A Colourful Life - Edition 1

This week we’re diving into a completely different, so let’s get started

Featured Art Work

‘BREATHE’

2025

Oil, plastic, sand and feather on canvas.

This painting is one of several that I have painted especially for my upcoming solo exhibition ‘Our Beautiful World’ See What’s On for more details of the exhibition.

It is inspired by a visit earlier on in the year to the North East Coast, in particular Newbiggin By The Sea in Northumberland. It is a beautiful bay with an unspoilt coastline and breath-taking views.

The pattern used is a Triquetra pattern, a powerful symbol of Sacred Geometry which symbolises all the important triads throughout history, including the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; the mind, body and spirit; past, present, future; Creation, preservation and destruction.  

The Triquetra pattern is also to be found on the architecture of the Clock Tower in Tynemouth, and helped me to decide on this use of pattern in this collection of 4 paintings of the North East Coast.

The materials used in this painting combine oil paint with sand taken from the beach at Newbiggin as well as plastics beach-combed from the North East coastline.  This particular plastic included discarded fishing lines, which have been tangled and include a feather caught in the debris.

As this painting has been painted specifically for the exhibition, it is not available through my website and will not be shown until June, so make sure you save the date for the exhibition and get over to Corbridge to see it for the first time. where it will be available to purchase.  30% of all profits from the exhibition go to St Andrews Church, so an even better excuse to buy a unique and original piece of artwork, that comments on Our Beautiful World.

Bargain of the Week 50% off!

As a celebration of the launch of my new style newsletter and Video Blog,  I am offering an amazing discount on all ‘Small Paintings’ on my Website.  For one week only, I am giving a massive 50% off any painting currently listed as for sale in the ‘Small Paintings’ section of my website.  Yes - you read that correctly - a MASSIVE 50%!! But only for this week - Interested?  Message me to register your interest and I’ll sort out a discount code just for you.

Tips, Techniques and Tutorials

This week’s tip is on the use of a brush.  Sounds simple right??

However, it’s amazing what different results you can get from a different use of the same brush.  When I was much younger than I am now I studied Signwriting as a very poor student! So poor in fact that I could only afford one sign writing brush.

They are quite expensive and very unique.  I have just Googled it and in todays money they cost  around £24 for the one I used, which was a No 6 pure sable chisel.  If you’ve ever used one, they are very difficult to get on with at first.  But my signwriting brush taught me three very important lessons:

1. A medium sized brush such as no. 6 will do almost everything you need

2.You will get much more range from your brush if you fully load it before mark making

3.You don’t need a massive range of equipment to create amazing marks - in fact often less is more.  Watch my Tip of the Week here for more information on using a brush.

Behind the Scenes

This week I have begun my next series of 4 paintings, all inspired by Cumbrian landscapes.  

All of my recent painting start with a geometric pattern as an underpainting and these ones will all radiate out from a central point.  I then use my sketchbook as a basis for the image that will sit over the top of the pattern.  My sketchbook work begins on location of the view I am inspired by, and then the image is added to or re-created back in the studio before adding to the canvas.  Both of these images here are starting points and neither is yet the finished article.  Watch my weekly video blog for live footage of their progress

Curator’s Corner

Tips and advice for beginning or adding to a collection of art:

Buy What You Love - This is something you are going to have to live with, and no matter how much you might have heard about art as investment - the most important thing when buying art is that you love it! As my friend says -

‘it should make you want to do a small dance!’

What’s On?  

Gallery North West

1st March to 15th April.  24 Front Street, Brampton. CA8 1NG

Easter Open Studio

18th to 21st April 11am to 4pm daily.  The Old Police Station, Townhead, Alston. CA9 3SL

May Open Studios

3rd to 5th May inclusive, and 24th to 26th May inclusive. 11am to 4pm daily. The Old Police Station, Townhead, Alston. CA9 3SL

Our Beautiful World

Solo exhibition at St Andrews Church, Corbridge. 6th June to 15th June inclusive