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 the Stewards Enclosure, blazer, shirt and tie for me and Susan with skirts and dresses below the knee. I was able to gather lots of wonderful reference of the young men practising and racing, from dawn to dusk. My studies helped me to build up a collection of paintings of Henley Royal Regatta to display in The Stewards Enclosure for the next few years.
Watercolours of Rowing
This study titled “Last Practise” is typical of some of the watercolours I sold from the gallery in the Stewards Enclosure during subsequent regattas. Even though the sun has disappeared behind the riverside buildings, there is still a strong feeling of light, which I’ve created by keeping the base washes clean, simple and pure, whilst making the main points of interest, strong, defined and sharp.