I’m really enjoying my Friday Plein Air outings to various parts of Surrey. I’ve made a new travelling palette from a plastic document case and an old glass frame, which is working well. I try to get to the agreed spot as soon as I can in order to recce the area.

Its always interesting to see what the other artists select and see how they get on. I’ve got into a pattern for painting now and so its a matter of ensuring I keep looking at the subject and checking the painting.

Here are the previous five weeks in date order.

I went to view an artists’ show late in the summer and his work inspired me to introduce more colours into my work. With the wonderful autumn we had I’ve been inspired to really push the colours and see what happens.

The first two painting are of Yew Tree farm in the Polesden Estate. The first is a watercolour.

The second is a smaller oil painting, opening out to a wider view incorporating the trees and wall.

The third subject is of Headley Heath and the Belted Galloways grazing in rough. I used oils on watercolour paper and this produced a really nice soft edge effect. Almost like pastels.

On a walk to the Common Meadow, by the River Mole, I loved the way the water was streaming through the trees and reflecting on the water. The low sun, autumn colours and reflections all produced a magical effect. I used the palette knife to make more abstract marks and ramped up the colours.

Finally, on another walk with Molly in the Polesden Estate I took a photo of the Italianate Bridge. I’ve painted this before but in watercolour so I thought I would try the bold approach in oils.