Studio News Archive
2020
June 2020
The final exercise was all about limitations - restricting the number of colours and the number of marks you could make. Find seascapes appearing again!
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June 2020
Exploring new colour palettes with the Find your Joy course. Who'd have known that Cadmium yellow and black makes green - will need to order some in.
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June 2020
Took part in the taster 'Find your Joy' course run by Louise Fletcher Art. This exercise was all about just covering the paper with different marks then removing the masking tape to reveal little windows of colour.
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May 2020
And my 'big' painting is finally moving forward after a bit of a lull. Excited that I can now see it after playing with paint.
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May 2020
I really enjoy a bit of still life from time to time. This acrylic was completed after a couple of tonal studies.
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May 2020
I took part in this virtual arts trail. Work can still be seen in the gallery.
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The #artistsupportpledge is an inspired idea from @matthewburrowsstudio. In these difficult times, his initiative is a way for artists to generate income and also to help fellow artists.
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May 2020 Lockdown continues
Studio improvements continue; an old trestle table top has now become a counter and useful storage area.
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April 2020
Having a play with colour and collage for the #CVATCOVIDART for the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group online exhibition.
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April 2020 - Lockdown
Having attended a screen printing workshop over 3 years ago with 'lockdown' I have finally found time to have another go.
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March 2020 - Lockdown week 1
Inspired by something I heard on the Art Juice podcast I sorted my older work. Made this little folding record of experiments - it'll be good for visitors to look through at exhibitions.
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March 2020
Working on loads of small mixed media pieces
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Started work on a large piece...
chaos reigns in the studio! |
March 2020
I've started listening to this really engaging podcast by 2 artists; Alice Sheriden and Louise Fletcher. Well worth a listen.
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Feb / March 2020
Working on a commission using the Anders Zorn palette - amazed by the range of colours you can get from so few colours.
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February 2020
I bought this book as a teenager so you’ll probably realise why I am looking forward to this exhibition https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/…/toulouse-lautrec-and-maste… coming up in February at Victoria Art Gallery
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January 2020
Ran a sketching workshop for a lovely lady I met at the 44Ad Bath Humbug event. Really enjoy sharing art tips & techniques with people.
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January 2020
Later this year I'm taking part in an exhibition with artist Gaynor Leverett - Jaques and we're both going to have some big pieces on show. Here's my first piece fixed to the wall of my studio ready for the paint!
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2019
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44AD Bath Humbug December 2019
What a week! Great to see so many visitors at this now annual event at 44AD running alongside the Christmas Market in Bath. It was my 3rd year showing my work alongside 7 other artists; a great mix of art (and inside keeping warm!).
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December 2019
Had these cards made up for my Christmas events - nice and cheery for the time of year. Looking forward to expanding my card range in the new year for my Spring events.
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Studio mid Nov 2019
I bought a Gelli plate a few months ago - good fun to have a go at printing in the studio.
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Frontroom Arts Trail 2019
Great to be back in the Saltcellar at Totterdown Baptist Church, Bristol for the Frontroom Arts Trail.
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November 2019
I'm taking part in the pop up shop next month and am having fun making handmade recycled paper decorations to sell.
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Cam Valley Arts Trail 2019
Opened my studio for the Cam Valley Arts Trail weekend at the start of the month. Great to see so many visitors.
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November 2019
After a long summer of building my studio space is finished (well almost!) - great to have some space to paint.
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Peacock Art Trail October 2019
My work at The Barn Gallery, Kington Langley as part of the Peacock Arts Trail. Superb venue and hosts. Delighted to sell lots of work including the central piece shown here 'Glimpse of light' framed just in time for the event.
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Cam Valley Arts Spring Exhibition & Sale 2019
Thanks to Lucy Empson for the photo of my pitch at the Cam Valley Arts Spring Exhibition & Sale.
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Workshop results April 2019
'Exploring acrylic skies' workshop - great to share some tips and techniques when using palette knives with Redcatch Art Club
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Work in progress April 2019
Lots of work in the studio preparing for the Cam Valley Arts Trail in May.
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CVAT event preparation March 2019
A few days on the computer helping the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group organise their next event - looking forward to getting back to the paint!
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Lino print - March 2019
Started this month spending some time at a Lino cutting & printing workshop with Andrew Eddleston and organised by the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group.
