SUMPTIOUS art book featuring Beverley and the Low Wolds - Easter reduction

 

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. 

Please click this link for a more detailed review.

Reduced for Easter -  Don’t miss out - go to my online store HERE 

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.

Hammers Dale and a Houdini event.

Finished painting 40x30 inch, oil on stretched canvas.

I had a large, 40 x30 stretched canvas and my mind turned to the area along Loaningdale Road near Nunburnholme Wold. I thought that a painting could be done which included the distant Kipling Cotes finishing post as well as the wonderfully picturesque Hammers Dale. So off George and I went. It was a quiet, idyllic day for painting, warm, clear air and no wind. I made good progress  painting on the Michael Harding acrylic ground i had applied to the canvas

Palette is a little messy as I try and plan the work

After planning the main elements of the painting I decided to stop and return another day to complete the work. The next visit proved problematic. The conditions were the same except for a gusting wind which threatened to tip the canvas. The canvas flapped with the wind making finer detailing impossible. The painting was put in the car and I packed up. As I was here and did not want waste time I did a sketch which I thought would be useful for future work on the canvas. A local farmer stopped, climbed down from his huge JCB and came over for a chat.  We covered lots of interesting points. This was the same man who had been driving a tractor towing a tilling rig in the pale coloured field just visible over the hedge. When I walked George along the road, I looked down the hillside to the bottom of the hill, it was a continuous pale pinkish brown. The tractor turned, lined itself up and set off heading to the bottom of the hill. Then something strange, a surprise, the tractor began to disappear, even though it had a long way to go. I watched as the tilling discs, then the rig uprights and finally the tractor cab disappeared. It was a Houdini moment. When I mentioned this he said yes, that there was a steep dip on the hillside, invisible from the road. These dips and hills also meant that a smaller spraying rig was used at the farm. He told me that their rig was a modest 24 metres, any bigger would be problematic when turning on sharp slopes as the arms could catch and be damaged by coming into contact with the land. Not far away I watched a farmer with a 36 metres rig, his land was smooth and level in comparison. The farmer went on to explain how he had has an accident with a chainsaw. The resulting medical treatment required 3 visits to different facilities 35 miles apart and took all day. We talked of subsidies and how a lot seem to be changing. He also mentioned that the tilled field was to have peas planted which would be the first time in forty years. I mentioned that some of the old hedging showed signs of being laid at some time and did he remember it being done. He said it must have been fifty years ago as he could not remember it. I pause and look skywards. I thought I saw some swallows earlier though none could be seen at the moment.

Available from my ONLINE STORE

Rather complicated arrangement, George on his bed.

Sketch of the area including more of the view to the right hand side. Interestingly Pricket wood could just be seen on the right hand side horizon. The Kipling Cotes Derby course passes this wood. It had been the subject of an earlier painting.

 

The painting is not finished at this point. I need to make some minor adjustments. The actual canvas is much larger.

Magical energy at a Holy spring?

 This natural spring feeds a chalk stream where once a farmer grew watercress to sell at Hull Market. People who see it for the first time say the energy there is on a par with Glastonbury. Here is a sketch from 18th March. Please visit and leave no footprint. Keldmarsh nature reserve.

Kipling Cotes Derby FREE VIRTUAL GALLERY

 Click image to go to a small virtual gallery.

Kipling Cotes Derby racetrack at Enthorpe

This is a quick 14 x 10“ painting on canvas board using oil paint. I am standing with my Pochade box mounted on a tripod. The view in front of me shows the path to the old Enthorpe station, now a private house. The derby course is along the track and up the far hill before crossing the road, running from Middleton-on-the-Wolds to Market Weighton. From the Enthorpe Station House the course climbs 150 feet to the finishing post. This section is from Money Hill to Easthorpe Wold. It is amazing to think Henry VIII was King when this race was first run in 1519. The track still covers the same route which gives one a sense of history remembering all the times it has been run. 

14x10 inch oil on canvas, part of my Kipling Cotes exhibition.

Available here.

Kipling Cotes Derby, founded 1519, the oldest horse race in the UK.

