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Latest Work - What's on the Easel?
A study in texture based on the theme "From the Earth". Destined for exhibition at Nunnington Hall.
Palette knife and brush in acrylics. Needed quick drying properties to skim surface without waiting.
Quick small cloud study with autumnal colours.
Early morning on Wansford Road
Painting just wasn't working - feeling defeated ..... It was just OK ...... SO HAD TO GO!!!!!!!!
OOOHHH ... ERRRRR!!!!!!
The Horror ... The Horror !
Nice atmosphere with pastel but can't really get the detail - try an acrylic.
Illustration for book cover
Commisioned for picture of Canberra PR9 in snow for new book - try a pastel first.
River Hull Tidal Barrier
Quick pastel for ERA exhibition in Hull - Thought it might appeal to flat dwellers.
Five Bites
Lovely reflection in Bookshop window of Five Bites takeaway. Chose a large canvas for exhibition at Brynmoor gallery as part of East Riding Artists exhibition.
Spoons Driffield
Quick splurge of light through church gates cascading across road to Benjamin Fawcett Wetherspoons - follow the light to redemption!
Driffield Reflection
Saw this lovely reflection of the umbrellas in Arthur Day Electric shop in Driffield. Went for a detailed study with lots of colour as usual.
Marcel & Una
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Quick painting of my son and beautiful granddaughter . Like the composition and will keep soft tones and textures.
Huggate Farm Lodge - Wetwang
Commisioned to paint Huggate Lodge Farm - Wetwang.
Inspired by Victorian painting done in 1877 I painted view as it is today.
A dull day when I went but added dramatic sky.
Thought it was a nice touch to add Mike at gate just where his ancestor had stood.
Bridlington Links Golf Course
Fairly quick painting on Brid Links course in snow, last of series for clients consideration.
Once again it is the tree shadows that fascinate.
Bridlington Links Golf Course Pastel
Chalk pastel on Brid links course in snow. Beautiful
tree shadows dominate and light reflections lending themselves to pastel.
Towards Flamborough
Walk along cliffs to Flamborough in snow. Vigorous brushwork and even painted standing up like a proper artist!
Brid Links golf course in snow
Commisioned to paint Bridlington Links Golf Course. When went on site visit the course was closed due to snow. This afforded a unique opportunity to wander the course and see the various angles and viewpoints. Chose one that captured clubhouse and some lovely tree shadows.
When went on site visit
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TOTAL FAILURE !!!!!!!!!
OK, this is what happens when your heart is not in the painting and you attempt to paint an idea without enough reference points.
It was the idea to paint me and buddies on the golf course we had just played at Brid Links.
This took forever and as I corrected and worked it just got worse and worse!!!!!
Abandoned at this point !!!!!!!!!
Working with pastels
Decided to have a rest from painting whilst waiting for some new canvases.
Started working in pastels on some new VELOUR paper that has a lovely velvetty
texture.
Scene from Leon's Cafe
in Driffield
A great night at the Bell Inn
with Driffacoustica
Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head Dusk
Sutton Bank
Fraisthorpe beach
Nafferton Church
Had a John Piper vibe in mind for this painting of Nafferton Church.
Broad brush strokes in a 1950's style with vintage colour pallette.
Scarborough Road - Driffield
Went for an impressionistic approach with these tree shadows. Used a white paint on the dark under- ground to draw out, then left some of these showing. A quick painting for me, very enjoyable.
Umbrella Piazza - Driffield
Loved these umbrella shadows in the heart of town. Started with a dark background, as you can see in the stages, then built up the lighter tones. Kept it fairly loose to retain the vitality.
Abstract experiments
These were some attempts at delving into the world of Abstraction. Strange how enjoyable and liberating they were... Some successes and some failures. Still it was nice to have a splurge.
Subjects include Bridlington Harbour, Humber Bridge and the Deep .. which
was abandoned after many attempts.
Scarborough Harbour
This scene of Scarborough Harbour was a pleasure to paint and I didn't want to miss any detail. The sparkles are just a bit of fun suggesting the clarity of light. Seagulls came and disappeared in the top left corner after my wife said they looked like albatrosses! Check the stages.
Queen's Jubilee for Pocklington Arts Exhibition
For this project it was clear I needed to portray what I felt of this person in my entire life, and I guess the word that came to mind was "Sentinel".
It is an affectionate, not a morbid sentiment.
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The village is representative
of all villages or towns, it's
location is unimportant.
