Naked chestnut tree near Westwood Road.

This is a very old pen and ink sketch with watercolour wash added. It shows a chestnut tree in April, at this time devoid of leaves. Behind the tree on the right, is an old gate house. The big houses  on the left have a wonderful view over the Westwood were lots of walkers exercise their dogs and in late April early May, cattle appear.

Art books for sale from £20. All first editions, two feature the Yorkshire Wolds ( Low and High), another is a special book of concertina sketches with notes about how I produced these. There is also a simple sketchbook of double page spreads featuring local landscapes. And lastly, a book for those of you wanting to make your own painting box (pochade box). If interested please email me for details.

Towards Southburn from Burnbutts Lane.

Finished painting 14x10 inch oil on canvas

Cloud detail

Detail

Detail

Travelled to this place again, recently wild angry skies dominated. Today we have a short break in the weather, a storm is coming. I decided to paint the same view that I had done a couple of days earlier.  Standing at the tripod mounted paintbox (pochade box) evidence of recent fieldwork, spreading manure, meant both flies and a strong odour combined to make a challenging though memorable experience. As I painted, FSD with L, walked towards Burn Butts Farm, the conditions proving too much for FSD to paint. I carried on, finding myself thinking about the trials and tribulations plein air painters have to endure. Though this is a quiet, narrow road I was surprised to see quite a few cars drive past. Some were small saloons but most were larger and associated with farming ( various Land Rover models).

14x10 inch oil on canvas, price on application.

Books written by me featuring how to paint plein air. They contain many landscape views which will be of interest to Wolds walkers. Details from me, please email me for more information.

Beverley Minster from the Westwood pasture.

This is a plein air painting I produced in 2022. So a while ago. I am having to think of letting paintings go as, like many artists I am running out of space to store them. This is a large painting on a box canvas frame. 76x55cm approx. (30x21.5 inch). I am open to reasonable offers for this original painting, so, if interested please email me. It can be seen by contacting me to arrange a viewing.

Guide price £200+

Books for sale from £20

Brooding sky and distant Wolds near Southburn.

 
The weather forecast predicted heavy rain followed by thunderstorms. During a brief respite, I headed towards Southburn, hoping to capture the darkening skies. I spotted this field with some light stubble clinging on, even after the initial rolling and harvest. Using a large one-inch hog, I quickly painted the sky. As I painted, it transformed dramatically. At one point, a shower made me pause (since I was using water-based oil paints). The distant strip of hillsides is suggested rather than detailed, and it often disappeared as rolling showers passed. The goal was to create a memory of the active sky—to work quickly. 14x10 inch oil on canvas

Books available from me, please email if interested.

Pipe and Glass, South Dalton

Continuing my work with an A4 concertina sketchbook found me here at the excellent Michelin star restaurant. I am here on a Monday, early August. Monday is a day when the PNG is closed so I could sketch ( pencil with watercolour) in the garden without disturbing diners. I wanted to find a place where I could see the spire of St. Mary’s Church, the PNG conservatory but mainly the ancient yew tree. The weather had been very dry, hot sun had caused grass in an adjacent field to look like parchment.The yew, approximately 400-500 years old survives. It is much denser than shown here, though on close inspection evidence of damage can be seen, huge branches having been either cut or broken off. I have not included the patio furniture except to faintly suggest it in light pencil marks. I have a book featuring wide landscapes ‘ Plein Air Landscapes’ shown below. It contains many views, mostly pen and ink washes of East Yorkshire. The book has been well received and contains details of each painting. Email me for details.

Thornwick Bay, near Flamborough…and the wild horses incident.

