Woodend mill interior (l) painting interior mill factory north england english industrial>

This painting has been sold



Acrylic on hardboard 7.5" x8"

Built in 1848, Woodend Mill is one of the last surviving cotton mills in the area. It hasn't produced cotton since 1951 and has now been turned into artists' studios. It's a really interesting place in a semi-rural setting. It remains very much a "work area", has not been "prettied up" and it epitomises and evokes the north of England ethos and culture. For some time I have had the idea brewing in my head that I would do some paintings focussing on the building and perhaps even on some of the work areas of the artists involved. I hope this painting is the first of several.

At sea painting sea ocean waves girl beach

This painting has been sold



Acrylic on hardboard 8" x 8"

I think it's nearly the end of this little beach series. Even in the height of summer the beaches we have been to have been somewhat off the beaten track - not so popular for the hordes but it suited us. I think this one was in North Wales.

New Blog

I have spent today uploading some larger pieces into a new blog specifically set up for that purpose. I no longer have my web site so needed some kind of portfolio for these works. Click here to see the new blog. It contains both sold and unsold works and I'll add to it whenever I complete a bigger piece. Obviously this will not replace my two daily blogs in any way. Thanks for looking.

(nodp)

On the beach figurative painting girl beach dog sea

This painting has been sold



Acrylic on hardboard 8" x 8"

Sometimes you get a glance of a scene out of the corner of your eye - half a dog, half a figure. In this case the figure breaks a cardinal rule - never cut off your figures at joints of the body like ankles or wrists or neck. I wanted the challenge of breaking the rule yet having strong contrast around the focal point of the girl's face to pull the viewer's eye up and into the just-off-centre of the support or frame of the painting. The whole notion for painters of trying to fit life into a square or a rectangle, selecting and confining ourselves to just certain shapes and objects, is strange and interesting. And let's face it - a bit odd.

Clearing tables figurative painting waitress cafe sun europe

This painting has been sold



Acrylic on hardboard 8" x 8"

Sometimes I like to describe things in a two dimensional way, getting away from perspective. The reference photo for this was totally cluttered and confused, there was so much information in it, but the key thing was this young woman waiting on tables and the sun just glancing off the back of her neck and shoulders. I therefore adapted most of the shapes and colours to create something new.

To the sea girl sea beach england english sun

This painting has been sold



Acrylic and pencil on hardboard 8" x 8"

I have been interested lately in looking again at the work of Richard Garrison who combines an interest in the human figure with a concern for geometric shape and form. You can probably see his influence here in this painting of the girl running to the sea. Although I wanted it to have a fairly abstract feel I also wanted to retain that fresh air, beach breezy environment.

An English sea seaside sea dog boat girl expressionist painting

This painting has been sold



Acrylic on hardboard 8" x 8"

I'm pleased with this painting. I like the way the figure feels rooted in the scene but is part of the containing square of the support by linking her to the jetty or structure which you can see behind her head.

Panelled room interior painting woman elizabethan english england hydrangea>

This painting has been sold



Acrylic on board 12" x 10.25"

I have been reading a book by a contemporary British painter, John Hammond, who works only in acrylics. He uses lots of glazing and I thought I would have a try at that once more. The result looks like water colour in parts. This is another figurative based on Haddon Hall. The figure here is to the left, seated and engrossed in a book.

Vigil woman interior window england english

This painting has been sold



Acrylic on hardboard 8" x8" £65 (British pounds) plus postage & packing (£3.50 to UK; £7 to rest of world)

Remember the Haddon Hall series? I have taken a scene from that set of photos and introduced a figure. I have planned to paint those steps for a while and thought it was interesting with a figure in there. I love Hopper's 1920 ladies so I thought she could be wearing 1920s clothes. Actually the cloche hats are back - I just bought one!

The sun room interior sun figure painting

Acrylic on hardboard 8" x 8" £65 (British pounds) plus postage & packing (£3.50 to UK; £7 to rest of world)

A wealthy town house in Amsterdam inspired this painting.