Burton Bushes - Westwood - Beverley
Thought I,d better prove to myself that I could paint trees as trees after previous abstraction. This lovely scene was ideal. I like the eerie feeling and may consider putting a focus in the foreground.
After toying with many ideas including - a stag - a bull - a couple and even a dancing harlequin! I thought I'd leave it to the viewer to imagine their own ambience.
River Head - Driffield I
Fancied painting something a bit more vibrant after those 2 house commissions. After a lovely walk opted for this view of River Head at dusk.
Enjoyed the freedom of this approach. The blocks of colour were blended with a large soft brush.
I like documenting the stages - each session is approximately 3 hours - it also helps calculate a price if the painting is sold. I think I deserve above minimum wage so £15 - £20 an hour seems reasonable.
Hutton Old Post Office Commission
Another commission came in to paint the Old Post Office in the nearby Village of Hutton. Once again the importance of old stonework was essential. I opted to change seasons through the use of old photos. Two dogs were possibly in the scene.
Everything going okay till trying to fit black labrador into scene. Painted in doorway as you can see, then realised it looked awful so wiped it out. Realised the composition was thrown when second dog added. Opted to leave out but did a little painting for client.
Castleton North Yorkshire Commission
Had an exciting commission to paint a cottage in Castleton. Went for site visit
and took lots of photographs. Autumnal colours will be used. Accuracy in cottage stones needed.
The cottage was raised from the road and the best angle afforded a view beyond. The rider just happened by, but fitted perfectly into the ambience. Artistic license was taken when painting the foreground foliage though the brickwork was accurate. A softening blur in the distance helps focus on the main cottage. The client chose to frame the picture himself at a later date.
Driffield Golf Club - 11th Hole
Started with a dark underground on this autumnal painting of the 11th hole at Driffield golf course. The dark blue should make the oranges more vibrant as they are complementary opposites.
Canvas already had a frame so will keep if appropriate
Added figures, my golf trolley and overhanging foliage.
Yes, that is my golf buddy Roger on the left. Hoping the golf club might purchase for dining room - or even waive my next years membership!
Bridlington Harbour
Went for a ride on the pirate ship with the grandkids at Bridlington. Decided to do a detailed study in oils. Probably a good 36 hours. Kept to a mauve/purplish overall scheme to give it a Canaletto style ambience.
Heading 1Driffield Railway Bridge
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Had some raw canvas so made my own large frame and stretched. I left the canvas unsized so that the colours would bleed and be absorbed. Seemed a good idea but it became really difficult and had to work hard to apply the pigment, mostly diluted with lots of white spirit. It gave the painting a really
washed out effect - not sure if I'll be trying this again, but interesting.
Nice quiet Sunday morning
at Beechwood Lane .
Made nice frame & painted
Loved these rooftops in Mill Street, nice to be loose after the rigour of the perspective pic.
Linear Perspective at Driffield Station
This exercise involves lots of masking tape and as I needed the paint to dry quickly I used acrylics. Quite strange to go back to this medium, a skin was forming on the paints due to the heat after only a few minutes it seemed!
The Bell Hotel - Driffield
A topographical view of the Bell Hotel, an old coaching inn. As I was painting it, the bunting appeared which seemed to add to it's colourful vibrancy in the welcome summmer sun.
This painting took a good 36 hours. The figures are deliberately indistinct and silhouetted into an abstract form, otherwise I thought it looked a bit too photographic.
Down at the doctors
Waiting outside the doctors I was struck by the angles created from the new church roof, how it reflected the angularity of the other buildings.
Decided to return to the Keld bridge and a bit more detail.
Starting on this scene at Markman Lane
seen early evening after days of rain.
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It seems to have turned into a MudFest!
Stages of a rather severe self portrait.... I think I like the second one best.
Saw this fabulous shadow on Wood Lane
Elvis Sees
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Been listening to a lot of Elvis recently and wondered what he would look like on one of my old Suffolk paintings.
It's true that he has an enigmatic, mythical aura and Classical proportions.
Spellowgate -Driffield
Another change of style after the previous realism. This view down Spellowgate offers a great opportunity to let loose with the full colour pallette.
Strange how it seems to have transformed into an evening setting without realising. Loving the randomnesss and juxtaposition of colours. Perspective through tone needs working on.
Happy with final piece, really enjoyed process. Liked the comment left from my old buddy-
" You on mushrooms?"
River Head - Driffield II
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I'm sure this view of River Head has been painted many times. Thought I'd give it a go in a realistic style. One for the greetings cards I think.
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