Arram, looking towards Beverley.

 I am using the concertina sketchbook on a lovely warm sunny day. Having stopped to watch a train pass I crossed the line and parked. I walked a short distance along the Minster Way footpath and saw this view of a distant Beverley Minster. It did not suit an oil painting so the concertina sketchbook came out. With this I could include the some of the buildings of Crowtree Farm on the left. A fence cast shadows in a paddock, the adjacent field rather less managed with umbels, longer tussocks of grass and dandelion seed heads. I sketched with pencil before adding watercolour. The warm sunny helped progress by drying the paint quickly. All done in situ. When walking back to my car I was very pleased to meet and have a chat with the occupants of Crowtree Farm, who told me how they can see the Humber Bridge from the house.

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My published books Please  EMAIL if you would like to own one Payment via bank transfer

1         Yorkshire Sketchbook 

           Featuring the Yorkshire Wolds, £25 incl p+p

2        Plein Air Painter,

           how to make your own pochade box, full illustrated  guide £27 incl p+p

3        Plein Air Paintings of Beverley and the Low Wolds, 

          sublime book of original paintings with description, all illustrations in full colour, £35 incl p+p

4        Plein Air Landscapes, 

          a complete guide to panoramic sketching with a concertina sketchbook, £35 incl p+p

Salts Mill visit - sketches

 

Looking over the loud weirs towards Salts Mill

Shopping area inside the Mill, wonderful books for sale

The main ground floor, super selection of art materials and books

Travelled by train which proved easier arriving than returning. The Mill is adjacent to the tiny station at Saltaire. My interest in art and the work of David Hockney makes visiting an absolute joy. It is a place to spend a day just perusing the wide range of items for sale, to see David’s work, including video walls and to take advantage of the in-house food provision. Before catching the return train to Leeds I walked down to the park crossing the canal and river. A Wonderful day. These are sketches made using my 5.6mm Koh-I-Noor pencil with watercolour wash. The pencil was bought from one of the Mill shops.

My published books Please  EMAIL if you would like to own one Payment via bank transfer

1         Yorkshire Sketchbook 

           Featuring the Yorkshire Wolds, £25 incl p+p

2        Plein Air Painter,

           how to make your own pochade box, full illustrated  guide £27 incl p+p

3        Plein Air Paintings of Beverley and the Low Wolds, 

          sublime book of original paintings with description, all illustrations in full colour, £35 incl p+p

4        Plein Air Landscapes, 

          a complete guide to panoramic sketching with a concertina sketchbook, £35 incl p+p

Tophill Low reserve

 Quick impression in a sketchbook of the view from a hide on my first visit to Tophill. Saw a frog (;o). What a wonderful place to visit, I heard my first cuckoo and saw a female goosander on one of the reservoirs. From the hide I could see a variety of geese, a swan, tufted duck and moorhen. In front of the hide were twigs placed for kingfishers which, on this visit remained elusive.

Hope to return and do some paintings of the site, plus birds of course.

My published books Please  EMAIL if you would like to own one Payment via bank transfer

1         Yorkshire Sketchbook 

           Featuring the Yorkshire Wolds, £25 incl p+p

2        Plein Air Painter,

           how to make your own pochade box, full illustrated  guide £27 incl p+p

3        Plein Air Paintings of Beverley and the Low Wolds, 

          sublime book of original paintings with description, all illustrations in full colour, £35 incl p+p

4        Plein Air Landscapes, 

          a complete guide to panoramic sketching with a concertina sketchbook, £35 incl p+p

Londesborough Church

 

A very convoluted day, found me at Londesborough. The weather was bright sun though a cold easterly found me seeking a windbreak. I walked into the churchyard and discovered a sheltered corner. I set up quickly and this is the result. Londesborough is a fascinating place with significant historical importance. Londesborough Hall had been, in the past a magnificent building. 

14x10 inch - oil on canvas board.

___________________________________________________________

Published books Please  EMAIL if you would like to own one Payment via bank transfer

1         Yorkshire Sketchbook 

           Featuring the Yorkshire Wolds, £25 incl p+p

2        Plein Air Painter,

           how to make your own pochade box, full illustrated  guide £27 incl p+p

3        Plein Air Paintings of Beverley and the Low Wolds, 

          sublime book of original paintings with description, all illustrations in full colour, £35 incl p+p

4        Plein Air Landscapes, 

          a complete guide to panoramic sketching with a concertina sketchbook, £35 incl p+p

Park Lane woodland tunnel, South Dalton

20th April 2026. This is a view looking back towards Dalton Park. This road is known as Park Road and leads away from Dalton Park. It passes through a wood which is very dark even on the brightest day. I saw some bluebells and white flowering garlic. So I stopped and painted. As I painted all was quiet except for birdsong then I met a gamekeeper whom I first met  some time ago. We had a pleasant chat about the weather, the birds singing and how lovely it was at this time of year. Just before he stopped and came across, an hare emerged from the left-hand side of the Wood ( Nut Balks) onto the road. It stopped at the edge and sat up. I have indicated him in the picture I carried on painting and was surprised to see another hare emerge from the same spot and cross the road. All the time I’m painting birds call. Occasionally a very large field spraying vehicle squeezed past as I stood painting.