 Kipling Cotes Derby racecourse. 

Just realised I have painted more views associated with this historic, special race dating back to 1519 and the time of Henry VIII. This means I can create a virtual exhibition on the theme of Kipling Cotes Derby. I may need to visit more locations especially on the section of track from Enthorpe…hmmm.

I travelled to the place where the Kipling Cotes derby crosses a road near the finish, parking on the south side of the road on the deeply rutted section which rises from Enthorpe. On race day I made some pen and ink sketches, my intention today was to add some colour. 

Here is the colour washed pen and ink sketch

After this quick little sketch I took the plunge, quite unplanned, to attempt a large 100 x 50cm oil painting. I set up the french easel and my collapsible folding table. Deciding to use only the primary colours of red yellow and blue, plus titanium white I began to set out the painting. Behind me the nearby road roared as large pantechnicans flew by, foot down in a hurry. Tractors with enormous bulk trailers approached from Loaningdale, stopping at the junction before turning to I their right. I turned as a huge tractor unit approached the junction watching it cross and stop beside me. The farmer opened his cab door, he was sitting high above me, looking down, he smiled and we chatted. G. Was from the nearby farm. He was the son of a man, now I think, a friend whom I had met at the finishing post on Kipling Cotes Derby race day.

I mentioned the view from his farm and how I would love to paint it if I could. He was very accommodating and helpful and suggested another view that I could also consider, as well as confirming I would be welcome to paint at the farm. We also talked of David Hockney and how he painted trees near at Loaningdale as well Dalton Gates. This is what getting out, into the real world, into the clean air and open vistas is all about. Unplanned meetings where conversation and generous, friendly people enhance the painting experience.

Click to see larger image

Here is the finished painting. It was all done at the venue with no work added at home. It is thus an ‘alla prime’ work, wet on wet. The painting is on stretched canvas 100 x 50cm, produced using long handled Rosemary hogs with the three primary colours plus white. Below the painting an be seen in-situ, the canvas orange ground showing through. The table at the right hand side. George was resting in the car behind me. He fell asleep as we had both had a disturbed night which needed a walk at around 6am. Hence being here quite early. 

Available from my online store HERE

Below are some close up views of the finished painting.

Click image to see a video of the painting.

Grinkle Park visit.

Here is a simple pen and ink sketch of Grinkle Park Hotel. Cannot recommend it enough, close to Staithes and Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Will add colour wash soon.

Sketch of people and dog not to scale but good for future reference. Busy beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, lots of surfing enthusiasts and dog walkers. Enjoyed a bracing walk along the pier. Managed some sketching as well as a valley woodland walk with FSD beside the small Skelton Beck which is a magical stream connected to the sea to allow sea trout and salmon to enter and spawn.

Oldest horse race - Kipling Cotes Derby.

 

19th March 2025, a beautiful day, no wind and bright, warming sun. Earlier, it was a little hazy so I waited until the afternoon when I popped over to the finishing post of the Kipling Cotes Derby ( first run in  1519) near Loaningdale. The road with verges either side was quiet. Tall trees stood sleeping, still and winter bare. As I was setting up a woman arrived and started to work near the finishing post. I was advised that a finishing rail was to be erected near me which required the car to be parked on the adjacent verge. I set up with the intention of using only the primary colours of blue red and yellow. To these I added titanium white and began to sketch out the picture. I did resort to using a premixed black at one point. The bright sun added colour to the trees, with shadows to my left. The hedges are still bare of leaves as we are slightly elevated here. In the nearby low Wolds, hedges are greening up. I worked this large canvas with my long handled ‘Rosemary’ hogs. I met some people as I worked away including a local farmer, who as a former steward,  had decades long associations with the race. A young family passing me in a large van stopped and reversed back to me, winding down the window we chatted for a short time and I asked the children if they could see the red kite. I decided I had done enough.