I had seen, in an auction catalogue, a painting by one of my favourite artists, Walter Goodin. He had links with Fred Elwell and thus Mary Elwell (my favourite Elwell), his painting was of Thornwick Bay. I did not consider it one of his best, but it reminded me about Thornwick Bay and I set off to paint. I can’t remember ever visiting the private car park and stopped to talk to the attendant. I told him it was my first time visiting and that I was intending to do a painting, and he told me it was one of the places that David Hockney visited a lot. This made me very interested as I love David‘s work. I paid my £2 for all day parking, and drove down passing the first parking area and stopping quite near the café at the end of the road. From here I could see this scene. I wasn’t sure about painting it  so I explored Little Thornwick Bay just behind the café. Though it looked interesting, I didn’t feel it was quite right so I returned to this view.before deciding. I sat on the edge of a drop down to the small Beech. The tide was coming in. The wind gusting from the sea made painting detail a little tricky and so I stopped before adding too much. I could add more detail I thought, at home but decided in the event not to. I suggested the buildings on the top of the head Land which usually I would’ve made more detailed. I would also have had more detail generally in the rocks and the grasses, but I’m going to leave it as it is. It keeps it honest while I was painting a woman came across and we chatted about painting, she was with a group of women and had travelled from West Yorkshire, I forget from where. I will return to Thornwick Bay and paint a few more of these arrangements, hopefully with less wind. I am  pleased with this painting as it reminds me of both Walter Goodin and David Hockney. I left the area and just popped down towards the end of the road at Thornwick Bay, paid for some parking in the shop car park £1.40 for an hour, and then walked down the ramp leading to the main bay. There are so many of these bays here. Down the ramp reveals an old life boat building which is now a café selling snacks and drinks. The beach was much busier than the one above, inflatable kayaks seemed to be popular. After a glance around I returned to the car. I had enough time left to visit Sledmere House.

Postscript -   As I drove through Bridlington on the way home, I saw a sign for Sledmere House and took the road. After a short while I noticed hazard warning lights on the road  ahead. I put mine on and approached cautiously. Then I saw the problem, three horses were loose on the road. They had ropes and chains attached, but these were loose. A woman had stopped her car and was trying to get them off the road without much success so I stopped and walked over. She explained she had a vulnerable person in her parked car and was anxious to get on but she didn’t want to leave the horses roaming on the road as they were likely to cause an accident. I got hold of one of the ropes and took a horse off the road and tied it to a tree. Then I got another larger horse and took that off the road and tied it to a tree. Unfortunately the tree was surrounded by brambles and lots of quite large branches on the floor. as I tied the horse up, it became a bit of a struggle. I then tried to walk away from the tree and tripped  over from (bramble) briar which managed to cut my leg and as I tripped, I fell on the ground and skinned and knee. Since my stroke, my left leg is a little bit unreliable so at this point I said to the lady, who had now been joined by another person that they could manage to last horse together which they did. So I drove off to Sledmere rather shaken. At Sledmere I quickly walked to the wall garden and produced a painting detailed in the previous post. What are ta-do?

Some of my art books - ideal presents, email me for details. All feature plein air painting oil on canvas board except Plein Air Landscapes and the Sketchbook which comprise panoramic sketches with watercolour wash.

Reflection at Sledmere walled garden.

 This is a late afternoon sketch, done very quickly, to try and get the essence of this area of the garden. I am standing in an area where a very short path leads to a focal point consisting of a pedestal mounted urn. I have had to reduce the size of the pond though I think it gets across the ‘feel’ of the arrangement. I wanted to capture the exuberance of the planting. White roses contrast to the dark greens, it is, however a warm to hot planting arrangement with red roses, deep red crocosmia (lucifer?) and a pale orange salvia dominating. The walnut tree opposite shades the ground where earlier a father and child sat, shaded from the late hot sun. J appeared just before I finished and we had a brief chat about the garden. I received an email from Sledmere regarding the walled garden. I repeat it here and hope, like me,  you will vote.

If you’ve visited us over recent years, you’ll hopefully have seen our wonderful Walled Garden looking rather special.

What you might not know is that it has been named as one of just six finalists in the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award 2026 and the only garden in Yorkshire to make the final.

This really is a big deal for us. Historic Houses represents hundreds of historic houses, castles and gardens across the country, so to see our Walled Garden amongst the final six is something we are incredibly proud of.