Available by contacting me via email. 14x10 inch oil on canvas board, £175.

_________________________________________________________________________

Published books Please  EMAIL if you would like to own one Payment via bank transfer

1         Yorkshire Sketchbook 

           Featuring the Yorkshire Wolds, £25 incl p+p

2        Plein Air Painter,

           how to make your own pochade box, full illustrated  guide £27 incl p+p

3        Plein Air Paintings of Beverley and the Low Wolds, 

          sublime book of original paintings with description, all illustrations in full colour, £35 incl p+p

4        Plein Air Landscapes, 

          a complete guide to panoramic sketching with a concertina sketchbook, £35 incl p+p

Martinholme Barn, Yorkshire Wolds above Thixendale.

Today is the first day without George by my side. It seems very strange. He has been my constant companion for the last twelve years, through Covid, my stroke and more. So today I wasn’t sure where to go or what to paint, but I knew I wanted to dedicate a painting of a new subject to him. Here it is. Martinholme Wold is behind me beyond a tree belt. Looking alongside the barn the land folds creating Long Dale with Robert Fullers gallery just beyond in Fotherdale. This barn has seen many changes. Horses and wagons, then early tractors allied to fewer workers. The itinerant travellers who would have provided extra labour at harvest time are now a memory. I miss George. He used to sit on the grass at my feet as I painted

14x10 inch, oil on canvas POA. Please  EMAIL if you would like to own this

£175

         __________________________________________________________________________

Published books Please  EMAIL if you would like to own one Payment via bank transfer

1         Yorkshire Sketchbook 

           Featuring the Yorkshire Wolds, £25 incl p+p

2        Plein Air Painter,

           how to make your own pochade box, full illustrated  guide £27 incl p+p

3        Plein Air Paintings of Beverley and the Low Wolds, 

          sublime book of original paintings with description, all illustrations in full colour, £35 incl p+p

4        Plein Air Landscapes, 

          a complete guide to panoramic sketching with a concertina sketchbook, £35 incl p+p

Stunning, fabulous art book, first edition.

I am delighted to get such brilliant feedback from people who have already received their book. It is a very limited edition with almost 400 pages in full colour, over 100 double page spreads.
Available from me, just send an email with your address, or collect.

£35 incl p+p, payable via bank transfer or on collection.

Please  EMAIL if you would like a copy, each book will be signed and include any dedications, if indeed required. 

Fingers crossed for the lad

 

Hockney’s Sycamores

Was passing this spot and paused. I knew from a local resident that I was at the exact place where David Hockney had painted these sycamores. I was told that he came a lot at various times to paint them. I have mentioned before that the man I talked with was annoyed that they were called Thixendale sycamores. “Why, these are the BURDALE sycamores”. After checking I found a boundary between Burdale and Thixendadale just beyond the trees. As I settled a horn sounded, a signal to commence shooting at the Raisthorpe ground hidden by the trees and shrub to the right hand side. Several loud shots made a ‘rat-a-tat-tat’ sound, causing a group of large deer to ascend the hill near the shrub line. Their white rumps seemingly floating away. 

Four page wide concertina sketch 840x 210 mm.

See my book here which is a collection of concertina sketches, including method and notes about how we see.

Exquisite art book, a world first?

This FIRST EDITION book details both how to sketch and add a watercolour wash using a concertina sketchbook. It is comprehensively illustrated throughout.

After much researching this may well be the world’s first instruction book which explains how to sketch with a concertina sketchbook. That aside, it shows, in detail, how to create wide, panoramic sketches. It guides the reader through the practical issues, going on to explore and develop ‘how we see’. This SUMPTUOUS book contains over a hundred illustrations in full colour. It will appeal to anyone who loves the countryside. The book has over 400 pages, it is A5 landscape layout with a limited print run. Each painting is accompanied by a detailed description including location and relevant notes. 

As the author and publisher of this book it will be available directly from me from April 6th.

Please  EMAIL if you would like a copy, each book will be signed and include any dedications, if indeed required. 

As my online shop is not open at the moment, payment can be made directly to me or by bank transfer, details will be sent via email. £35 incl UK p+p

This is a unique, supremely desirable publication.

