Maggie and I had another trip to our shared inspiration site at Credenhill Woods to see what it looks like in spring. Each time we go we try and take a new route to the top and each time the forest reveals something we've not seen before. It felt darker inside as the leaves have grown over and blocked out a lot of sun and the light that got through felt very green!
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME WATERCOLOURS FOR THE UPCOMING EXHIBITION AT KUNSTHUIS GALLERY. THEY'RE BASED ON MEMORY AND IMAGINED LANDSCAPES. I LOVE WATERCOLOUR, IT'S LOOSENESS AND SPONTANEITY. IT IS FASCINATING TO ADD PAINT TO WASHES OF WATER AND WATCH IT DEVELOP. THE ABILITY TO CREATE SUCH GENTLE COLOUR, LAYERS AND THE INCIDENTAL THINGS THAT HAPPEN, WHICH YOU CAN ONLY CONTROL TO A CERTAIN EXTENT ARE WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF MY FAVOURITE MEDIUMS.
NEAR THE VILLAGE OF CALLANISH, ON HARRIS, THERE IS AN ANCIENT ARRANGEMENT OF STANDING STONES. THEY WERE PLACED THERE AROUND 3000BC AND ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN USED FOR RITUALS, THEIR POSITION RELATING TO THE MOON, STARS AND SURROUNDING HILLS. WHATEVER THEIR ORIGINAL USE, THEY ARE STUNNING, AND QUITE MAGICAL.
IN RESEARCH FOR OUR JOINT EXHIBITION AT APPLESTORE GALLERY, MAGGIE KINGSTON AND I WENT TO CREDENHILL WOODS.
WE WILL BE EXHIBITING TOGETHER IN THE AUTUMN, AND HAVE CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO THE TITLE 'HEREFORDSHIRE- BEAUTY AND POWER' BY LOOKING AT THE HISTORY AND LANDSCAPE AROUND THE ANCIENT SITE. WE HAD A WONDERFUL WALK AND EXPLORE, AND ARE NOW BUZZING WITH IDEAS AFTER GATHERING INSPIRATION IN THE FORM OF PHOTOS AND NATURAL MATERIALS.
WE WILL BE VISITING THROUGHOUT THE COMING MONTHS AS WE BUILD A BODY OF WORK TOGETHER, WHICH WILL BE EXHIBITED IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
PAGES FROM MY SCOTLAND SKETCHBOOK. I ALWAYS WORK WITH WATERCOLOUR, INK AND PENCILS WHEN I'M OUT AND ABOUT, AS THEY'RE PORTABLE AND DRY QUICKLY... THOUGH NOT AS QUICKLY IN WINTER - SOMETIMES I ENLIST THE HELP OF THE CAR HEATER!
ON A PEBBLE BEACH WE FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL OLD BOAT (VERY UN SEAWORTHY) AND THESE FABULOUS ROUND WEIGHTS. THE COMBINATION OF THE SOFT PINK AND BLUE AND THE RUSTY METAL IS DELICIOUS.
PADDY AND I HEADED OFF TO SCOTLAND WITH OUR CAMERAS AND PAINTS AND LOTS OF WARM CLOTHES. WE DIDN'T NEED THE JUMPERS FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS - THE WEATHER WAS INCREDIBLE, MAKING PHOTOGRAPHY QUITE TRICKY FOR PADDY... I WASN'T COMPLAINING THOUGH!
THE LIGHT ON THE NORTH WEST COAST WAS STUNNING, PURE AND POSITIVE FEELING. WE HAD A LITTLE COTTAGE NEXT TO A BEAUTIFUL PINK SAND BEACH. THE LICHEN IN THE GRASS WAS AN ALMOST ACID GREEN, WHICH MADE THE PINK COLOUR SING EVEN MORE. WE COULD SEE ACROSS TO THE RIDGE OF STAC POLLAIDH AND I SPENT A LONG TIME SKETCHING THE SHAPE OF THE MOUNTAINS ON MY HORIZON.
IT WAS A LOVELY EVENING ON FRIDAY, WITH LOTS OF OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, COLLECTORS, THE OMP TEAM AND THE CHURCH STREET CHARITABLE TRUST MEMBERS AT OUR PRIVATE VIEW. WE'RE SO PLEASED WITH HOW OUR WORK LOOKS EXHIBITED TOGETHER IN SUCH A WONDERFUL SPACE.
