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September Plein Air and Studio Work

Leatherhead was the theme of the month as we had a small exhibition at the Institute. I painted the High Street from three angles , which were well recieved by the local community.

Leatherhead High Street from the Theatre
Plein Air painting from the Institute
Leatherhead High Street

This is from our holiday to Derbyshire. I liked the tree on the far hill and the row of cottages.

‘Jogging with the dog’, Tideswell, Church Street

I was asked to demonstrate a watercolour at Leatherhead Art Club at the last minute. I had painted this view of Venice before and felt I could reproduce the painting in the meeting. Plus it was an interesting view that people might find intimidating to start.

Grand Canal

I was commissioned to paint this view for Grace and Flavour

Grace and Flavour (commission)

These paintings are from my Plein Air sessions with the Surrey Hills Plein Air group. All organised by Rick Holmes (thanks!)

Coffee Truck (sold)
Emsworth Yacht Harbour Entrance
Experimenting with materials at Emsworth
Sopworth Camel at Brooklands
Prize Giving at Brooklands
Derbyshire (we stayed in this very old toll house

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August Plein Air and Studio Work

We had a dull August weather-wise and this effects the colours and shadows of my work for this month.

I moved away from my sketchbook and painted with the remaining stock of watercolour paper I bought last year. Already Brexit and Covid are effecting paper shortages and I’ve had to resort to different paper manufacturers. We will see what effect this has on my work when it arrives.

Most of this month has come from trips with Leatherhead Art Club and Surrey Hills Plein Air but there was a trip to Singleton on my birthday.

Old Hunstanton Beach
Ashtead Common Cottages
Polesden Lacey
Horses in front of Newark Abbey
The Flour Mill, Singleton
Chiddingfold Shops with Postwoman
Grace & Flavour Gardens (sold)
Rose Garden, Polesden Lacey (sold)
Rural Life Center, Tilford
Church Road, Leatherhead
West End, Church
Castle Mill, Dorking (sketchbook)
Painting at Rye Meadows

July 2021

I’ve been painting outdoors a lot recently but the weather has been so changeable. Most of this months work has been in my sketchbook as this allows a certain amount of freedom and its easy to set up. I’ve been painting with the Surrey Hills group and Leatherhead Art Club, plus on my own during July.

Our weeks holiday to Norfolk has been a big influence and I hope to paint more pictures from there in the future.

Old Hunstanton (pleinair painting)
Old Hunstanton, sketchbook
Old Hunstanton, ‘Bird on a wire, after the shower’, Studio painting
Holkham Beach, quick sketch, sketchbook
Tower Mill, Burnham Overy, Norfolk (NT), sketchbook
Old Hunstanton Beach, sketchbook
Church Park, Leatherhead, sketchbook
Church Street, Leatherhead
Ockley, sketchbook
Dorking Golf Club
Newark Abbey, sketchbook
Compton Allotments, plein air
Little Frensham Pond, sketchbook
Rye Meadows, Ashtead, sketchbook
Mobile Cafe, Headley Heath, small sketchbook

April, May & June

It’s been a strange few months artwise for different reasons. The weather has been changeable and I have only felt like painting outdoors, so very little studio work. Also my focus has been on my Open Studios and the Leatherhead Art Club Exhibition, both went well but visitor numbers were well down from two years ago. I sold more paintings than 2 years ago and income was a little higher. Just about covering my costs for the last two years.

I chose to show my paintings from the virtual sketching lockdown , plus the local paintings I’ve been working on over the last 18 months. Over 150 on display and a wide range of subjects.

I recieved fantastic response to my work and I would like to thank everyone who turned up and supported me. My sketching style was popular, roughly half were in this style , with the rest being local scenes.

Local Plein Air paintings over the last three months

Platts Eyot, Hurst Park (sketchbook)
Shere (sketchbook)
Denbies
Guilkdford (sketchbook)
The Mole at Leatherhead (sketchbook)
Haslemere (sketchbook)
Gimcrack Hill (sketchbook)
Leatherehad Bridge (sketchbook)
Mickleham Church (sketchbook)
Denbies (sketchbook)
Burrows Lea (sketchbook)
Bocketts Pig
View towards Mickleham from Bocketts
Gastons Farm, quick sketch
Lyme Regis using watercolour pencils
13/15 St Johns Road
Comission

February & March work

I’m starting to prepare for the Leatherhead Art Club Exhibition at Denbies, 17th May for a week; Also working towards my Surrey Open Studio in June (first three weekends plus the second and third Fridays). I have a lot of sketches to show and I’m planning to just mount these as there are so many.

Highlights on the Bridge over the Mole, Mickleham
Chris Foresy Challenge, Norfolk Harbour (Acrylics)
Mole Valley
Towards Worple Road, Leatherhead
Porto Tram
Chorley, Lancashire
Ripley (1st Plein Air of 2021)
Leeds to Liverpool Canal, Chorley
Fruit & Vegetable Seller, Valletta, Malta
Roughlee from Pasture Lane
Bury Transport Museum, ‘The Wedding Party’

January 2021 Studio Work

A very mixed bunch of paintings this month. Nearly all are responses to virtual or club challenges. These challenges allow me to try out new techniques and materials, so the work is varied.

The Rocks, Sydney
The Albion, Arnside
Bourbon Street, New Orleans
Haworth
Morcambe
Ballina, Ireland
Lacock
Tarasp, Switzerland
Sheep in the Snow
Norbury in the Snow
Candi
Candi and Laura

December Studio Work

A month working in the studio, completing challenges set by virtual groups. These groups continue to provide inspiration, challenges, motivation and purpose in my work. I discover new places and revisit holiday locations.

Accrington and Rossendale College, Woodwork Dept
Dartmoor Snow
Hobart, Tasmania
Blackpool
San Gimignano
New York Deli
Santa Claus Village, Finland
Thorncroft Manor
Lexington Street

November Studio Work

With another lockdown there are no plein air paintings to show this month. I’ve returned to the VirtualRibble Facebook group, painting both UK and International pictures from Google 360 photos. This allows me to select my own composition and create my own atmosphere.

Appledore
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow
Rivington
Mhow
Family at work, Mhow
Floella Benjamin, Sky Arts
Laura, LAC Challenge
Norbury Cows, Franz Marc, LAC Challenge
New Zealand, LAC Challenge
Essaouira, Morocco, LAC Challenge
Commission, (unfinished)

Studio Work Oct

With the return of Sky Portrait Artist of the Week I have been painting every Sunday morning whilst listening to the artist and sitter talking to each other. Very enjoyable!

Also I’ve joined another virtual art group (#virtualribble) and have been painting views from Google Street View

Coln
Crail, Scotland
Lancaster Canal
Hadrians Wall