I painted a self portrait reflection of myself while painting a view through my studio window....Interesting !

Renishaw Hall

I have been painting in Renishaw Hall garden, one of the last of my Summer paintings. This is the home of the famous Sitwell family. I painted this picture over two afternoons, standing in the shade of a high hedge. I was trying a heavier paper, 300lbs which has it's own properties. Anyway, I eventually finished it. Now for some Autumn views....

Sheffield Boardroom

I had a recent commission in Sheffield to paint the boardroom of a major local company. The building is quite old but the most interesting aspect was that the interior features of this room all came from the Cunard Liner, the Mauritania (which was broken up by a Sheffield firm Thomas Ward)
As I painted the picture in situ, I imagined Noel Coward leaning against the mantlepiece, muttering disdainfully while singing a light ditty.

Painting in the Gardens

I have been painting in our Botanical Gardens here in Sheffield. This picture was painted on site over two afternoons (4 hours). I met several people I had not seen for a few years so it pays to get out and about. I have a show in these gardens this weekend...sell, sell, sell....oh well !

Painting in Derbyshire

I was teaching in Derbyshire last weekend , and painted this Manor House as a demonstration. It is the house where The Babbington Plot was hatched to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne in the 16 century. It is currently owned by a former Blue Peter presenter who runs an excellent B&B service. I am told three of the Blue Peter Dogs are buried in the garden.......'Get down Shep!'

Long Shadows

I sketched this view first and came back to paint it the next day. It is a large painting 24"X18", and I attracted quite alot of attention from passers by, which is always a little unnerving. It was the shadow of the large building that attracted me. It passed across the scene surprisingly quickly and created quite a drama. I added the figures in the studio from the original sketch. I want to do it again on a rainy day , I am standing under a large canopy so it will be interesting.

This months painting was done at Haddon Hall, last week, over a couple of hot afternoons. The cascade of roses wrapped around the door to the Hall and gave of a wonderful scent, (which I thought was my deodorant) My picture received much admiration from a gaggle of German tourists, well, I took their gesticulations and holding their noses as an act of appreciation. But I enjoyed painting the picture and being in the sun.

Blossoms in Sheffield

I was determined to get out and paint some of the abundant blossom in Sheffield. I set myself up on the road side and slaved away under the merciless sun. A taxi driver stopped to look, was clearly impressed and asked my to do a painting of an adjoining street for him. 'I will give you ten or twenty quid he said' I made a note of his address and if the recession gets any worse, I might just knock on his door.

I went out on Monday above the city to paint a view of Sheffield nestling in the valley. The temperature outside was 5 degrees so I painted form inside the car. I paint from this spot at different times of day and season, building up a collection of similar views but with completely different atmospheres. Some on asked my how long this picture took....'Forty years and 90 minutes my boy!'

Licoln Cathedral

I visited Lincoln Cathedral on New Years day, I contemplated becoming a monk but decided to stay as an artist. I came back a week later and painted a view down the nave that I had sketched previously. The light faded and it became quite gloomy. I had brought the wrong set of paints (silly me) and had to use a sepia instead of a brown. I find plan B often more interesting than plan A, and was moderately pleased with 4 hours work.