Job Coach As you many of you will know I have been working as an artist since 1984. However, since March 2018, I have been working as a Job Coach Helping Ex-Offenders find employment. This has been on a part time basis with the charity Junction 42 in Newcastle. Junction 42 delivers faith and creative … Read more
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 painting. … Read more
Painting in Norfolk In September 2009 my wife and I went to Norfolk with our daughter and her two children to Norfolk for the week. Although it was a family holiday, I turned it into a painting trip. Every morning I would get up early before everyone woke up and I would go off painting. … Read more
Paintings of Rome In the spring of 1998 we spent several days in Rome so that I could explore opportunities to paint this ancient city. We stayed in a cheap hotel in Campo de’ Fiori which literally means “field of flowers”. I painted several watercolours on location of various landmarks including Rome Rooftops but really … Read more
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 … Read more
Newcastle Paintings The Christmas break gave me the opportunity to do a new painting to add to the Newcastle collection of prints. My painting titled “Tyne Bridges, Summer Sunset” sold out last year. I wanted a new image to replace it that captured Newcastle’s quayside, the Millennium Bridge and the Sage. This particular view taken … Read more
Original Watercolour Paintings My Christmas Exhibition opened up on Saturday 11th December. The exhibition features new original paintings and limited edition prints that I’ve painted in-between painting commissions. Despite COVID restrictions, I’ve never been so busy, juggling my painting business with the Outreach work I do for North East Charity Junction 42. Online sales have … Read more
Grey Street Painting This week saw me reach another landmark birthday, I’m now 60 years old. I have to say that I’m grateful to God that I’ve been blessed with 60 years to date. However, compared to my 60th, my 50th birthday was more of a year of contemplation and challenge. In 2011 when I … Read more
Junction 42 Here’s an update on what’s been going on in the last 12 months with my work at Junction 42. I’ve been working part time for this North East Charity since March 2018. My main role is an Outreach Worker with ex-offenders who are out of work. However, I’ve also been teaching art in … Read more
Malta In November this year I will be 60 years old. We decided to celebrate this landmark birthday early, with our first trip abroad since COVID. Jet2 are doing direct flights to Valletta, Malta from Newcastle Airport. Susan thought that this would be a chance to enjoy some late Mediterranean sun and for me to … Read more