This week I took a break from my studio and headed down to the South of France on a bit of a Van Gogh Art tour.  It was fascinating to see how little of an impact Van Gogh had on Arles, whilst some of his most amazing paintings come from there.  If you know some of Van Gogh’s paintings, it is hard not to see his paintings in every building! They all look like Van Gogh art work to me. 

It was brilliant to see the site of ‘The Yellow House’, where he painted and lived with Gaugin in Arles.  Unfortunately, the house was bombed during the second world war, but the background buildings are still there, so it’s easy to imagine the two inspirational painters living their life out in this beautiful part of the South of France.  And the colours are amazing – beautiful light and soft stone.

The Romans also thought so, and there is far more to see regarding the Roman architecture, including a stunning Roman amphitheatre, where Van Gogh painted his painting ‘Spectators in the Arena At Arles’. 

And one of my particular favourites is ‘The Café Terrace at Night’ and again, in viewing seeing this in real life, it looks just like a Van Gogh painting!

Beatriz Milhazes is a Brazilian artist with an exhibition on currently at Tate St Ives (until September 2024). I am particularly drawn to her paintings because of the similarities I see in my own work. Milhazes' studio is in Rio de Janeiro and as such she is influenced by the landscape around her and the botanical gardens of Rio de Janeiro.

Open Art Studio in Alston this Bank holiday weekend. I am opening the doors to The Old Police Station to show a range of large abstract landscapes as well as small original art works and limited edition art prints too. Some of my most popular paintings are now prints so this is not to be missed if you can make it.

This video shows my week as an artist in my studio in Cumbria, carrying out a painting commission of a garden, playing with glitter with the grandchildren and preparing for my first every sketch book workshop online. I also talk about my Open Studio Event next weekend 24th 25th and 26th August in Alston Cumbria.

If you’re interested in the painting process - my video blog is definitely for you this week! I have been flat out painting and now have three unfinished canvases on the go!

Which is super exciting because that means I will have three new paintings that will all be revealed for the first time at the Dennis Kilgallon Gallery from 6th July to 25th August.

This one above is the second painting I have made inspired by Cow Green Reservoir - as yet unfinished - I have some unresolved issues with the reservoir itself and then some details to add to finish it off, but it will definitely be ready for the 6th July!

Larger than the first one  this one is 80cm x 129cm and the Lapwing sits on the Golden Section. It will be for sale for the bargain price of £1050 so make sure you save the date to see it before it gets snapped up!

If you can’t make my exhibition at the Dennis Kilgallon Gallery don’t worry - we will be opening up The Old Police Station again for Open Studio Art Sale for 24th, 25th and 26th August for the Bank Holiday

And if you are in the South of England, The Old Cinema stock a range of my paintings and have even more online.

As well as a painting finished and a weekend at the Landmark Arts Fair in Teddington, London, we have still managed to put on a great show for you at The Old Police Station, Alston as par of my Open Studio event Spring Bank holiday 2024. Check out the video blog for what I’ve been up to this week.

Find us this week at the fabulous Landmark Arts Centre for the Landmark Spring Arts Fair in Teddington, London. We are on stall 67 with a range of my original paintings, from the largest down to the smallest, so lots of affordable art. There are also many other fantastic artists and makers here so really is something for everyone. Please come along if you can. But this isn't where we started the week - in fact, we began our art journey this week literally in another country - with a trip to beautiful Scotland - specifically Kirkudbright in the South West of Scotland. Known as an artist's town, Kirkudbright has an inspirational bay and I spent the morning painting en plein air in Jock Bay, working in my sketchbook in readiness for my next painting of 2024.

I am opening the door to my Studio this Bank holiday weekend with the lounge converted into a small gallery and lots of original artwork for sale for every budget. From affordable art to large original oil paintings, there really is something for everyone this weekend and we'd love to see you here in Alston Cumbria. I will be here for the three days beginning my next painting as well as welcoming visitors.