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1. YORKSHIRE SKETCHBOOK featuring pen and ink washes,
2. How to make a pochade box to become a PLEIN AIR PAINTER
3. BEVERLEY AND THE LOW WOLDS
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Friday, 2 May 2025
Golden fields near Bracken.
EASTER SALE CONTINUED until may 15th
GREAT REDUCTIONS ON SELECTED ITEMS INCLUDING SUMPTIOUS LIMITED EDITION ART BOOK
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Foxcovert Farm and Shortlands, - Reposting with an interesting link.
Twixt Oxlands and Shortlands Dale
The short walk from Foxcovert Farm, passing the aboreal Ruby, becomes a mini adventure taking me to a quiet, secluded place where ancient peoples had lived.
( Reading about David Hockney, years later, I was interested to find out he regularly worked here - Foxcovert Farm - in the summer, after cycling over 50 miles from Bradford. Also that as a child, he like me was frustrated at not being allowed to go to Art School as a 12 year old. I had been offered a free scholarship but like David had to remain in main stream education. We must have walked the same paths)
At a place where an unknown mini Dale joins the path a pair of buzzards flew on lazy wings, looking as if they were attached to each other by a hidden line. They looked down on braces of pheasant as a deer appeared twice. In the distance, Oxlands plantation looked ethereal, a mixed wood of pale ochre tumbling down the steep chalky hillside. Occasional fir trees provided dark silhouettes, one or two breaking the skyline. In front of me, a poled wire fence terminates in a braced five bar gate.
A steep hill to my left has the skyline full of black silhouetted trees, ( Tutmans plantation, ) not dense enough to exclude all light, a natural leaded window. The steep hillside to my right is Shortlands Plantation, it is heavily wooded with mainly, beech. A wire fence, topped with two strands of barbed wire maintains it’s exclusivity, it’s privacy. Along the bottom of the wire fence at least a foot of fine chalky shale had built up having slid down the steep hillside. It was topped with orangery brown beech leaves looking like layers of a cake. As I walked away it looked strange, a flimsy wire fence managing to stay in place whilst seemingly holding back an avalanche of chalky chippings.
As I paint, George suddenly sits upright, quivering and fixedly looks at the wood on my right. I stop and stare, seeing nothing and tell him to ‘stay’. After a few moments big pointed ears appear, a deer is tentatively walking through the wood near the fence. It is close, but has not seen us. It keeps coming, stops and jumps back to free itself from a snag. Still it has not seen us, we are trying to ‘become a tree’ as it approaches. It ponders the fence for a moment then casually and gracefully jumps over it. It is now very close. It stops, still unaware of us and the moment is magical. Then a noise, it looks, sees us, then, hesitates a moment before running away.
Ahh… these moments make open air painting so rewarding.
I look up and see the buzzards are still etched in the distant sky. Pheasants run across the flat valley bottom, barking loudly. I look at the time, it will be dark in half an hour so I pack up and return slowly up the steep hill tripping on chalk flecked molehills and imagining their subterranean world. I remember the story about King William III and a toast..“the little gentleman in black velvet”. Seeing so many I am always impressed by their work ethic. Reaching the top of the dale I open a gate where a sign reads ‘ a gentleman passed through here’. I pass the tilled field where earlier a ghost tractor stood before passing some horned Jacobs. Once at the car I feed George and we set off for home as dusk envelopes a disappearing land.
Oil on canvas board, 14x10 inches. Available here
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Thixendale, Wolds Way at Fotherdale.
I set up my French easel,table, KH chair and looked down the road from Thixendale. The road leads to the Robert Fuller Gallery, about half a mile further on. I have painted this before ( use the simple search on my home page, for Thixendale to find more paintings) at different times of the year. The different crops and time of year make the scene change every visit. Today I noticed the fert green field of cereal. It seems incongruous to the surrounding hillsides. The sheep in the small field are either eating or laying down. It is a lovely, still, hot day. George is lying in the shade of the car. People walk up the road towards me. We chat about the Wolds Way path which they are doing in sections. They seem to think they may have done this section before but are happy to repeat it. They are from North Ferriby and I think of some people having a birthday ‘get together’ at Elloughton not far away from N.Ferriby. A familiar face calls across. She is with her husband and after another chat they stride away, disappearing round the distant corner. The painting is coming on slowly. It is large at one metre by a half metre. I continue to paint but after about three hours decide to pack up. As I am thinking another local woman stops and we have a long chat about certain issues. I pack up and take the narrow, precipitous road to Fridaythorpe via Thixendale Gritts where I stop. George is walked down towards Brubberdale. We stop as I see another familiar view. I return in the car, George anchored to a hedge hawthorn. I set up my concertina sketchbook, open it 4 pages wide and do a pen and ink sketch.David Hockney
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Wide landscapes of the Yorkshire Wolds.