I managed to visit the next day, my first actual attendance at the event. I met the local farmer (92) again and we shook hands. He introduced me to  his younger brother (88). Friends from Beverley, a couple who had moved from Warter and accompanied by the wife’s sister stopped for a reminiscence. Another man from Coniston came over and we had a lovely talk about the Lake District and Colin Campbell’s Bluebird

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Pillar Mountain from Green Gable, English Lake District FLASH SALE

Click image to go to my online store   FLASH SALE

What a magical mountain Pillar is. It remains difficult to climb especially from Borrowdale due to the time required to get there and back before dark. Typically, from Seatoller the Buttermere 'bus is taken and one alights at the bottom of Honister at Gatesgarth Farm.
The next part of the walk would be over Scarth Gap passing  Black Sail youth hostel and then up onto Looking Stead before the final climb to the top. It is a long trek. This view is from Green Gable. I did a detailed sketch and worked up the picture from the sketch using acrylic paint. I love the sinister mass of Pillar and the feature of Pillar Rock being a little remote. From Green Gable we can see Scotland in the distance over the Solway Firth, not always visible due to cloud and mist, so this visit was even more special. The wind on top of Green Gable is very strong, and in the past I have had to lie down to avoid being blown over. An experience many of you would have had here. It is time I let someone else enjoy this picture and therefore it is now up for sale.

 

Totem at St. Peter’s Church, Hutton.

 I popped round to Hutton to paint the old sycamore tree, now a stump, or as some people would say a totem. The focus is very much on the tree with the suggestion, in the background, of the old vicarage. The vicarage is hidden by trees and bushes. In a way I see nature both dead and yet alive, the totem will soon be gone the vicarage obscured. I love the fact that an ELM tree, has been planted nearby. The elm is a disease resistant variety and I very much look forward to seeing it in leaf. Below are more paintings of the church and another of the vicarage. I have had to work quickly before the  views were obscured as trees get their leaves. Winter and early spring are wonderful times for painting and sketching, on sunny days the  dullish woodland and hedges glow with subtle colour and views usually hidden become visible.

All work is 14x10 inch, oil on canvas. Clicking each image will redirect you to my online store.

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Near Warter, from Bailey Lane.

March 15th 2025.
After another trip over to paint at Hutton I decided to walk George and we traveled across to Warter. I turned off the main road before reaching Warter onto the lane leading to Dalton Gates. I knew this would be good dog walking as well as taking me past the now famous tres that David Hockney painted ( Bigger trees at Warter). George had a wonderful walk along the quiet lane, hawthorn hedges at either side now being allowed to grow 3m tall, though still narrow at the base. Pheasants occasionally emerged from the hedges, crossing sleeping verges onto the road. They casually continued passing through the opposite hedge into fields of prepared soil. I realised I had time for another painting so I drove round to Bailey Lane which drops into Warter. Seeing this view I stopped and quickly set up near  Hunger Hill. As I painted the evening sun dropped and lit up the verges and road. The right hand side hedge acquired a shadow line from the opposite hedge. A field took on plough patterns as a cloud formation added sky interest. 

14x10 inch original oil on canvas board.

Available from my online store.

Plein air Painting - opportunity to purchase a first edition book.

A sumptuous art book explaining how I work, full of illustrations. This limited first edition is already in the process of revision with a new edition. This book will be a significant addition to any artists library.

Please click this link for a more detailed review.

Available from my online store HERE 

 

The North side of St.Peter’s Church, Hutton.

 I looked for a footpath behind the church and found a narrow, single file path heading north towards Orchard Lane. Emerging from the church grounds it appears in fact, to be two footpaths. One heads west. However it is really one footpath,  both the west and north paths converge at the entrance to the churchyard. I was told the footpath from Orchard Lane is called Howl footpath, later, I realised it simply led to Howl Lane. The view here is from near the exit of the churchyard to the Howl footpath. The area is overgrown with dense patches of brambles, trees are densely planted and there are signs of maintenance being undertaken. This is one of a series of paintings done quickly before foliage robs me of the views. 

Oil on canvas board 14x10 inch.

Available here.

ELM rising at St. Peter’s Church, Hutton.

