In the realm of natural landmarks, some trees etch themselves into our collective memory with their beauty and significance. One such tree was the Sycamore Gap, a striking symbol of resilience nestled along Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland. Unfortunately, in September 2023, this iconic tree was cut down, but its memory lives on through a beautiful […]
In the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, the spirit of football runs deep in the veins of its residents. For the fans of Newcastle United, affectionately known as the “Toon Army,” match days are more than just sporting events; they are a celebration of community, loyalty, and unwavering passion. Alan Reed, a local artist has […]
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 […]
On Friday 19th May I’ll be having my first solo exhibition outside of our Gallery in Ponteland since before COVID. The venue is Ponteland Memorial Hall. Ponteland Memorial and Ex-Serviceman’s Hall first opened in 1922 as a memorial for the fallen soldiers of WW1. Today the hall operates as a registered charitable Incorporated Organisation and […]
My Easter Exhibition is on Saturday 8th April at our Studio & Gallery in Ponteland. There will be some new local scenes on display including Grey Street and scenes of the Tyne Bridge. We will be open from 9:30am until 5pm. Prison Art Over the last 12 months I’ve been busy teaching prisoners to draw […]
In an earlier blog post I wrote about a new painting of the Sandhill, Newcastle which features the Tyne Bridge. I spoke about another painting I’d started of Newcastle Bridges on a Summer Evening. It’s a scene I’ve painted before, however on this occasion it’s a much larger watercolour painting. It’s one of my favourite […]
Newcastle For much of my career as an artist I’ve had the good fortune of being able to work in the city of Newcastle. This has enabled me to see the city through the seasons and in all kinds of weather conditions. One of my favourite views is looking down from the base of grey’s […]
World War One The 15th of February was the 25th Anniversary of the Angel of the North. I recall going to the site a few days after it went up to make studies. Being February, there had been a lot of rain so there were puddles and mud. My initial impression was that of a […]
Susan and I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Turin to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. As we were wandering about I noticed a poster for an exhibition of paintings by Monet and Picasso at Palazzo Barolo Turin. I decided to pay a visit and was not disappointed. Although there was only one […]