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.

Patterns of the past

Sometimes the most beautiful things are right there under our feet. I have always been excited and inspired by pattern, from the simple potato print repetition of my early years and the furrow lines of a ploughed filed to the intricate stitching of ancient tapestries. My treat this week was the 12th century tiles of Winchester Cathedral.

Hot and Sticky Studio

Phew, never thought I would be saying that I am glad it has cooled down but the heat has been so difficult to work in. I am afraid I am getting behind with my paintings at the moment as the paint is drying too quickly and instead of the colours flowing beautifully together it is like painting with tar and several of my favourite brushes have had to be thrown way. So I am admitting defeat for a few days and spending time with my pencils and sketch books. I have so many ideas for new work that should keep me going for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, stocking up on much needed vitamin D I am taking every opportunity to get out into the Dales and drink in the beautiful views, listen to the sky larks and curlews and talk to the sheep, all the things that nourish my soul and fill me with gratitude. x

Northumbrian weekend

Alan and I have just spent a great weekend in Northumberland ,walking Hadrian's Wall and visiting Roman Forts. Very exhilarating in the strong winds on the top of the hills. Fantastic views and real ale what could be better. We also visited Allendale to see Steph Jamieson at 'Pots in the Byre' where I treated myself to some gorgeous wood fired pieces, just couldn't resist.

Classic knits !

Last week I was helping Mum to sort out her cupboards and I came across these classic knitting patterns, what a hoot. It is the expressions on the model's faces that make me laugh. I think I will put them in some frames to give me a giggle if ever I start to take life too seriously. The sad thing is that I remember myself and my 2 brothers all wearing matching balaclavas when we were little. Ha Ha Ha. Oh dear I'm off again in fits of giggles....... x

Stars of the show

Just a quick hello to share this lovely corner of my garden with you. x

Capturing the moment

As promised here is a little glimpse inside my sketch books. So many people at Harlow Carr were delighted to see what I get up to on holiday. I go back to my drawing roots and watercolour box to make a visual record of the places I have visited. Often it is from these studies that I find inspiration for my quirky acrylic pieces.

And my tiny folding sketch book goes everywhere with me

Home from the garden

After 9 lovely days in my temporary studio in the gardens of Harlow Carr, it is back to my own garden studio for reflection and gathering my thoughts. It was so nice to meet so many enthusiastic people who enjoyed watching me work and who had a chance to skim through my sketch books and learn about how my work has evolved over the years since I studied in Cheltenham. My quirky leaning houses are a development of the paintings made in allotments close the Art College where old sheds leaned precariously this way and that, hanging on for just one more season and little characters worked amongst the vegetables. My pencil and water colour sketch books made on my journeys around the country and around the world were a real hit and I shall be adding some of them to my blog over the next couple of days as was suggested by one or two of my visitors, for those who couldn't attend to take a peek at. Must go as I have a car load of 'stuff' to unpack !