 I popped over to Hutton to check some details on a painting I had done recently. I needed to check some details. I stood under the beech tree looking through a filigree old fine branches which were budding up. Soon this view would be hidden by the leaves so it was important to get this progressed. A beautiful moment came when three people appeared to plant a tree. Eventually the tree would grow to be a replacement for the venerable sycamore standing as a ghost totem. The tree had been kindly donated by one of the people who were now engaged in planting it behind the totem. I have quickly added a suggestion of the three people and the shrouded young tree. The major significance of the planting, is that the tree is an ELM. All elms over recent decades vanished here in the UK due to Dutch Elm disease, this elm has been bred to be disease resistant. At the moment it is a little hippy with thin but healthy looking branches, perhaps reaching eight feet tall. I do hope I will see it grow. 

Oil on canvas board 14x10 inch.

AVAILABLE from my ONLINE STORE.

St.Peter’s Church old Vicarage.

 This is a study, one of a group focussing on the Church and surrounding area.

It is 14x10 inch, oil on canvas and is available from my online store

Near Huggate - Yorkshire Wolds.

First visit 

A large canvas for a change, first of the year, 80 x 60cm

AVAILABLE HERE

First outing with the French easel, met some lovely people on a beautiful day. Here is Keasey Cottage, known locally as Ragworts. This is a large canvas and a late start means it was not completed in the one visit The view above shows it after session one. Below is the same painting - I took it to the same spot and did a little more work on it. I was wary not to make it too detailed, rewarding close inspection. Met a cyclist from Market Weighton who chatted about art and food. The painting below indicates the presence of beagles who passed through. The snowdrops in the verge outside the cottage are augmented by crocus flowering inside the drive. A group of mature cyclists stopped en-route for the tearoom at Tibthorpe and we shared some lovely comments about golf, cricket and rugby and how a married man should perhaps, reconsider the time it takes away from being at home.

Another sketch, an iPad animation made just past the cottage

Beverley Minster - looking towards the organ

 A particular favourite painting. This is a watercolour painting and needed several visits to complete.

Click image to be taken to my online store where an A3 print is available.

Beverley - lost views showing the Minster

Here are a couple of prints showing Beverley Minster across fields which now have housing on them.

By clicking each image you will be taken to my online store.

 

Hutton Church, a plein air study.

I visited the excellent exhibition at the Methodist Hall at Hutton Cranswick and after talking to Sh. Decided to pop down Hutton Road to see the church. I walked George around the church continuing to explore the area outside. Spotted the disused Mill across fields thinking it may be a good subject for a painting. Had a brief chat with a lady opposite the Old Vicarage as I had determined her drive would offer a good place to paint from. I remembered Mike and Carol Bowman from Cranswick and Mike Eastwood from Hutton, from my days as a research engineer. I  asked if she knew of  Mike Eastwood. Though not Mike, she remembered Geoff Eastward, as it happened I also knew him, I have still got his book on local walks. I am getting distracted. I found a place to paint the church and made a start. The painting will be a little unusual as I intend the focus to be a bare stemmed bush growing in front of the church. The painting below shows my initial work. I have moved the conifers on the left closer to the church.

 I will return and bite the bullet regarding adding the small tree. It will cover most of the right hand side of the church. Another obvious omission at the moment is the lack of gravestones. These too will be added. The entrance to the churchyard is through Aa well maintained gate. Just inside the gate, a huge dead stump of what looked like a sycamore stands like a sentinel  totem. Indeed the lady, I had talked to earlier mentioned that the tree had a gravestone inside it! Apparently, the tree grew around it, but the grave could still be touched by putting a hand by exploring a hole in the trunk.

So, here it is, I revisited briefly to add the trees and gravestones. It will be a useful study to keep and refer to when painting another larger, more panoramic painting.

Now available, click image to go to my online store.

Free VIRTUAL GALLERY - Twixt Malton and Wolds

 

Click image to enter and explore.

FREE VIRTUAL GALLERY - Beverley Minster studies, plus a shhhh….secret garden.

 Click image to enter the gallery. A mixture of felt tip pen  and acrylic paint experiments and iPad sketches.

FREE VIRTUAL EXHIBITION - some of my PRINTS

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Sketchbook of pen and ink washes

 Great present for anyone who loves the open vistas of the countryside

Available HERE