Our Garden Team have spent years working away behind the scenes, developing and caring for the garden through every season. Winning would mean an enormous amount to them, but also to the whole team here at Sledmere. We would be incredibly proud to bring this award home to Yorkshire.

So, we’re asking for your help!

If you’ve enjoyed our gardens over the years, whether you visit regularly, have been once, or simply enjoy following what our team gets up to, we’d be very grateful if you could take a minute to vote for Sledmere.

https://www.historichouses.org/garden-of-the-year-2026/ 

We’re up against some wonderful gardens from across the country, so every single vote really does make a difference.

Thank you, as always, for supporting us. 

The Sledmere House and Gardens Team

Some of my art books - ideal presents, email me for details. All feature plein air painting oil on canvas board except Plein Air Landscapes and the Sketchbook which comprise panoramic sketches with watercolour wash.

Hornsea beach

 

Quick drive to Hornsea this afternoon, the tide was coming in and there were people enjoying the warm weather. There was quite a strong wind off the sea which made things a little bit challenging, but it was warm and bright. In the very far distance the chalk cliffs of Flamborough could be seen. This is a quick oil sketch, 12 x 10“ on canvas board. I’m hoping to do more beach scenes as the year passes, perhaps compare how this late September view compares to winter.

Just send me an email for details, of especially interest to plein air artists.

Beverley Grammar School .. founded 700AD

Here is an interesting little picture. It is significant as one of the first canvases I painted on my journey using a French easel. At this time, I was experimenting. This is using an acrylic on canvas painted en plein air  from the Westwood. It shows the rear of BEVERLEY Grammar School with the White House at the side which at the time occupied by John Crooks a vet, and his artistic wife. John actually trained with Alf Wight famous author of the ‘James Herriot’ books. He set up Norwood Vets in Beverley in 1954 which remains in practice to this day. I love this painting, it reminds me of many things. I taught at the school for nearly 30 years and enjoyed every moment. I met many students and their parents and also made lasting friendships with staff at the school. The fact that it was founded in 700AD with links to Beverley Minster makes the school very special. The painting was produced using a 20x16 inch canvas on a simple tripod. In these early days of painting I made my own wet canvas carrier which could hold two wet canvases. I very much like the colours on this painting. The sky, in particular, the somewhat bleached grass reflecting the late time of year and the distant white reflections of buildings on the horizon. Below are some of my books reflecting my plein air work using either 12x10 or 14x10 canvas boards. The Plein Air Painter book is a comprehensive guide for making your own paint box, pochade box. All available from me, just email me for details.

Spooky flowers

Here’s an exercise for my students: grab a fine-tipped Sharpie pen and head to a discount art shop to pick up some canvas boards. I like to start by applying a base colour to the canvas using acrylic paint—red is my go-to, though it might seem a bit unconventional! Then, bring your Sharpie and board along and treat the board like a piece of paper. Sketch a rough outline of what you see. I’ve done two exercises here, one using 6 x 6” stretched canvases. I wanted to keep things small. Again, I painted these with a red undercoat and then used a Sharpie to sketch out the flowers arrangement (from my garden) before adding colour quickly with acrylic paint.

The two large canvas sketches below the first two are actually 12 x 10” canvas boards. These are great for sketching because they’re big enough to use almost like a sketchpad. The rigidity really helps when sketching on location. On the back of the canvas board, I added notes about the colours. I don’t use cameras, which I think is something to consider when you’re out sketching. There’s a discipline of mind that can be developed if you don’t rely on the camera. The 12x10 inch paintings are of Sledmere Walled Garden, which I would encourage you to visit. Just be sure to check the opening times before you go—they’re open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday but not on Saturday, and they’re open on Sunday but not on Monday or Tuesday. The shop and children’s play area and animals park are now free and open all week.

The advantage of this approach is speed. The Sharpie pen helps you focus on the essential elements, which you can quickly put down. Adding colour notes on the reverse side then makes it easier to add colour later. I try to add colour quickly, ideally the same day.