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March 2019
Delighted that this commission 'Light Dances' in acrylic was well received by clients - all framed and on their wall now.
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And the finished piece - 'Celtic Air'
March 2019
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February 2019 -Studio
A view of the studio with early stages of work in progress on a 50 x 50cm piece. Unusually the colour green much in evidence. This work is on gesso primed MDF; the gesso allows for textures to be incorporated right at the base layers.
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February 2019 - detail
Really enjoying being back in the studio. I've been working on a commission but also a few pieces inspired by North Uist, Outer Hebrides.
Image below shows a detail of a piece that's 30 x 30cm. |
February 2019
It arrived! - looking forward to having a play with this. Want to see what different print effects can be achieved as a starting point for a painting
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January 2019
Working on lots of new pieces in the studio. New paint colours (for me!) being explored.
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Feeling really refreshed and raring to go after a good break. My last event of 2018 was at the 44Ad Bath Humbug Contemporary Art Market. Such a lovely group of artists to spend a week with.
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2018
Bath Humbug December 2018
Sketchbooks at the Bath Humbug event in December 2018. Visitors love looking at them.
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My work all set up for The Little Christmas Pop Up Shop hosted by the lovely Kate Westcott. Totally festive after Kate worked her magic touch.
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Frontroom Arts Trail November 2018
New cards and calendars made an appearance alongside my paintings this year at the Totterdown Frontroom Art Trail in November 2018. Always great to catch up with old friends I see at this trail.
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Cam Valley Arts Trail November 2018
Couple of my paintings shown at the Cam Valley Arts Trail in November 2018. Great weekend at a gorgeous studio in the Paulton Basin owned by Batik Artist Shelagh Hetreed.
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School workshop October 2018
Not a great photo but shows the Remembrance piece created at a workshop I ran at Farrington Gurney Primary School. 90 children made 90 poppies and 4 year 6 girls created the background with collage, paint & print.
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Combe Down Art Trail Sept 2018
Superb weekend at this new Art Trail. Lots of visitors, great conversations and sales. Only wish I had had the chance to go around it myself!
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Black Swan Art Car Boot - Frome July 2018
Attended the annual Black Swan Art Car Boot again this year. Great to clear less expensive work from the studio whilst catching up with artists.
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Visitors enjoyed looking through my sketchbooks at the Colour Pop Up Art Fair on the 9th June.
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Printing workshop end of May 2018
Attended a 2 day workshop in Frome - well what a lot I have to learn! Really inspiring. Concentrated on monoprinting and collographs and look forward to working on the prints further using ink and overprinting.
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Old Bakery Artists Art Fair 19th May 2018
Fantastic display of work at the Friends Meeting House, Bath. A quiet day with most people watching the wedding! Good to catch up with fellow artists though.
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Southmead Hospital May 2018
Thanks to John Loy at the North Bristol NHS Trust for inviting me to exhibit some of my work. Visited the new building when I was setting up - so much artwork in the atrium space. Wonderful.
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CVAT Spring Exhibition & Sale 28th April 2018
Fantastic day spent with Cam Valley Arts Trail Group. Great to be around such a friendly bunch of artists and sell my work at the same time.
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Bath Society of Artists Exhibition 2018
Delighted to hear that my painting 'Snow Clouds' which was accepted for the 113th Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition has now sold. The exhibition is open to the public from 24th March - 12th May at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath BA2 4AT.
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Batik Workshop 24th February 2018
On Saturday I attended a batik workshop run by artist Shelagh Hetreed. Need to iron off the wax but you'll see that I've enjoyed combining pattern with colour.
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School workshop February 2018
Over the last 2 days I have been running a textile workshop with Cam Valley Arts Trail Group for a local school. Love how children are so expressive and open to learning new skills.
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Studio - January 2018
Felt like a play today so am experimenting with mark making in acrylic paint.
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January 2018 - Studio work
Good to be back in the studio after the Christmas break. This small painting is a sample to show colours to a client who has commissioned a larger piece.
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2017 & earlier
44 AD Bath Humbug Art Fair December 2017
Took the opportunity to show my sketchbooks to visitors - always to good to show thought processes and other types of work I can do.
