Back to the roses

Walled garden, Belton House
10" x 14"

I grabbed the chance to go back to the garden a couple of days later. I was rained off on this one, spent about half an hour fiddling about with the umbrella. Undoubtedly I would have gone on longer but really what more was there to say? I think it's all there, with a refreshing spontaneity. Sometimes we just go on too long... like an after dinner speech...

As seen (unframed) in a group of paintings in the studio

All of these paintings except the two small ones on the right are now wrapped up and on their way to Josephine Harpur Fine Art, to be exhibited in Suffolk shortly. 

Assington Mill allotments

Allotments in the rain at Assington Mill

Painting the English longhorn cattle

I had a great day yesterday at the beautiful Assington Mill, an organic farm in Suffolk. If you live anywhere near you must take a look at all the exciting day courses which they offer, and if you don't live near you can consider staying for a few days there in the delightful Mill cottage!  

It was really great to meet online friend the professional artist Roy Connelly, have a look at his blog if you don't already know his stunning landscape work.

In the morning I was able to paint the cattle, they kindly waited in position until I had finished! When I packed away Mabel, they all got up and walked off!

It started raining about 12.30 and didn't stop after that. Luckily though there were barns we could stand in to paint after a delicious home cooked lunch in the farmhouse kitchen. I was thrilled to discover that one end of the large teaching room had huge wooden doors which opened to reveal the allotments! Heaven! Painting in the dry with coffee and toilets constantly available, and a view like that! 

I didn't quite get it finished, as you can probably guess by looking at the foreground and the row of cabbages on the right hand side which looks like a solid clump of blue at the moment but I am pleased with it and think it deserves just a little extra work. Very pleased with the cows too, but I can't manage to get a good photo of it, probably because it's so dark today. 

The two and a half hour drive home in the dark and pouring rain was pretty horrid, but it was worth it for a great day's painting in excellent company and a beautiful setting.