Studio Paintings Spring 2023

As I paint more and more outside so my studio paintings become less and less. However, they are vital for learning, experimenting and giving more time to each painting. Here are some of my paintings that I have produced this year so far.

Leatherhead from Gravel Hill
Bockettds Lane from Hawks Hill
Polesden Lacey
View to Box Hill from Hawks Hill, Leatherhead
Box Hill from Denbies Vineyard
Advertisement

Spring Paintings 2023 (part 3)

The weather and seasons always play a big part in painting outdoors. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the new greens of spring after the greys and browns of winter.

Cottages on West End green, Esher (Surrey Hills PAG)
Loseley Park, Guildford, painted in conjunction with GUTS Charity
Hatchlands, East Clandon (NT)
Polesden Lacey (NT)
View from Richmond Hill

Painting Outside Spring 2023

With such changeable weather this Spring the chance for good quality painting has been limited. I’ve painted in the rain, overcast skys and extreme cold and these conditions don’t create the best work. But I’ve been pleased with the outcomes considering the limitations of the weather.

I’ve been painting with groups a lot recently , such as the Surrey Hills Plein Air Group, London Plein Air group and painting with friends. This has had the effect of keeping me active and going to locations i would not normally think of going to.

This was my first 1/2 imperial sized watercolour painting outdoors. It was painted at the Victoria Tower Gardens with the London Plein Air Group. The weather was pretty dull but it allowed me to use interesting colours in the sky and

Houses Of Parliament
Wey Navigation, Guildford
Surrey House, painted with the Surrey Hills Plein Air Group
Box Hill from Denbies, with Surrey Hills
Bookham Woods Bluebells
English Electric Lightning, Gatwick Aviation Museum, with Surrey Hills

Constant learning

Every time I start a painting there is always a stage where I question my process, the colours I use, the composition and a host of other thoughts. So I’m always looking to improve or just freshen up my paintings.

Richard Torn (a wonderful watercolour artist) has been a big influence for me but I’ve always struggled to work out his methods. So when a course demonstrating his process work came up I jumped at the chance to learn more.

I painted this scene, following closely his style and ideas. The artist said I’d done well. So I’m using this painting to inspire and inform my future work.

I used conte crayon to map out the shapes and shadows.

Blocks of colour and masking fluid provide structure. Giving depth and texture

The stream has now colours and the trees are taking shape. Keeping the colours sharp is key

The final painting. Masking fluid has been removed and darks have more colour in them

I’m now waiting for Spring to continue my journey, so that I can get out painting, find the spring colours, highlights and shadows.

Sketchbook Summer/Autumn 2022

I’ve not posted on this site for a while but I’ve still been painting in my sketchbook. This year I’ve been to the Lakes and North Wales but the rest of the paintings are of my various sessions outdoors in Surrey with the Surrey Hills Plein Air Group and Leatherhead Art Club.

Lake District sketches with the London Plein Air Group

Lake Windermere
Hill Top: Beatrix Potters House
Coniston Water
Esthwaite Water
Windermere: Ambleside

North Wales: Anglesey

Anglesey near Llanddona

Surrey Paint Outs

Shepperton Lock
Roaring House Farm, Norbury Park
Polesden Lacey
Brockham
Dry Pond in Bookham Common
Headley Heath
Fetcham / Hatchlands
Hatchlands
Wey Navigation at Ripley
Box Hill
Newlands Corner
Denbies Estate and Box Hill

Sussex

Weald & Downland Open Air Museum

March & April

A mixture of plein air and studio work , created over March and April 2022

Wild about coffee in Norbury Park
Dorking Roofline
Compton Allotments
West End, near Esher
Newlands Corner, Surrey
Buckingham Palace, sketched with the London Plein Air Group
Buckingham Palace
Outwood Windmill, near Redhill
Buckingham Palace, Studio Painting
Church Park, Leatherhead, from my sketchbook
Notan sketch for a commission
Hampton Court Bridge, with the Surrey Hills Plein AirGroup
Mixed media, using crayons and ink pens of Steers Field panorama
Notan sketch for a commission of the Plough, Leatherhead
Commission of the Plough, Leatherhead
Head Gardeners Cottage, Polesden Lacey
Steers Field
Itchenor panorama in my sketchbook
Boatyard, Itchenor, with the Surrey Hills Plein Air Group
George Abbot pub, Guildford, painted with the Surrey Hills Plein Air Group
Polesden Lacey, painted on Surrey Day with a group of friends
Three of my paintings in the Black Dog Gallery, Leatherhead
Ockley, Surrey
Very wet morning at Newlands Corner with the Surrey Hills Plein Air Group, sketchbook
Challenge by Leatherhead Art Club of changing an existing painting to a night scene
Leatherhead Art Club Challenge, ‘Club Session’

January & February 2022

A new year and I’m looking at developing new ideas in my art. I don’t want to lose my watercolour techniques but try to introduce new colours, tools and compositions. Here are my paintings for the first two months of 2022, a mixture of plein air and studio work. Plus I’ve returned to Virtual Ribble with some paintings from Google Street View.

River Mole at Leatherhead
Thames at Weybridge (Plein Air)
Postman at Ripley (Plein Air)
Leatherhead Bridge (Plein Air)
Denbies (Plein Air)
Shere (Plein Air)
Battersea Power station (Plein Air)
Three Pigeons, Guildford (Plein Air)
Guildford Skyline
Common Meadow, Leatherhead. Oils
Katoomba, Australia (Google Street View)
Ambleside, Lakes , (Google Street View)
Burnley (Google Street View)
Slaidburn, Lancashire (Google Street View)
Slaidburn (Google Street View)
Mount Vernon, Virginia (Google street View)
Still Life

November and December

Here are my paintings for November and December 2021. A mixture of plein air and studio work.

Bolder Mere, Surrey a quick study of the p
Hatchlands, Surrey from a plein air session in December
Polsden Lacey, Surrey from a plein air session
Newlands Corner, Surrey : Plein Air
Dolphin Inn, Betchworth, Surrey from a plein air session and our Xmas meal
Reigate Old Town Hall, Surrey, sketch on grey card, plein air
Squash on glass with arrow, re the transcience of still life
Leith Hill Tower, Surrey
Leith Hill Tower, Surrey, commission
Family House, commission
St Mary’s and St Nicholas, Leatherehad, Surrey
Tower Bridge, London from the South bank
Tower of London, from the river thames
Tower Bridge, from the River Thames
St Pauls, London from Ludgate Hill (sold)
Blue Bird cafe, Ferring Beach, ink on Natural card

October Plein Air and Studio Work

As busy month with the LAC Autumn Exhibition in progress and some commissions to work on. I did manage to get out and paint thoguh and enjoyed the sessions as we move deeper into Autumn. I’m trying some ink based work and will keep these going as they may help with my watercolours in the future.

Venice
The Fish Market, Venice
Norfolk Broads, painted with the Art Group
Commission of Coffee truck
Commission
River Thames at Kingston, Plein Air
Haslemere, Plein Air
Still Life with the Art group
Drawing Robin at the Art Group
Denbies, Plein Air
Commission
Claremont, Esher, Plein Air
Elstead Common