pressure then...and I still got to do my day job:-)  Dont think Im going to be able to kick my finger nail biting habit just yet...

I have lost nearly a stone in weight in last 4 weeks though thanks to a change in lifestyle and fantastic diet.. one and a half stone left to get rid of before I fit back into my old wedding suit..Thats it for now. Pictures posted below are from my Indian trip, weekends since back and last week in Cornwall

Across the boating lake Udaipur 12 x 16

The Chai Stop Udaipur 10 x 8

The Clock Tower 16 x 12

Kumbleghar Fort !0 x 8

Chantry, Lake Pichola 16 x 12

Early morning on market road, Udaipur 10 x 8

Auto rick study 12 x 12...paid this bloke 100 rupees fare to sit there and not drive off..£1.50  He thought I was nuts for sure:-)

Tony Painting..Takes spectators to a new level

Ken at work..How he has such energy at 80 I dont know..Felt privaledged to work with him again

Path through the Dunes 10 x 20

Moody day Rye harbour 12 x 16

Easter monday, Mousehole 12 x 16

Bossiney cliffs 22 x 28

Used my old french easel for this and was large by my standards for a plein air painting. Havent used my old french easel for two or three years but had to resort to it as my OBM was blown over two days before going to Cornwall
The palette was smashed badly and the ball head of my tripod was sheared clean off. I was really annoyed but actually it did me a favour as it meant I could try some bigger panels which I really enjoyed and I will be doing all summer now

Elephant Rock 20 x 20

Ive been visiting this place since I was 7 years old and it hasnt changed nor will it ever I doubt. Thought it would be simple to paint..how wrong I was:-(

RBA 2013

Just found out that my work has been selected for The Royal Society of Artists Annual Show again for the 5th year running. This year I have 3 works on show and Ive attached them below.

The show starts on 6th March. Before that Im off to India to paint for two weeks and I will be in celubrious company!  More to follow:-)



Snow shadows 12 x 16



Snow and Ice Fairfield 12 x 16



The pier, Cromer 12 x 16



venice 2012

Just got back form a fantastic week painting with friends in Venice. Like last year we rented Ken Howards studio in Cannaregio and myself , Chris Daynes, David Bachmann and Stuart Fullerton all had to put up with each others snoring. Although not an orgamnised trip there were also several other painting friends there at the same time, including Mike Richardson, Roy Connelly, David Pilgrim, Tim King, Haidee jo Summers, Valerie Pirlot, Sidney Foley and Eric?

We had really mixed weather, aqua alta, rain, a tiny bit of sun and the fog. Thefog was my absolute favourite and although difficult to paint provided us with a great atmosphere.
I did over 30 paintings/oil sketches and half filled a moleskin with sketches.. unfortunately I lost this on the trip back which was really annoying.

Next trip India in Feb..yippee..more to follow but will be in illustrious company!

Below are a few of my efforts..





grand canal from acadamia bridge 12 x 16







dusk venice 8 x 6



hospitale, afternoon sun 12 x 12

fish market study 8 x 6



winter venice 16 x212



aqua alta basilica 12 x 12

rialto 8pm 6 x 8

venetian boats 6 x 8

morning fog  10 x 8

First post for almost a year!

Well its been almost a year since I last posted..no idea where the time has gone. Ive been busy and had some great painting trips, not least going to Santorini with Ken Howard RA in May. That said I havent done any where near as much work as Id have liked . Had 4 days in Norfolk last week which was great and probably the most productive Ive been all year. It was an almost perfect trip apart from 1 wet day and the fact they I fell out with a good painter friend of mine without knowing how?..life strange sometimes.Ill try and post more regularly and keep this more up todate. Below Ive attached a few of the 24 plein air sketches I did in Norfolk.Lots  and lots of boats..but thats Norfolk! A couple of these pictures are among those that I have on exhibition at The Plein Air Brotherhoods second show at A K Wilson Gallery starting today. Link to show as follows;

http://www.akwilsongallery.co.uk/gallery/the_plein_air_brotherhood_2nd_annual_exhibition.php

7am Burnham overy Staith 6 x 8

8am Burnham Overy Staith 6 x 8





Afternoon light, Blakeney 12 x 16

At Rest 10 x 8...available for sale at A K WILSON GALLERY

Distant Mist Blakeney Point..painted in rain inside NT lookout hut

Blue boat study 6x8

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Tethered together 6 x 8

boat study 8 x 16

Ebb Tide Burnham Overy 12 x 16






Afternoon, Burnham Overy Staithes 12 x 16

last light Brancaster 6 x 8

early morning Burnham Overy 6 x 18



heading out Blakeney 6 x 10



setting sail 4 x 4 smallest quickest oil sketch Ive ever done!

Sun down Brancaster 6 x 8



Venice

In the fish market 6 x 8

Venetian statue and mask 10 x 8

Havent posted for ages as Ive had nothing to post..until now! Just returned from 4 wonderful days in Venice where I stayed with 3 friends in Ken Howard RA studio. Its only my second visit to Venice and I think its the most beautiful city Ive ever visted. There is something to paint on every corner and I cant wait to return. I managed to do 24 paintings and have posted some of them below.. Xmas is now nearly upon us and Im crossing my fingers for snow:-)



St Maggiore, Morning  6 x 8

Dusk, by the Salute 8 x 10

Venetian Doorway 16 x 12

gondolas 8 x 6

By the Doges Palace 8 x 6

Painters by the acadamia bridge 8 x 10

Gondolas 12 x 12

Gondola repair yard 12 x 16

On the Grand Canal 12 x 16

school with a name i cant remember 16 x 12:-)

St Maggiore 4 x 12

Gondolas at night 8 x 10

dusk at the Rialto 8 x 6

Venetian nocturne 6 x 8

Tony painting a nocturne 8 x 6