New Business In a few weeks time, I will be celebrating my 40th Anniversary in business as an artist. In 1984 I went self employed as an artist/illustrator using the Enterprise Allowance Scheme. It was an initiative that came out during Margaret Thatcher’s Government. To qualify you had to be unemployed and have a business […]
Watercolour Demonstration As the year draws to a close I know that I will be taking my usual time out to review the year. Like most of us, it’s a combination of being grateful, and thinking of those less fortunate. Spending time working in one of the north east’s prisons does give you a greater […]
Calvari Steps Pollenca Earlier this year I received a commission to paint a client’s holiday home on the island of Mallorca. We went out for a week to enable me do some sketchbook watercolours. They were not just of his property but also of the town of Pollenca. You can read about the sketches in […]
I’ve recently been commissioned to paint a client’s holiday home in Mallorca, a very attractive Mediterranean island. To be able to paint the property with greater insight, we felt it would be best to stay for several days to enable me to do some sketchbook watercolours, not just of the property, but also the small […]
San Gimignano I often paint watercolours as a Handmade Card for family members or for very special friends. There are some occasions when I do get commissioned to paint a scene as a special card. In September, a close friend was celebrating his 50th birthday. I knew straight away the subject he would connect with. […]
Blyth Beach On New Years Eve I received a telephone call from a new client in Canada. They wanted to Commission a Painting of various family members, including themselves on Blyth Beach in Northumberland. Although the client had photographs of the family on the beach, the composition of the figures wasn’t suitable for a […]
In 2019 I posted a John Singer Sargent watercolour titled “White Ships” on social media. I spoke about the freshness and spontaneity of Sargent’s brush stokes and how Sargent would “draw” with his brush. It’s a technique that I’ve tried to cultivate in my own painting to bring movement and life to my paintings. Almost […]
Anniversary The first of October is a landmark date for me. It was this day in 1984 that I went self employed as an artist. I began undertaking all kinds of Painting Commissions. Over the last 36 years I’ve been through all kinds of challenges, particularly during the recession which began in 2008 with the […]
Handmade Cards It was recently our 27th wedding anniversary. For most of our wedding anniversaries, birthdays and for Christmas, I will paint an original watercolour as a Handmade Card for my wife Susan. She now has quite a collection of Handmade Cards that capture different occasions and places that hold special memories for us both. […]
Dog Portraits I was recently commissioned to paint a portrait of a clients pet dog. It was a surprise 50th birthday present. They supplied me with several photographs for me to work from. All I had to do was make the most suitable selection. Needless to say, the recipient was delighted with the painting of […]