Everyday a magic moment

Going down to the studio this evening I looked up and caught my breath. This was todays magic moment. In fact this photo does not do justice to the amazing contrast in colours. I stood and watched the sky until the colours faded like a curtain falling after the show's finale.

Where do the days go?

Where do the days go, it only seems like yesterday that I was getting everything ready for The Windsor show and now I realise that was two weeks ago! My feet don't seem to touch the ground these days. Well Windsor was fantastic, I was able to meet lots of new people both buyers and other artists. It is so good to share time with like minded people who support and encourage each other. I always come home with renewed energy and motivation after a show like that.
Last weekend was the annual exhibition of the local group of artists to whom I am their mentor and tutor. The show was a great success- well done all of you!
Now it is time to start to think about work to take to The Spring Fair in February so I kept myself amused on the long jorney back from Windsor by thinking up some new titles for work I have planned. I have added some new open edition prints to my prints page and Glebe Cottage Studio are publishing a new collection of my work to present to the retail trade at the Spring Fair, so it is all very exciting.
Here is one of my latest pieces 'Ewe are the sunshine of my life!'

New Prints

Hello again, we are still enjoying the autumn sunshine up here in Yorkshire. Making the most of each sunny day in case it is last we see of fine weather for a while. It has inspired me to start another sheep painting called 'Ewe are the sunshine of my life'. I shall be adding it to 'My Work' as soon as it is finished, it should make a good partner to 'Mutton dressed as lamb' which kept me amused last week.
We are just working on a new layout for the web site where you will be able to see all of my latest prints. The prints will be priced and can be purchased direct from me via e-mail to begin with and later by on line payment. Let me know what you think of it and if you have any difficulty navigating the site.
I am almost organised for the Windsor Contemporary Art Fair and am really looking forward to meeting lots of new faces.
Take care all.

October Sunshine

On Sunday morning we went for a walk in the woods near Falling Foss just inland from Whitby. The weather was fantastic and the Autumn sunshine poured through the trees creating a series of magical moments. I just had to share this one with you. Six of us stood transfixed as we watched the changing sihouettes and light shafts with only the sound of the water in the beck to be heard it was hard to drag ourselves away from such beauty.

Thanks for the support

Gosh! is it really two weeks since I last made contact. I can't think where the time goes. Today I have been thinking about Christmas cards. Reading the final proofs for the Lewy body cards so that they can go to press tommorow. The cards will be available from next week . If you would like to order some they are available on the website www.lewybody.org. We have had great support from donations and discounts from local businesses and The Wetherby Lions Club who have kindly funded the printing. Hopefully not only will we raise money through the sale of cards for education and research but we will help to make more people aware of Lewy Body Disease. I am also working on designs for Christmas 2008! Exciting opportunities which I will tell you about as soon as I can.
Have a good week!

Up amongst the heather

I took a trip to Swaledale this weekend to watch the sheep and enjoy some of my favourite scenery. Standing on top of Redmire Moor I had a panoramic view of the hills and dales all swathed in the most fantastic colours as the heather begins to flower. This trip to blow the cobwebs away and sooth the soul resulted in this piece called 'Up amongst the heather'

Charity Christmas Card

This is the second design to go with'Sailing Home For Christmas' it is called ' Star Struck'. I am considering packaging the cards in 12s but will let you know more as soon as we have decided on the details.

It is a beautiful morning up here in Yorkshire, a great day for a walk in the Dales I think. Hope you are all enjoying the same.

Charity Christmas Card

Hello again,
This week I have been busy designing Christmas Cards for The Lewy Body Society and though I would give you a sneek preview. What do you think?

Martha and Freddie

Martha had her friend Freddie to stay for a sleep over.

Matinee Performance

Hello again, I have just been having a giggle to myself as I painted this piece. Walking through the fields this spring I enjoyed watching the lambs jumping over their mums and standing on their backs. That memory came back to me this morning as I was pondering, as I do in my studio. Why should we have to grow up and give up the fun and games of childhood.Don't adult sheep get bored being sensible? Well, as you can tell by my work I never did grow up and will always enjoy being young at heart. I am off into the garden now to see if I can still cartwheel!

See you soon.

Never a dull moment

Phew! What a busy time I am having but loving every minute. The RHS Harlow Carr Summer Exhibition is up and running and it is always lovely to meet new people and to talk to them about the work.I am thrilled that we have had so many visitors and it is great to work alongside other artists during the show.
The studio is full of work in progress with a list of commissions as long as my arm. I am about to start work on some designs for Christmas cards for The Lewy Body Society. My Dad sadley died of the disease last year and I have become involved with the society and hope to help raise awareness of the disease through some of my work. If you are interested to know more check out the website www.lewybody.org . I will be posting my designs on my website when they are done.
In the mean time here is a piece I finished today that is heading to Tom at The Reading Room Gallery, Whitby.
Have a good week everyone.

Summer Walks

This is how I spent my holiday walking the Cornish coastal paths in the wind and the rain and the rain and the wind. Such a shame about the weather but I still managed to fill my sketch book with new ideas visiting old haunts and new villages. Next time you are in Cornwall check out the village of Portloe, I love it!