I have been painting and sketching landscapes for many years and have been asked about publishing some of my sketches. Here is a simple book, printed to represent a sketchbook with over seventy pages of double page spreads. It is a high quality book with laminated cover and shrink wrapped thus ensuring pristine quality. I have left my shorthand colour notes on most of the sketches which will be of interest to plein air artists, landscape artists in particular. It also will interest Wolds Way walkers who will recognize some of the places. These sketches are mainly from a concertina sketchbook, the views being four pages wide. They have been proportionally reduced to fit the A5 landscape format. Full colour throughout.
I am working on a more comprehensive book which will feature original paintings in oil and those completed using an ipad. Look out for it.
This book of sketches has a limited edition of 200 which includes free copies for local school libraries as well as some complimentary copies for people met when at the various sites.
Available from my online shop.
Also, you can see a very short video of the book, see below,
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| Front cover |
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| Front cover showing spine. |
Sample of a double page spread.
Monday, 21 April 2025
Sumptious art book for exploring the Wolds.
Discounted for Easter
A sumptuous art book explaining how I work, full of illustrations. This limited first edition is already in the process of revision. This book will be a significant addition to any artists library.
This book is an exemplar of layout and production quality - please see an evaluation and review below.
Reduced for Easter
Don’t miss out
go to my online store
As the artist I can include a hand written dedication inside the book.
THIS FIRST EDITION IS A LIMITED
print run and will be sought after in years to come.
Saturday, 19 April 2025
Ordered riot of pheasants eye at Settrington
19th April 25.
After recently making a sketch a return trip was needed, quickly before the SUMPTIOUS, superb daffodils pass over. Today is Easter Saturday. My main aim with this painting is to capture the essence of the mass planting. It is as if one approaches the church riding on a cloud. All this is due the generous work of Settrington House which can just be glimpsed through the trees. The approach road is narrow, straight and well maintained, verges are full of narcissi. I could see signs of anemones and possibly snowdrops though all their flowers have now disappeared. Among the pale cream, even white petals of the pheasants eye, flashes of yellow indicated the odd traditional daffodil. I stopped and walked George, we visited the churchyard and walked around seeing more planted pheasants eye among the gravestones. I stopped here and there to read inscriptions, doffing my cap at some. I noted on one stone, details of the person, working out that they were born in the 17th century. On the painting, I have suggested the daffodils being in the graveyard as a thin pale line which I noticed as I painted. All was quiet except for one or two cars slowly driving to the church before returning immediately, heads craned looking at the daffodil show. Two young horse riders emerged from a side path, walking their charges down to the village. They returned very quickly and a short time later they drove away. A dog walker came over and we chatted about art. I showed my concertina sketch of the same place. A very interesting talk found me, a short time later greeting her again ( W ) as she returned to buy a book. The leaves are bursting into life and will soon compromise this particular view so I was happy to get it done today.
14x10 inch, oil on canvas board.
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Friday, 18 April 2025
Floral art animation
Painting from an iPad, a morning doodle. Below is how it came together.
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Lambs near South Dalton.
170425. Park Road, approaching Dalton Park, South Dalton.
May go back a repeat this using oils and a canvas. I feel it is a little overworked. The field mostly hidden on my left contained sheep. Ewes and lambs were eating, resting and chilling in a huge field. The lambs would walk over and look at me before their mothers moved them on. If you click the image to enlarge it you may just about see some sheep.
Can you see the sheep?
Nunburnhole where a raven gets angry
Four page wide concertina sketch.
170425. Here is another concertina sketchbook painting. I am high above Nunburnholme on the narrow Back Lane road to Warter. The road is badly potted after winter making driving slow and deliberate. As it approaches Nunburnholme it climbs to this point where there is a parking lay-by. I stop and walk George, I see Totteringhill Farm over the far side of the hill. On the skyline the telecoms mast at Nunburnholme Wold Farm can be seen surrounded by trees. It is a good reference point. I walk and suddenly freeze as I hear a sound. I can’t be. But it sounded like a raven and I peer skywards, I look at the tree tops, still yet to be in leaf. Nothing. Perhaps it was a crow after all. I walk on, hearing the deep ‘krarrk ’ I stop again, see nothing and return to the car. I get my concertina sketchbook out and begin to draw the view. My eye is caught by a buzzard to my left. As I watch a dark covine shadow suddenly appears and attacks the buzzard successfully driving it off. Was it a little too large to be a crow? I wonder, am unsure as it was a long way away. I continue the drawing then get my watercolours out and add colour. Then I hear the sound of a RTV approach, it is one of the estate ( Warter Estate) vehicles. I stop and jump in front of it causing it to brake hard. The driver looks at me quizzically as I begin to talk to him. I mention the sound and ask if there are any ravens here. He confirms that there are a couple of pair on the estate. This is amazing news. I tell him of hearing them in the Lake District and near Wales but not here. He tells me of a time he worked in Cumbria where he knew them well. I recalled sitting at Sprinkling Tarn under Great End which was towering high behind me as the ravens tumbled over the skyline ridge. They are a special, intelligent bird who need a certain habitat so this little encounter was very special. Back to the sketch. It show Totteringhill Farm on the far hillside, a place I have painted as a more distant speck on previous work. This view provides more information about its idyllic setting. As I stop and move on another surprise. A huge double deck ‘bus climbs up the narrow lane from Nunburnholme and disappears heading for Warter. Perhaps contributing to the poor road surface. I may have time for another sketch.
Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Become a plein air artist.
Own your own copy of my book, PLEIN AIR PAINTER. This was written with the prime intention of giving instructions about making your own paint box easel known as a pochade box. I have devised a fail proof, tested method of construction and include detailed assembly notes in this book so you can make your own. People who have the book tell me how helpful the tips and advice are. So, even if you have your own pochade box and need to know about canvas preparation, step by step development of a painting, mixing paint, the oil paints I use, checking layout etc you will find this book helpful.
Monday, 14 April 2025
Pheasants eye narcissi carpet the drive.
Passing through Settrington a detour found me driving through a cloud of staggering daffodils, or should I say narcissi. I think they may be Pheasant’s eye. These are pale, almost white with deeply coloured smaller centres. I set up my concertina sketchbook and did a pen and ink sketch before adding a simple wash. Enjoyed chatting to local people and hope to visit again with my oils.
Sunday, 13 April 2025
Peregrinations with a concertina
All sketches are from a concertina sketchbook and I hope, to be featured in my next sketchbook.
Holme on the Wolds
Park Farm Londesborough
The Old Vicarage, Southburn.
Friday, 11 April 2025
Cloud blossom Londesborough.
10th April 2025.
A exploratory trip with the aim of finding Londesborough Park Cricket Club found me here. The venue is stunning. The cricket ground, the square and outfield are immaculate, the pavilion superb. On my first visit no painting was planned and in any case the approach to the pitch was guarded by several recumbent sheep. To my untrained eye they looked like rams. Later I was told they were a breed called Ryeland.( go here to read about them) Have subsequently read up about them and loved finding out more. They are an interesting breed originally fed on rye grass down in Herefordshire. I returned to see they had moved and a farmer told me I was welcome to drive into the field which is used by cars on match days. The pride and joy at this time is the magnificent display of cherry blossom. Here was a subject I wanted to paint. I was expecting some large 1m x. 0.5m stretched canvases, they arrived and I applied some ground to them, then returned to paint this view. A farmer told vehicle in the field meant someone else was ther. I looked over to the pitch, it was being cut. As I painted another two cars came and went. The man cutting the grass was still industrially applying himself, as time passed I noticed he changed to a ride-on roller. The painting was nearly finished as he came over for a chat about various things including local people. George took advantage of shade from the car, it was a bright sunny spring day. Daffodils lined the farm road below the cherry trees. Nearby, very young calves called. Other than that all was quiet, heavenly.
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| George chilling! |
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Wednesday, 9 April 2025
St. Andrew’s Church, where children sleep. Langton near Malton.
I had wanted to paint a large painting, outside at the venue. The issue being that as I set off, the venue was not known or decided except I had an idea to try and paint some blackthorn. It precedes hawthorn ( may ) flowers and can look dramatic as a subject. I found myself turning off the main Malton road to walk George and eventually found myself at Neswick en-route for Kirkburn. Driving along the narrow lanes near Neswick I came across a tractor towing an enormous manure trailer. It had coated the road with generous amounts of well rotted manure making me slow down as I approached a tee junction near Neswick Farm where another fresh load in another huge trailer waited for me to pass before heading to the same field as the other tractor. The road cleared as I passed the source of the manure, a huge stack just off the road being worked with a large JCB. I suddenly noticed a stack of bales. Ever since being made more aware of bale stacks by a student from Canada, I pay particular attention when I see one. This stack was special. It comprised nine separate stacks, 2.4m square, 7.2m tall. The stacks were of miscanthus which I had remembered were grown to burn at power stations. Over at Neswick Farm I could see more stacks of bales waiting to be collected. The fields either side of the road were shaved short, an unusual sight as the tall miscanthus had previously almost touched the road at either side. I sat down with a sketch pad and did a quick watercolour sketch. Just a note for those tempted to go and paint them, miscanthus is more like bamboo and the short, shaven stems can be challenging to sit on.
I drove to Kirkburn and then to Langton. I walked George around the village of Langton and remembered a particular building I thought would make a studio. It is empty and needs some attention so I was pleased to see a little light work had been done to the ridge coping stones and brickwork. Passing the school I stopped and realised that they had broken for Easter. I like Langton very much and know some generous minded people nearby. I walked into the churchyard, found a view and set up my French easel and folding table. I had a large 1m x 0.5m canvas and large, long handle brushes. I set out the painting and completed about 90% using just the primary colours. George lay in the deep shade behind me, asleep. I packed up and returned home. The next day I added some fine details.
Available from my online store.
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Sunday, 6 April 2025
Londesborough shadows.
I spotted these wonderful trees at Londesborough, sun creating wonderful shadows. I decided to paint it keeping the painting loose. It is really a painting about atmosphere, the feeling of being in an ancient place, listening to the sound of silence. Met two men, brothers who were tending their parents graves….at opposite sides of the churchyard! Did not finish on the day so this was a second visit. Two women arrived parking opposite me before unloading their car. They had various plants purchased at Everingham Hall which was having an Open Gardens day.
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