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44AD Bath Humbug Art Fair December 2017
Fortunate to share a pitch with artist Shuya Cheng at this art fair which took place at the same time as the Bath Christmas Market.
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Front Room Arts Trail November 2017
Here's my pitch at the 10th Front Room Art Trial before the crowds arrived. I really enjoy this event as it gets me back to Bristol and I see so many familiar faces. Such a variety of work on show at my venue this year from illustration by artist Ruth Whiter through to jewellery by Wendy Greenwood.
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Botanical printing workshop at the Cam Valley Arts Trail November 2017
I ran an informal art activity exploring botanical printing for the Cam Valley Arts Trail in November. A simple technique I saw at a National Trust event in the spring where the natural pigments of leaves and petals where transferred onto fabric. A little 'hit and miss' but enjoyed by all that came along.
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Cam Valley Arts Trail November 2017
Shared a studio space with textile artist Kate Westcott and Batik artist Shelagh Hetreed this year. A beautiful venue with lots of natural light
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Stourton Memorial Hall October 2017
Amazing weekend at this event. Took the opportunity to show my more recent work where I've incorporated more of the colour green. Sold lots of work including this piece 'Distant Rain' on show in this photo.
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Chilcompton Art club exhibition Oct 2017
I was invited to attend this exhibition as a guest judge and was given space to show my own work.
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West Barn, Bradford on Avon August 2017
My first time exhibiting with this group of artists at the West Barn, Bradford on Avon. Stunning venue with lots of footfall. Great to spend time with some really inspiring artists.
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Beside the Wave, London Preview for 'Open Summer Show' July 2017
Enjoyed going up to Primrose Hill, London to be at this preview event at Beside the Wave. My piece 'Light Beyond' (above my head!) was selected for their Open Summer Exhibition.
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Black Swan Art Car Boot July 2017
Good to be back in Frome. A chance to clear the studio while supporting the event run by Black Swan Arts. The weather held and lots of work found new homes.
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Art Fair - Friends Meeting House Bath June 2017
This was a new exhibition for me - a chance to meet new artists and show my work to a wider audience.
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June 2017
Ran an acrylic workshop for a local art group over in Chilcompton. Such a talented bunch of artists - loved sharing what I do.
Ran an acrylic workshop for a local art group over in Chilcompton. Such a talented bunch of artists - loved sharing what I do.
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During the last few weeks I've been experimenting with mixed media and using gesso to better effect creating texture. It has been thoroughly enjoyable 'playing' with some pleasing results. I'll be using the gesso a lot more in my work now.
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So far this year as well as sorting the studio and getting new materials ready for painting again I have been working on a portrait. Good to try something new but now looking forward to some acrylic paint and large canvasses.
I'll be working on a series of paintings based on sketches I did in Scotland over the summer |
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Work so far
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Black Swan Art Car Boot, Frome
on the 10th July 2016.
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Art in the Park, Sept 2016
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Gosh it's been a while since I wrote anything for this studio news - most of my updates have been going on Facebook and Instagram.
I've been trying out my new watercolours - yes watercolours! At the art class I go to we've been looking at flowers with the watercolours but I thought I'd have a play with a few landscapes. Really love the Indian Yellow colour and masking fluid.
Still trying to get to grips with the medium but love the freshness and lightness of these sketches.
July 2016
I've been trying out my new watercolours - yes watercolours! At the art class I go to we've been looking at flowers with the watercolours but I thought I'd have a play with a few landscapes. Really love the Indian Yellow colour and masking fluid.
Still trying to get to grips with the medium but love the freshness and lightness of these sketches.
July 2016
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On Sunday 11th September I took part in the Arts in the Park event at Redcatch Park, Bristol. Great day.
Artist Ruth Whiter did some sketches to record the day including one of me doing a demonstration. Have a look via this link http://ruthwhiter.co.uk/live-sketching/arts-in-the-park-1/
Artist Ruth Whiter did some sketches to record the day including one of me doing a demonstration. Have a look via this link http://ruthwhiter.co.uk/live-sketching/arts-in-the-park-1/
Last week I heard that my painting 'Wilderness Beckons' has been selected for the Pay & Display exhibition at the start of March so I'm looking forward to that preview evening.
I've been painting in the studio despite the stormy weather and lack of heating and continued experimenting with oil pastels both birds and landscapes!
