Fishermens shelter and London workshop

Fishermens shelter
Oils 14" x 18"

I had the immense pleasure of spending a couple of days in the fishermens shelter in Portscatho last year, when I put on a little pop-up exhibition with The Harbour Gallery. I was really inspired by the large window overlooking the sea and the way the sunlight came into the room. I did paint this view while I was there but I always felt that I had another one in me. 

Now I've painted this larger version in the studio and I'm really happy with it. It's one of six paintings that I'm framing up at the moment to send for selection to the Mall Galleries for the annual Royal Society of Marine Artists exhibition. 

This August I'm going to be running a day workshop at the Mall Galleries in London about 'Capturing the essence', talking about the ways I use simplification in my work. What is important to include and what can be left out?

Find out more and book yourself a place here :-)

Fig tree and shadows

Fig tree and shadows
12" x 12"

The morning light striking the agapanthus flowers, showing off their glory against the dark shape of my neighbour's hedge is what made me stop here. The peeps of bright acid greens through the gaps in the shadowy gate. And then the dappled shadow cast from the fig tree across the dusty path was enough to keep my attention. This is such a typical Bréhat scene, the pinks of hydrangeas seen in the garden beyond, the blue shutters at the window.

Sun lounger

Sun lounger
8" x 10"

Me and Maisie have spent many gorgeous hours on these sun loungers side by side. I'm reading or writing or surfing Pinterest, and every now and then Maisie asks me to throw an apple that's fallen from the tree. We can hear the odd call from a cockerel, and distant murmur of children playing on the sports field and not a great deal else. 

So enticing are our candy striped loungers here on the island, it was about time I painted them.

In the cooling shade

In the cooling shade
Oils approx 12" x 16"

I'm telling you the terrace was the only place to be in the afternoons... unless you were in the pool, or having a siesta in a darkened room ;-)

Early morning shadows on Mexico beach

Early morning shadows on Mexico beach

Another great day here in Florida. This is my first painting of today, the light and weather were perfect when we arrived on the pier in Mexico beach. It was 6.30 am when we arrived, and the shadows were long and violet stretching across the soft white sand. Very beautiful!