This is 6x6 inch, click to enlarge to see how colour rather roughly applied.
Regardless, for me theses are important memories, full of integrity.

Sledmere, click to enlarge, see how the larger size allows paint to be applied more smoothly
Again, these were done in a few minutes, perhaps lack detail though they both are reminders of
the visit and are essentially correct.

Below are some of my art books, all first editions. All available from me direct, just drop me an email if interested. 

 

Kiplingcotes Derby Gallery

Riders approaching the road crossing

Click image to enter the exhibition.

 

The Yorkshire Wolds Gallery

Click the image to be taken to the Yorkshire Wolds gallery, it is free to explore.

Check out my Wolds art books, part 1 and 2. They are both a record of the Wolds but also contain descriptions, poems and details of how I paint. 

 

Ryedale Gallery

 

Please click the image to enter a free exhibition of Ryedale paintings.

You will also find links on the gallery pages to more free galleries which show the Wolds and more.

Short visit to Staithes

Photo by FSD

Well, here I am sketching. What you do not see is the strong westerly wind which funnels down the Esk to my right. Worked very quickly to get the view of the harbourside as the tide was ebbing and people were enjoying the narrow beach. The wind blew my brush away, flapped the pages and generally remained challenging. I am close to the lifeboat station with their ramp in front of me. Phew. An interesting point and something special about this sketch is that I used a small brush to add the boat colours. It is an old size 3 War Office brush used by the Staithes Group artist, Owen Bowen, who knew Laura Knight, a prominent member of the group. Short video here.

 

John Geekie - artists note

 John Geekie is a local East Yorkshire en plein air artist, illustrator, and author based in Beverley who actively paints, sketches, and publishes works featuring the Yorkshire Wolds. His portfolio includes landscape studies across locations like Kirby Underdale, Thixendale, Warter, Huggate, and Holme on the Low Wolds. He has also painted many Lake District views. Below is a selection of work painted, with watercolours, oils, a pen and ink sketch and using an iPad. 

Watercolour sketch of Great End, from Borrowdale

Pen and ink of my Lake District series, here is Bowfell and the Band

iPad sketch of Black Mill, Beverley

One of my favourite views, above Thixendale

Large oil painting looking towards Deepdale Head from High Barn Farm.

John Geekie's Wolds Work & Style

 Plein Air Technique: He works on location across the dales and crests using a portable pochade box, working in oil (typically 12×10 inch panels) as well as pen and ink washes and iPad sketches.  

 Subject Matter: His work captures the changing seasons, hedge-lined pastures, agricultural fields, and steep-sided dry chalk valleys across both the Low and High Wolds.  

 Books & Sketchbooks: He has self-published several volumes—including Plein Air - Beverley and the Low Wolds, concertina sketchbook collections of wide panoramic landscapes, and his High Wold Book covering views from Warter to Thixendale.

Cattle in Hall Garth, Beverley.

 The end of the very hot weather is nigh. Here, the cattle are resting in the open as it is slightly cooler. Hopefully the grass may grow back a little when the rains come. This is another of my quick Sharpie sketches, directly onto the canvas board. Colours added using acrylic paints. Some minor entail to add around windows. I like this simple view with my old friend, ‘Mimi’s’ house central in the scene.

Magical secret garden

Here are two Sharpie sketches of the secret garden at the Minster, Beverley.

Both sketched quickly, acrylic on canvas board, 12x10 inch.

 Also, I have the following art books for sale. They are all first editions, highly collectable and have been highly praised.

Thixendale year, August 14th.

 Well I actually missed the harvest and subsequent bailing of the straw due to a slight illness preventing me from getting there in time. The harvest was on August 3, and I was told about the black grass problem. The bales will be used for pig bedding, so the black crash isn’t an issue. This is part of the sketch which is going to be hopefully, an animation showing the area from January to December. Very hot day although slightly cooler here than in BEVERLEY.

Stack of straw near Sledmere.

 

Check out these superb books.