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.
- 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)
- 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.
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!
- old Lodge Moor Hospital Clock Tower
Back to watercolours again. View from my north facing roof-light across the Mayfield Valley towards the old Lodge Moor Hospital clock tower. It has snowed today but not as much as shown in the painting. Edges faded away again.
an evening of movement!
Heeley Art Club Working Evening "Movement" - my full portfolio for the 2 hour evening session. Don't usually use pastels but time was of the essence!
- The Civil Service Club, Great Scotland Yard, LONDON
This where we stay when we visit London with our group of friends
Pagoda at Kew Gardens London
This building is the Pagoda at Kew Gardens and is very special to me. I first saw the other side of it in 1967. I was the goal kicker for Sheffield University Rugby Team playing Loughborough College in the UAU "Cup" Final at Old Deer Park which is located on the far side of Kew Gardens. I missed 2 vital kicks which meant we didn't win the "Cup". I think I was admiring the Pagoda and kicked the ball towards the building instead of between the posts! I was reminded about those missed kicks over 40 years later. Anyway, the pencil sketch was drawn in-situ on the afternoon of 5th December this year, I ran out of daylight due to the time of year and have been so busy on the commercial side of my artwork, I've not had enough free time until today (29th Dec) to finish painting the work. This explains my lack of Blog/News for the best part of a month!
Brutalist Architecture
From our visit to London just over a week ago. Two icons of Brutalist Architecture of the 60's - The Hayward Gallery and The Queen Elizabeth Hall Purcell Room on the South Bank sketched from the North Bank of the Thames.
Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, London
As the sun was setting last Saturday. The view of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London. The location was a dead end narrow road called Warwick House Street. There was a police dog squad van at the end waiting for things to kick off in the Square (which didn't happen). There were enough yellow non-parking lines in front of me which lead me to believe that no one would park there. Wrong. Within 20 minutes a white van pulled up and straddled the lines. Finished the sketch under the street lighting - it's that time of year in the UK!
Michael Portillo @ Puerto Soller Mallorca
Michael Portillo was on BBC 2 last night (and repeated tonight) taking the Train and the Tram from Palma to Puerto Soller in Mallorca! It's our favourite place - but don't tell too many people! My paintings are the view to Portillo's right. I painted the image on the right from almost exactly where Portillo was sitting but I was actually sitting in the sea behind him and using the sea water as my watercolour medium.
Puerto Soller Mallorca
This is my last post of an Urban Sketch from our holiday in Puerto Soller, Mallorca at the start of this month. It's the view looking along the promenade from outside our favourite Hotel in the Port it's called the Miramar. I drew and painted it on 1st October and it's now in the private collection of our new friend Shirley in Soller.
Valldemossa again!
This is my sketch on October 6 (just over 2 weeks ago) from our visit to Valldemossa, Mallorca. I sketched it from the most excellent Café Cappuccino looking down the Carrer Cami Antic a Palma. I'm just about prepared/ready for the "10 Artists and 10 paintings" at Baslow (next to Chatsworth) in Derbyshire this weekend. Pop into the Exhibition - there are prints and cards for sale as well as original artworks.