Resignation

Couldn't resist taking this photo, it is just a shame you couldn't hear the deep sigh which drew my attention to this dear old doggy. She lay beneath a benchful of gossiping girl friends all of whom looked as if they had just stepped out of a Beryl Cook painting, each enjoying an ice cream cone and putting the world to rights. Good on you girls!

Village Gossip

This week I thought I would move inland a little bringing a few favourites to populate the village, marmite the cat, a couple of seagulls and of course some water to reflect the cottages. Sheep and farm buildings are next.

A day in the Dales

Yesterday I went with fellow artist Jane Redfern to see Andrea Hunter - felt artist in her studio. Andrea is exhibiting at The RHS Garden Harlow Carr Summer Exhibition with us and we talked about her work how we would hang it, She is making new work especially for the exhibition and I can't wait to see it completed. What a fantastic journey from Wharfedale over to Wensleydale the views from the hill tops were stunning and the higgledy piggledy farm buildings have inspired me to paint some inland pieces next week. Watch this space.

Gatecrashers

Look who gatecrashed my garden party!
These fantastic poppies invited themselves, self seeding right next to my studio window. I just had to share them with you. Unfortunately they have taken a bashing from the torrential rain we have been having but there are still plenty of new buds ready to open as soon as the sun comes out again. I feel another painting coming on!

Animal Antics

Hello again, I am back home after a hectic weekend and couple of days running workshops at an arts festival in Shrewsbury, with a theme of 'animal antics' I taught painting techniques along side a felt maker, batik artist, potter and story teller, children also made puppets and masks amongst a host of other activities, such fun and the end results were amazing. Hard work but very rewarding. I was so busy I didn't even have time to take any photos, which is a great shame.

By the way, if anyone has been having difficulty contacting me through my contacts page, we have had a bit of a glitch which should be fixed now. Sorry about that.

More news soon.

Nikky

Untidy - me?

Hello again, I hope you have all had a good week. I have been working in the studio, refreshed after a week of fresh air working in the gardens. This week has been mostly commissions for galleries but also thinking about what I shall be hanging in The Summer Exhibition at Harlow Carr. Next week I will be teaching workshops in Shrewsbury at an arts festival organised by a college friend, so I am looking forward to encouraging lots of messy play and sharing some of my own painting techniques. I will let you know how we get on. Take care and cheerio.

Here comes the sun

It is hard to believe that only two days ago I was huddled in my coat and gloves and now here I am looking for shade. The weather today has been fantastic and so say the bees who have been swarming around the foliage garden looking for a new home. Rather unnerving but very interesting, we were evicted from our area of the garden at one point until the swarm settled for the rest of the day in a nearby tree. The heat has made painting interesting as the acrylics have dried so quickly I have had to work fast. I have finished the poppy piece that I started yesterday afternoon, so here it is.

Little people and poppies

At last a bright and sunny day to enjoy in the garden. Amongst the people I met today were Catherine, Peter, Matthew and James we spent a happy hour together as I painted and I am very grateful for their help, we talked about colours and shapes and textures, about brothers and sisters and grandmas, about home and school and so much more. What more could we want, good weather, beautiful surroundings and charming company. If their parents give their permission for me to upload a photograph of the children I think it would sum up the day.
Nikky:0)

The best of the day

Today started off fine and dandy with a blue sky and colours that sang in the sunshine. I was so thrilled to see good weather again that I stopped on my way to work to enjoy this view. Unfortunately by lunch time the clouds had reappeared, the rain drizzled and the wind got up. I did sit at the stream side and painted until my fingers were numb with cold and so that work will have to be completed tomorrow. But for now, here is my record in pastel of the best of the day 'Towards Spofforth'.

The scented garden

The weather today has been a little better, a few showers and gusty winds and a glimpse of blue sky later in the afternoon. Still, I managed to paint a view into the scented garden from under the lilac. The fantasic perfume of the lilac was so relaxing I am suprised I finished the piece at all. Tomorrow, weather permitting I am going to paint by the stream side where the azaleas tumble down to the water.

Five minutes of sunshine

So, we did get five minutes of sunshine this morning in between hail stones and rain. Not enough time to get a painting done but just enough time to get a pastel sketch of the summerhouse where I am based this week. Here's hoping that the weather tomorrow will be kinder.

Painting flowers in the rain

The joys of painting outdoors! Actually the rain drops made quite an interesting texture until the downpour made it impossible to continue, I will have to complete this one tommorow weather permitting. I heard that the sun should be shining again on Tuesday but I will need the brolly again tommorow hey ho!

Painting in the garden

Hello again, I have just got back from RHS Garden Harlow Carr where I have spent the day painting poppies and lupins. It has been so nice talking to people as I work and explaining my methods and technique whilst sharing the sunshine. I have been making the most of the weather as I believe it is going to rain tomorrow. Oh well, I will have to work in the summer house instead.

Here is what I have achieved today.

Welcome to my blog

Hello there! So how do you like my new web site?
Andy and I have had great fun putting it together and intend to keep you all informed about what I get up to in my studio throughout the year as well as telling you newsy bits and pieces that I think you might be interested in. It would be great to hear your views on the site so why don't you post your comments back to me on my blog space.