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