Florence is possibly my favourite Italian city. I’ve been fortunate to travel there several time since my first visit back in 1998 when I sat on one of its bridges under the warm autumnal sun and painted a watercolour of Ponte Vecchio in an Arches Watercolour Block. During my last visit there in 2011 I … Read more
Whilst painting in Italy in September, I saw Fiona Bruce being filmed on Ponte Vecchio in Florence. I stopped to take a photograph of her, along with dozens of others. I’m sure we were all wondering which programme she was being filmed for. I discovered that it was for a documentary written and presented by … Read more
Ponte Vecchio Firenze You never quite know who you are going to see whilst painting on location. Whilst crossing Ponte Vecchio in Florence recently and noticed BBC’s Fiona Bruce being filmed by a camera crew. I’m not sure for what programme, perhaps another series of Fake or Fortune? I’ve painted several watercolours on location of … Read more
Florence One of the best view of Florence is from Piazza Michelangelo. I’ve now painted several watercolour studies from the piazza which boasts stunning views of the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the River Arno. Last Sunday afternoon was hot and sunny in Florence which meant that the watercolour paint dried very quickly. This was in … Read more
River Tyne Sunset My Summer Exhibition is now open at my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland. The subjects include local scenes from the North East including the one above of a River Tyne Sunset. It was inspired from reference I took back in 1985. The view has now changed. However, it does capture a … Read more
Florence Going to Florence in February has its advantages and disadvantages. You don’t get the crowds or searing heat that you can experience in the summer months, however the weather is usually cold and sometimes wet. I recall painting a 14″ x 10″ watercolour from Piazza Michelangelo. Susan was standing over me with an umbrella … Read more