These are the studio based paintings I’ve produced over January.

Dorset – this view of Lulworth Cove was taken in the Spring of 2019. I love the 3d element of the view and I hope I have captured it.

Lulworth Cove

Molly and I found this herd of cattle and calves on the Polesden estate in 2019. I sketched them but produced this as a painting

Polesden Herd

I’ve expanded the view of this square in Guildford from the original sketch. I used line and wash to achieve a slightly different effect. Robbie, one of the plein air artists was the model.

Guildford

I’ve managed to make every Friday paint out this month. The weather has always threatened rain but has held off on all occasions. Which has been lucky.

I’ve taken Molly a few times which restricts the composition but on the other times I’ve been able to meet up with the other artists in the pub.

Shere was the first location of the year. I painted from the Church porch due to the rain but it brightened up and the sun came out. Nice pub in the village

Shere

We held our annual lunch at Chiddingfold. Very cold and I had trouble with values and textures. So I added pastels to the church and right hand cottage. Fish and Chips.

Chiddingfold 

Guildford was in a small town square and churchyard.

Guildford

A very misty paint out on the Devils Punch Bowl.

Devils Punch Bowl

My fourth graveyard on the month at Betchworth. Used different paper here for a change.

Betchworth

Not so much work created this month due to the exhibition and Christmas. Plus the weather has been so wet…

Above are my paintings for the 4 Surrey Artists exhibition at Bourne Hall. The show went well and I sold a couple of paintings to some lovely people. It was interesting to see all the paintings up in one place and this has given me ideas for the future.

I managed to get out a couple of times, once to the Wey… and the other to Steers Field on Ranmore Common

I’ve also been able to try some ideas out in the studio by developing other scenes from my plein air locations

Steers Field, Ranmore and the Belted Galloways

Papercourt Lock

I’ve been working in my sketchbook but from my studio recently. This approach allows me more time to think but not over think or over work the studies. They have all been of the River Wey and the Navigation Canal. This is a favorite place of mine, where I can relax, not have cars around me and concentrate on relatively simpler subjects.

Papercourt Lock

Wey at Newark Lane

Wey Meadows at Newark Lane

Papercourt Lock

Papercourt Lock

Its been so wet and cold that its been really hard to get out painting. But here are some of my November results.

Crookham Wharf – sketchbook

Dunsfold Village

Thames Lock, weybridge

River Thames, Weybridge

Petworth

I’ve been try out new watercolour techniques and these are the results using Venice as a backdrop.

My painting from a Clare Bowen demo

Grand Canal

Venice Ferries

Venice mooring

Due to our holiday to New Zealand I’ve delayed posting my plein air for a couple of months. Here some paintings from my trips out with Molly.

Thames at Weybridge

Nonsuch park

Shere

Godalming

I managed to sketch as we traveled around New Zealand this year but everything was a little rushed.

I used three sketchbooks depending on how much time I had.

Large Sketchbook

Franz Josef Glacier

Lake Takapo

Taruheru River, Gisborne

Aberdeen Road, Gisborne

Bay of Islands

Medium-Sized Sketchbook

Mt Sunday, South Island

Te Papa, Wellington

Lake Taupo

Poverty Bay, Gisborne

Small Sketchbook

I’ve been painting on watercolour paper (W&N) on my plein air travels but I have recently returned to using my sketchbook. I bought a small square sketchbook for black & white studies, exactly like the one I used in London five years ago and have drawn a couple of sketches in between paint outs.

Also I have returned to a larger format sketchbook which has been unused for a couple of years and like the informality it offers.

Thames at Shepperton

Barn at Cranleigh

Hay Stacks at Ripley

Royal Festival Hall

Buckingham Palace

Another busy month painting. I’ve returned to some of my favourite places and found some new ones with the two art groups I’m supporting.

Early August weather was wet and at times cold but the second half has been glorious.

Boxhill looking towards Denbies

Hatchlands

Hatchlands

Polesden Farm

Polesden Lacey

Dorking from Steers Field

Bushy House, Bushy Park

The Weyside, Guildford

The Wey Navigation at Pyrford

Towards Norbury from Mickleham

Walsham Gates, Ripley

Big Pond at the Nower Wood, Headley

Ride London, Leatherhead

Dorking