Olive Trees 2002
Umbria, Italy There’s something about olive trees that makes me want to paint them. It could be their gnarled, twisted branches, the obvious association with olive oil (which I love) or perhaps it’s because our son is called Oliver! It seems that whenever I come across olive trees, out comes my sketchbook. And so I […]
Firenze 1999
painted a watercolour from Piazza Michelangelo in the rain with Susan holding an umbrella over me. This was used to help create one of my first limited edition prints Florence from Piazza Michelangelo.
Key West 1998
Fort Lauderdale In 1998 I was invited to take part in an exhibition at the Walter C. Young Centre in Fort Lauderdale. We decided to travel over to America for the exhibition and do some paintings around Florida. After the exhibition preview we drove down to Key West. In many ways I was following in […]
Henley Royal Regatta 1995
Henley-on-Thames 1995 was the first year Susan and I went to the Henley Royal Regatta, a stage where several of my favourite subjects all came together for one colourful performance, skies, water, figures and architecture. The previous year’s trip to Venice had prepared me well. Susan and I had great fun getting dressed up for […]
Venezia 1994
In August 1994 we returned to Venezia with a clear agenda for me to paint on location every day. We stayed at the Hotel Cavalletto for three days before moving on to Marghera in the suburb of Venice to stay with Susan’s friend Franca and her family. Whilst we were at the Hotel Cavalletto (how […]
Venice 1991
Born Again When I first me Susan, we talked about our faith and how we had become Christians. For Susan, her new birth experience began when she was living in Venice in the mid eighties. Our first meal together was at an Italian restaurant in Ponteland and she would often talk about her love for […]
Beadnell 1990
Ponteland This is the opening watercolour that I painted in the handmade sketchbook that I had made in Venice in 2007. This is part of the story behind this painting of Bamburgh. Susan and I met in the Diamond Inn, Ponteland in February 1990. One of the first subjects we talked about was our Christian […]
Handmade Sketchbook
Venice This is the story of a special handmade sketchbook purchased in Venice. In May 2007 Susan and I were in Venice with some friends for several days. It was an inspirational trip for several reasons. One of the highlights was seeing a wonderful exhibition of John Singer Sargent watercolours of Venice. Another was a […]
Cheviot View
A watercolour commission for a special birthday present, a view of the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland near Corby’s Crag.
Loving Lake Como
Sala Comacina We’ve recently returned from a much needed break where we stayed for 6 days at Lake Como. It’s been a very busy year for us. Apart from the challenges of watching my father slowly deteriorate through Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, we’ve also moved house and business. Our daughter and family went to Lake Como […]