Paintings of Newcastle

The popularity of my limited edition prints is partially down to the fact that I usually include figures in the paintings. This helps to bring the painting to life. Over the years I spent considerable time observing people going about their daily business in cities.  Some of my favourite cities are Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Venice, Florence and New York. I’ve developed a kind of shorthand for drawing them on the move. This is usually one in my sketchbook which I can refer to when I come to do a studio painting. I will of course take photographs. It’s impossible to draw people in detail walking about the streets unless they are deliberately modelling for you. It’s this experience that helped me produce this watercolour of Grainger Street in Newcastle.

Figures

It’s the figures in this painting which are the dominant point of interest. Folk have often commented that they love the old man shuffling along with his newspaper sticking out of his back pocket. People can relate to the two old ladies nattering away with their shopping bags and the road sweeper who has stopped to light up a fag. The original painting sold many years ago but the limited edition print titled Grainger Street is still available online or from my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland.