Moody Moors

Once again I was delighted to be invited to North Yorkshire to tutor painting workshops. The top pic was a demo I did of a view looking down into Rosedale. The beauty of having some cloud around is that you get lovely shadow patterns over the landscape which can be very effective in a painting.
We started the weekend workshop off with watercolour then the second day I got everyone painting with the new Atelier Interactive Acrylics which produced some very exciting results. The bottom pic was painted with these.
The Great Day out saw us traversing the Moors for some 'moody' shots as the day started out rather cloudy. However, around lunchtime the clouds started clearing and the weather got better and better and by the end of the day it was hot and sunny.
Cant wait to get some of those images committed to 'canvas' !

Wall to Wall Sunshine ...!

The weather forecast for our week in Lynmouth looked rather a mixed bag of wet and dry...but not a bit of it ! It was sunshine all the way with clear blue skies which was a real treat .

We got to do a bit of sketching in the harbour on the first afternoon to get into the 'swing' of it.

Our Hotel was the small and friendly Rock House perched right on the mouth of the River Lyn at the entrance of the harbour. There is literally a different view from every window.

Our first day out we drove down into the valleys and stopped at the small hamlet of Malmsmead with it narrow bridge and ford which was so captivating that we stayed all day. At times the only sounds you could hear were the murmouring of the river and birdsong....Bliss !!

The next day we headed up to the Valley of the Rocks where we picked a spot right on the cliff path with far reaching views right across to the far headland. It was quite warm in the sun but darned nippy in the shade !

On our last day we went up the Cliff Railway to Linton and spent a very pleasant few hours sketching and drinking coffee.

I have already booked dates at the Rock house for next year so if this a break that would suit you please check my website for details.

What a Great Island...!

This was my first visit to Mallorca and I was very pleasantly surprised ! I had this image in my head of lager louts and kiss me quick hats, but not a bit of it ! The island is extreemly pretty with views round every corner.
Our hotel was extreemly comfortable and friendly and the food was excellent with bags of choice. Our first day out painting on the Playa de Palma was very pleasant with the sea a deep turquoise. Next day we took a trip into Palma and painted the Cathedral and the docks.
The highlight of the week was our artists 'trip' to the east side of the island to paint in the lovely harbours of Cala Figuera and Porto Petro which were absolutely delightful. The weather closed in for a day but then brightened up again for our trip up into the mountains to the town of Valdemosa .
Our last excursion was on the mountain railway up to Soller. We spent the whole day up in this mountain resort with its lively squares and bustling trams which cut right through the streets .

So all in all I must say I was very impressed with all thing Mallorcan !

No Oeuf's, No Oeuf's

This year I went to tutour a week in Corsica with John and Maria of Bella Sardinia...and what a magical place.

We stayed in a small and friendly hotel right on the waterside with a small raised terrace overlooking the beach where we would have breakfast and evening drinks. The view from here was very paintable and that was exactly what we did on the first day.

Setting off up into the mountains we spent a day painting in the super littlevillage of Pigna with far reaching views over the coastline. Then we went to the seaside town of L'lle Rousse with its white columned marketplace and large tree lined square which was a joy to paint.

Back into the mountains, this time to the charming old hilltop village of San Antonino with its maze of interlocking pathways and alleys that lead you to some breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the mountains. We set up in the small shady square and I painted this view of the chapel and the steps. Lunch was in 'I Scalini' a tiny restuarant perched right on the top of the village with 360 degree views.

My other painting was done one night after dinner outside the hotel looking down the road to the archway that was all lit up. There was not much light to work by so it was almost 'paint by instinct' but the result turned out quite well I think !!

Florences' Big Adventure

Sadly, two weeks ago Flo, our little tortoiseshell ( pictured here with Woody ) was put to sleep but she was 19 years old ! And not before she went on her big adventure !
All the years we have had her she has never wandered away from home but a few months ago she went missing. In latter months she had become blind and almost deaf and she became painfully thin so we were thinking that the end was in sight, then she dissapeared. We searched for her high and low but no Flo.
On the fourth day of her dissapearance we decided to walk down into the village about a quarter mile away and caught sight of a 'FOUND CAT' poster stuck on a telegraph pole which looked just like our little cat...and it was !
Some really kind people at Trecilla Barn had seen her in a field behind their property and taken her in. Not knowing where she was from and seeing she was blind and rather thin they took her to their vet for a check over and put up the posters in the village.
We really had resigned ourselves to the fact that we wouldn't see her again and here she was.
When they found her she was soaking wet and had obviously fallen in the brook on the opposite side of the road. How she had ever negotiated the road, got across the brook and walked all the way down into the village I will never know...but she did and we had her for another month after that.
So for our little deaf and blind 19 year old cat who had never before left home it really was her last 'Big Adventure '

No troubles with Tunisia...!

What an eye opener this trip was. I think we were all in agreement that this was a really friendly place to be and there was no sign of trouble or any animosity towards us . Our hotel really did look after us and even though it was only about a third full the staff did not skimp on service or FOOD ! I have never seen such an array of different and exciting fare served up by a hotel before, it was amazing.

I wont say too much about the freshly made pancakes...suffice to say they went well with the breakfasts, lunches and dinners ( slight addiction here i fear !)

Seeing this was N Africa , when the wind blew it was a bit chilly and on one occasion we did some sketching in the vast hotel lobby which was a picture in itself.

Our trip to Tunis and the Souq was another eyeopener. Everyone seemed happy to see us and many came up to us to thank us for coming to their country.

All in all a very pleasant experience especially after all the turmoil that went on earlier in the year.

My New Book out in Sept

Exciting News !! My new book has just gone off to the publishers ready for a Sept print date ! The book is published by Halsgrove and is 144 full colour pages, hardbound and you will be able to order your signed copy direct from me when it is available.

Please check on my web page for info on ordering later on in the year. I will also be doing a 'tour' to art clubs and societies with a Book Signing and Demo so if your group would be interested please contact me for details.