Sleeping

Sleep doesn’t come easy in our house. It seems ironic that I’ve spent a particularly sleepless week painting this!

Maybe for that reason, I love the physical abandon that comes with deep sleep…a kind of suspension of a person at their least conscious?

(NB painting done with permission of sleeper! Although he did insist his 2nd favourite ted be added at the last moment so he didn’t feel left out).

For any art nerds out there I’m a bit late to the party but this is my first go at water soluble oils. Love the way they can be used as textured oil or acrylic/almost watercolour. Lots of potential.

Wednesday lunch

We had lunch in a cosy dark cafe in Hampstead. Next to us sat an elderly woman dining alone with a huge bowl of pasta and a glass of wine. She was extremely frail and small, padded by cushions and clothes - the effort of each mouthful was palpable. But this meal seemed ritualistic, almost sacred, and I found it deeply moving. Her choice to enjoy a sensory experience despite the obvious challenges of old age was inspiring.

Oil on canvas 76x51cm

For sale in Gallery Sale

Landscape quest

I seem to be on a sort of mission with landscapes. I’m so bowled over by the beauty of what I see in reality that no matter what I put down, no painting comes close to measuring up to that feeling.

When I think of other artists’ work that get closer it’s always less naturalistic, more ‘painterly’ if not completely abstract.

So here’s the latest small step in my quest - this time exploring an autumn scene using palette knife, scratching and brush on a bright pink background.

Oil on canvas 42.5 x 30 cm

For sale in Gallery Sale

Autumn painting!

Another go at autumn had to be done, but this time in my warm studio without an umbrella lodged down the front of my anorak!
Oil on canvas 30 x 42.5cm

For sale in Gallery Sale

Autumn rain

I’d planned to paint the autumn colours at Hampstead Heath with my friend Morag. We refused to let the rain stop us but did get wet in the process..as did our pictures. My drawing is very blotchy, so instead here’s a pic of the determined art making in action!

My Dad’s portrait

A year ago my dad had a dream he was standing on the stairs in his house, looking in a long mirror next to a painting of his great(x3?) grandfather. He asked me to paint it.

In keeping with Dad’s fascination with the past, this became a painting of layers and time. His study of genealogy crept in as bits of the family tree I wrote for him when I was young. The wallpaper from his house grew over parts of the image, all but obscuring the mirror. He mentioned the artists reflection in Velazquez’s ‘Las Meninas’, so in a nod to the great work, I snuck myself in, ghost style as I painted him.

Slideshow of the many stages below. It was quite a journey!

Oil on canvas 150 x 100cm

Stormy skies

No matter how sunny it is outside I keep coming back to stormy skies! I’ve now painted this scene 3 times - I love the scale, and the contrast between nature and the tiny boat. Also the hopefulness of the blue sky appearing.

Oil on canvas 76.5 x 51 x 4cm

Private view at arts depot

A while back. I went to the private view of the Arts Depot Spring Arts and Crafts showcase where my painting Maldon clouds was exhibited. I had a great time meeting local artists and makers and seeing their work.

Painting On hAmpstead HeatH

I had a lovely time painting with a group of friends from Hampstead School of Art on Hampstead Heath. We sat in front of Henry Moore’s statue looking across the lake with the top of Highgate peeking through.

I had a go at acrylics on a smaller canvas board which seemed to lead to a tighter more illustrative style.

Acrylic on canvas 30 x 22.5cm

Art on display

Fantastic to see a selection of my artworks hanging together @emscoffeelondon and a couple at @potterspantry4 .

I’m thinking I might be working up to my first exhibition. If you know of a gallery that might fit, please shout as I’m still new to all this. Em’s in Whetstone and Potters Pantry in New Barnet do the BEST coffee!

Spring Burst

I was so distracted by this flash of colour I had to stop the car and take a look. Crocuses and daffodils planted closely together in massive groups seemed audacious against the fading winter background.

Oil on canvas 30 x 42.5cm. Part of gallery sale.

Frost melting

Winter morning - I took a walk through the crunchy frost before the sun melted it away and changed the landscapes colours.

Oil on canvas 60 x 42cm £300

Purple frost

Frost melting - walking home, the sun had melted most of the frost away but purple pockets remained resisting its heat.
Oil on canvas 60 x 42cm £300

Prints available now!

I’m super excited to be presenting some se.lected artwork as prints, the perfect Christmas pressie. Check out my new Prints page

Christmas sale

I’m delighted to open my Christmas sale on the first of the month with 10% off all artwork in my artwork sale! Get shopping!

I’m delighted to launch my Christmas artwork sale with 10% off everything on the artwork page! I’m also having a go at creating prints of some of my work. Check out the Prints page or get in touch if there’s a picture not up there you’d like as a print.

Watching the storm

My son spontaneously jumped into the Welsh sea on a very non beach day. The sky darkened dramatically and we watched as it rolled with the waves towards us.

Oil paint on canvas 51 x 40.5cm

£200

CLOUDSCAPE

I loved painting this cloud ‘triptych’ capturing the ever changing sky and colours. The only challenge was how to photograph them together, so excuse the ‘propped on a bed’ look! Also which order should they go in?

Oil on canvas 51 x 40.5cm

Available individually (£200) or all together (£550)

last days of Autumn

This painting sold a while ago, but I recently delivered it, which seems good timing as we come to the end of a stunning autumn. Oil on canvas board 61 x 46cm

Maldon clouds

I can't stop looking at the ever-changing sky, especially the clouds. These ones are from a sunset in Maldon.

Oil paint on canvas 51 x 40.5cm £250

Stepping In

I'm finally painting again after the long summer break - seeking something different in style and failing to find it! Some say this dissatisfaction is the precursor to change. Here’s hoping!

Anyhoo here's an oil on canvas board of kids playing in the sea (30 x 40cm) For sale £200