The Adventures of Little Tam

Well since I last posted on my Blog, so much has happened. I have been resident Artist at RHS Harlow Carr for two weeks, I have walked the Coast to Coast path from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay, I  have painted and painted to get ready for the Summer Exhibition in the Gardens and have started to record the adventures of Little Tam a little lamb that was found on my walk who fell out of a back pack and who is desperately trying to catch up with his friends who are walking to the sea. You can follow his adventures on my  Nikky Corker Artist facebook page. Just click on the little f on my home page.

Celebrating the Yorkshire stage of the Tour de France

Jane and I are having such a lovely time at Harlow Carr meeting up with old friends and getting to know lots of new ones as we work in the Bath House in the Gardens of RHS Harlow Carr. We have been waving goodbye to lots of our happy paintings and wishing them well in their new homes. It is so rewarding to watch the smiles on peoples faces as they engage with my paintings and talking through my sketchbooks I am able to explain the background to my work and my journey so far. One of the most popular pieces has been the painting commemorating the Yorkshire stage of the Tour de France, titled 'What's the hurry'. The original sold straight away as the exhibition opened but there are 2 sizes of print available should anyone want a reproduction. Just e mail me through the contacts page if you would like to know more. We are at the gardens until 4 pm on Tuesday 29th April if you would like to come and say hello.

Studio in the Bath House

Not long now until I set up my exhibition and temporary studio in the Bath House at RHS Harlow Carr. It will be lovely to have the opportunity to meet people and talk about my work and showcase the very latest paintings. The tulips in the gardens are going to be amazing this year so there will have to be a new tulip piece on the easel. Do pop in and say hello if you are planning to visit Harrogate over Easter. (Normal admission fees apply for the gardens)

Meanwhile my studio in my garden is bursting at the seams with STUFF ! it seams the more untidy my space is the more creative I feel. That's my excuse anyway :0)

Paintings from the past

I thought you might like to see one of the paintings from my degree show all the way back in 1983 ! I was studying allotments in a semi abstract style and this one was bought by a friend who still loves it. My allotment studies these days are very much more figurative but I do still enjoy  playing with abstract ideas when I have some spare time. This one is a biggy about a metre square.

Travelling Companions

Well here is my latest piece inspired by the Yorkshire excitement about the Tour de France although Bunty and Betty prefer a more relaxed potter along the country lanes with Beryl and Barney along for the ride.

Birthday Flowers

It is no wonder that I find new inspiration for happy paintings every day when I have such lovely family and friends who bring me such beautiful gifts. How lucky I am. I have already started a flower shop painting this morning as a result of these beauties. xx

Art Appreciation

Last month Ali and I spent a happy day together in London and visited the Lowry exhibition at the Tate Britain. A great show and some interesting and thought provoking work, as usual I found myself fascinated by not only the paintings but also by the people visiting the gallery. This is the result of several sketches I made on the train on the way back North.

                                                                  Art Appreciation

A beautiful day to play

A walk in the Yorkshire Wolds in Saturday's sunshine was made even more fun when we stumbled upon a rope swing. Around every corner there is an opportunity for play and a good laugh. New inspiration for another painting?

Autumn Inspiration

A walk in the beautiful Hackfall Woods near Masham has been the inspiration for some new work !

 The smell of Autumn woodland, the dappled Autumn light, the singing of Autumn colour on a bright day and  crunching through the fallen leaves, like wading through a giant bowl of cornflakes.

Some enchanted evening

Sometimes a song just pops into my head and I find myself singing it at the top of my voice, usually thank goodness in the privacy of my own home. That is just what happened recently and it inspired me to paint this little romantic landscape.

This painting is heading for the St Gemma's Hospice Exhibition at Leeds Grammar School next week, this annual exhibition is lovely, approximately 800 paintings by all sorts of artists. Well worth a visit if you are in the area and another chance for me to meet up with some of my artist friends. x

Yorkshire baby boom

This Sunday 1st September we walked the beautiful valley of Rosedale and were amazed to come across new ducklings and chicks amongst all of the other farm stock and wildlife. Something to make you smile around every corner from hundreds of grouse and sleeping ducks to funny shaggy pigs. The hedgerows are a picture this week  especially the rowan berries which I just have to feature in my latest landscape. To top off a great walk we enjoyed a big pot of Yorkshire tea and a slab of cake in the garden of Dale Head Farm House with views of the dale to make your heart sing.

Bunty's Butterflies

It is so easy to get lost in time when there are such beautiful things to see, I have just spent  20 minutes enjoying the annual butterfly party on the buddleia bush and I have never seen so many bumble bees on the lavender, these little creatures are such a joy to watch.