On Saturday 20th I attended a 'Taster Day' run by Cam Valley Arts Trail Group where I threw a pot thanks to Andrew Eddleston, cut a stencil and managed to have a go at screen printing courtesy of Kate Westcott. I showed artists acrylic transfer printing which is a simple process of trapping ink from printed sources into acrylic paint. I always find it amazing how different all the resulting art is.
Feb 22nd 2016
I've been painting in the studio despite the stormy weather and lack of heating and continued experimenting with oil pastels both birds and landscapes!
On Saturday 20th I attended a 'Taster Day' run by Cam Valley Arts Trail Group where I threw a pot thanks to Andrew Eddleston, cut a stencil and managed to have a go at screen printing courtesy of Kate Westcott. I showed artists acrylic transfer printing which is a simple process of trapping ink from printed sources into acrylic paint. I always find it amazing how different all the resulting art is.
Feb 22nd 2016
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Well 2016 is well on it's way. I've cleared away the cobwebs in my studio (literally) and dusted off my brushes. Enjoying painting without an imminent exhibition.
Art classes started up again. We're exploring oil pastels and how other mediums can be used over them to create different effects. Really love them though can see myself using them in my landscapes rather than more birds. Also preparing a piece titled 'Compassion' for an Old Bakery Artists exhibition. January 2016 |
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The Front Room Arts Trail was great fun - good to see so many people. Thanks to everyone that came along.
The next event was Redmaids' Christmas Fair followed by fellow artist Kate Westcott's 'Little Christmas Pop up Shop'. A wonderful way to end my events before Christmas with my family.
December 2015
The next event was Redmaids' Christmas Fair followed by fellow artist Kate Westcott's 'Little Christmas Pop up Shop'. A wonderful way to end my events before Christmas with my family.
December 2015
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The Cam Valley Arts Trail 2015 was another success - a huge amount of time and effort had gone into organising it all so it was good to see visitors enjoying it all. I ran an Acrylic Transfer Printing workshop which inspired a few people to have a go at home which was good to hear. I was exhibiting with 3 other artists, Sheila Watkins, Alena Bissinger & Karen Aniola - all had beautiful work. Here are a few photos of the weekend.
Got the Totterdown Front Room Trail this coming weekend - see the home page for details.
November 2015
Got the Totterdown Front Room Trail this coming weekend - see the home page for details.
November 2015
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What an art filled month this has been. The Frome Art Car Boot went really well despite the rain. Good to see so many people supporting the event.On the 16th I went over to 'Art in Action' which is held at Waterperry House & Gardens. If you haven't been it's well worth a visit; there are artists on hand demonstrating their work and explaining how and why they do what they do. Very inspiring. A much larger and established event than the Cam Valley Arts Trail but it seems to have the same ethos of sharing the arts and encouraging everyone to have a go.
The following Saturday was spent attending a village event on behalf of Cam Valley Arts Trail group - promoting the November Arts Trail and offering the change to try a bit of peg loom weaving & spinning (courtesy of Ginny Lake.)
This week I went along to a workshop on oils - a new medium to me. Oil certainly has a luminosity that is less easily achieved with acrylics - learnt a lot.
Back to the studio.
29th July 2015
The following Saturday was spent attending a village event on behalf of Cam Valley Arts Trail group - promoting the November Arts Trail and offering the change to try a bit of peg loom weaving & spinning (courtesy of Ginny Lake.)
This week I went along to a workshop on oils - a new medium to me. Oil certainly has a luminosity that is less easily achieved with acrylics - learnt a lot.
Back to the studio.
29th July 2015
Preparing for an art workshop on Saturday on behalf of the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group. Printing & collage with the theme 'My favourite animal'. Also I've been showing children how to do peg loom weaving - thanks to Helen Rushton who taught me.
In my art class we've been looking at eyes - here's my effort in acrylic. Thinned the paint right down to create layers of colour.
Off to the Frome Art Car Boot market on Sunday.
Other than that I've not spent enough time in the studio - need to get painting again.
9th July 2015
In my art class we've been looking at eyes - here's my effort in acrylic. Thinned the paint right down to create layers of colour.
Off to the Frome Art Car Boot market on Sunday.
Other than that I've not spent enough time in the studio - need to get painting again.
9th July 2015
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