Spent last weekend in Whitby. Walked east along the Cleveland Way cliff path to the Whitby Fog Signal building Had some time on my own when I returned so I sketched the Abbey from alongside at the same altitude. I usually draw/paint it from near sea level showing it overlooking the harbour above the picturesque jumble of cottages tumbling down the hillside.
- more cards to the Millennium Gallery
Another 96 of my Sheffield Skylines 01 & 02 cards ready for delivery to the Millennium Gallery Shop in Sheffield right next to the TV area for the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible. Just 48 prints to mount and pack in the next few days.
- my final London sketch (hope not ever!)
Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street sketched while sitting on a bench waiting for my dearest (not literally!) wife Liz browsing in the local John Lewis. The rains came just as I was finishing off the penwork so the watercolour was added in our cosy little home later. The original is hopefully by now in the U.S. on it's way to my top collector in Texas.
- London City Skyline
Feb 24-2017 morning. London City Skyline while sheltering under Waterloo Bridge, The wind from Storm Doris hadn't died! The original sketch is now crossing the Atlantic to my very best supporter in Texas.
Admiral Nelson's Hat
Feb 23-2017 Storm Doris hits UK, winds blow plywood roofs onto rails, 2hr train journey from Sheffield to London turns into 6hrs, 5hrs standing. Inspiration for sketch of Admiral Nelson's hat blowing off at Trafalgar Square sketched from the steps of St Martins ITFs! The original sketch is now flying to a client in Texas.
- Goth weekend at Whitby
Went to the "Goth Weekend" at Whitby 5 days ago. Saw more "Steampunks" than Goths - had to Google that! They were so well dressed that the rest of us looked pretty scruffy. Sketched my memory of them on our last evening there - see top row on the attached image - the bottom row starts with our walk along the beach to Sandsend followed by sketches of Whitby harbour. The gale-force northerly wind provided proper crashing waves all the way from Norway!
- my list of paintings for the "Ten Artists Exhibition"
Here is the list of my paintings for the "Ten Artists Exhibition" at Baslow Village Hall tomorrow and Sunday. The weather forecast is good for tomorrow and not bad on Sunday - come and see us, the other 9 Artists are much better than me.
- 10 paintings
Ready! My 10 paintings for the "Ten Artists Exhibition" at Baslow Village Hall this coming weekend. Just have to get together all the prints and cards I've produced.... then relax (until Saturday)
- a view from my studio/workroom rooflight
This is my painting of a view to the north east from my studio/workroom rooflight in Ringinglow Village with a smidgen of artistic license - a doctored version again to protect the innocent! The pristine version of this painting will be at the "10 Artists Exhibition" (and 10 paintings by each artist) at Baslow Village Hall on Saturday & Sunday 22nd & 23rd October. This is my 10th and final painting for the Exhibition. It's Mayfield Valley in south west of our great city of Sheffield. The building in the centre of the painting covered with red Virginia creeper is Fulwood Hall.
- inspired by the Terminal Warehouse Sheffield Canal Basin
Another for the Exhibition at Baslow on 22nd & 23rd October. This one's from my Sheffield Canal Basin Series - it's inspired by the Terminal Warehouse and colourful canal boats ie. it's completely made up!
- lovely, loverly Whitby
This is my painting of a corner of Whitby Harbour on the left bank of the Esk with a lot of artistic license - a doctored version again to protect the innocent! The pristine version will be at the "10 Artists & 10 Paintings Exhibition" at Baslow Village Hall on Saturday & Sunday 22nd & 23rd October.
- my lovely Sheffield from the 8th Hill (Park Hill?)
A panorama from above Sheffield Railway Station. This version has been doctored to protect the innocent again! The pristine version will be at the "10 Artists & 10 Paintings Exhibition" at Baslow on Saturday & Sunday 22nd & 23rd October
- Whitby panorama in pen & Ink
I've always had in my mind to do a proper full width Panorama of the right bank of the River Esk at Whitby Harbour in pen & watercolour. Here it is (another adulterated version) - 600mm wide and the pristine version will be at the "10 Artists & 10 Paintings Exhibition" at Baslow on Saturday & Sunday 22nd & 23rd October.
- receiving prize at Art in the Gardens
Me and Sheffield's Lord Mayor. She was handing me the "scapes" prize at Art in the Gardens Open Art Exhibition yesterday.
another version of my Loch Fine!
Still practising my seascapes.
- near Whitby
Walking back along the sands from Sandsend to Whitby after my usual crab sandwich feast, spotted 2 gulls appearing to spectate an off-shore yacht race.
Fornalutx, Mallorca (again)
Fornalutx, Mallorca, where the best Police and most honest Taxi Drivers on the Island helped recover my mislaid wallet in September 2014 - forever grateful. A postcard of Fornalutx tumbling down the hillside from a work colleague was the reason we first visited the Soller Valley in 1999 and almost every year since - quite often twice in the same year.
- make someone happy!
Apart from my sparkling wit and repartee I can't usually make people happy. I'm not a life-saving doctor, an accordion player or a stand-up comedian. However recently, when I was drawing and painting in the narrow street outside ARTiMANS Art Shop & Gallery in Soller, Mallorca where my prints of local scenes were on sale inside, an old gentleman with a walking stick stopped and spoke to me like a machine gun going off. My complete lack of Spanish/Mallorcan matched his English! The Shop owners were able to translate. Turned out that he wanted me to do a painting of his house a few doors away for the same price as a print. We gently (I hope) explained that an original painting is worth a lot more than a print. Overnight, I thought, I'll give him a surprise and do a sketch of his house as a gift. So I secretly stood outside his house and did the deed. The Shop owners kindly translated my description on the back of the painting explaining it was a gift to him. The following week, when I was painting in the street again, he happened by. I stood up and presented it to him. He smiled, kept walking away, kept coming back and shaking my hand.... he seemed very happy and it made me feel very, very good! Attached is me and my new best friend Jaime Umbert Vicens!
- Carrer de sa Lluna, Soller, Mallorca
Saturdays 7th & 14th May - Carrer de sa Lluna, Soller, Mallorca. I was sitting outside ARTiMANS Art Shop sketching the street views - attracting passers-by. The Shop was selling my Soller artwork, then I signed the prints!
- Tram Terminus Puerto Soller Mallorca
This time last week we were there - Miramar Hotel Puerto Mallorca - sitting outside with a coffee looking at the tram terminus. Sketch time!