Comprehensive introduction

Burdale

Lane south of South Dalton

 

Detailed methodology

Southburn

The Pipe and Glass Inn from Dalton Park

Beverley Minster - important development

 

Artists impression

Minster plans

Beverley Minster is in the vanguard for reducing its running costs. The Diocesan Church Authority has approved plans for fitting 2,000 solar panels as well as reducing night-time lighting expenses, a spokesperson adding that, where the Minster leads others follow. Plans for the application of transparent ‘glow-in-the-dark’ paint  also have the support of the local council. The paint has been supplied by someone not seeking publicity. A spokesperson pointed out that the environmental benefits and cost savings are very welcome. Ecclesiastical sources are keenly following the development. For safety reasons, an adjacent perimeter footpath facing Hall Garth is to be closed with alternative provision provided nearby. A local councillor has spoken to residents living close to the Minster. The councillor pointed out that one of the many benefits of the Minster glow is to facilitate the removal of nearby street lamps. He went on to say there would be no reduction in their Council Tax as the cost of providing Geiger Counters and Black-out Curtains would be significant. 

Ryedale memory.

A remembered view. Couple of years ago I spent some time in Ryedale, near Malton. This is a view loosely based on a memory of that time. The area is quiet farming land with interesting villages. The  hydro electricity generating Archimedean Screw near south of Westow at Howsham is well worth a visit.

 

Westwood evening with Beverley Minster, watercolour.

The wonderful BEVERLEY Minster is inspiring. I am often walking my dog, George on the Westwood and recently saw this striated sky extending across the view. It’s caused me to think how unusual. So I thought I’d try to re-create it and here it is. Someone is walking a dog. Probably on the way home after a walking over the Westwood. The Minster is beginning to darken as the evening light fades away. Soon it will be completely dark. This painting is unusual for me as it is done from memory as opposed to in-situ, plein air. Here I have placed a mount over the painting which I find a useful thing to do as it gives an idea of how it will look in a frame. The painting is approx. A4 size on watercolour paper. I am offering this to everyone and will leave the price open, but to say all money raised will be donated to Beverley Minster. I guess best offer by noon this Sunday will secure it. Please email me if interested.

 

Mountains and lake watercolour

Every now and then I like to play around with tonal values. Here is a sketch, distant mountains and lake with church. On the jutting spit a man and his dog stand below a huge sky.

Lockington Virtual Exhibition.

Click image to see the free exhibition

Watercolour presentation and ghosting

Here is the finished watercolour sketch of a bluebell wood. It is something of an experiment, playing around with ‘ghost shadows’ and light.

I often think about how to present a painting in a frame. Usually, we frame the work so all of it can be seen. Of course we have considered this when creating a painting. Some artists use viewing rectangles, something I do not. Perhaps the paper is taped to the board in order to create a clean edge. We seek balance, to create ’a feeling of a pleasing picture’. Here I have produced a simple watercolour of a bluebell woodland with a couple of local residents foraging. The painting is on 200 lb NOT. It is just slightly over half imperial ( 11x22 inch ). Using a mount for a smaller painting I have played around with presentation. In all of these a lot of the painting is hidden under the mount board. I like this. To look at a painting knowing that it hides part of the story. It will be discovered in time to come and perhaps warrant remounting. It is a secret. What lies beyond?  I have also experimented with trying to create a sense of the sun breaking through. These are the accompanying pictures. To achieve this I used masking tape to protect areas, clean water, a large brush and some kitchen tissue.

How to produce plein air landscapes, my latest book, available soon, email me for details.

Here, I have moved the mount board to just about include the pheasants, with a lot of upper tree detail and side detail hidden. Yet, I think it looks complete.

Here, the pheasants can still be seen though a lot of the left and top of the painting is hidden.

This arrangement looks balanced. But I guess it is a matter of taste.

Sunbeams added.

What do you think?

 

ART BOOK ARRIVED from my printer!!

 Ecstatic and super excited to get delivery of my latest book. Will post a fuller description with illustrations soon. It is 400 pages long full of illustrations also including a comprehensive guide to help others achieve similar results. The book poses many questions. It is also likely to be a world’s first book looking specifically at this way of working. Further processing means the actual publication date will be Monday 6th April. Watch this place.

Lund Moor woodland in December, iPad animation.

 Thought this would be interesting to see being created on an iPad.

St. Mary’s Churchyard, Beverley.

 Pen and ink sketch of St. Mary’s churchyard looking back towards the Gatehouse. Bleach Yard road hidden behind wall on the left. Occasionally horse riders appeared as if floating.

NEW book - details soon.

 Ultra special, genuinely a unique book. It contains well over 100 illustrations and looks deeper into aspects of how artists see. Poses questions. However, essentially it is a book featuring East Yorkshire and the Northern Wolds including copious descriptions for each painting. It will be a limited edition, collectors art book. More details soon.

It will only be available from JOHN GEEKIE ART. 

If interested in a copy for yourself or as a gift the cost is estimated to be £35 incl UK p+p.

Approx 400 pages, A5 landscape hard back, full colour.

Snowdrops at edge of cleared wood

 Spotted this cleared woodland noticing the snowdrops. I was amazed and pleased to see that they had survived. This is a four page concertina sketch showing the southern edge of  Lockington Wood.

Enlarge to full screen height then using one eye pan from left to right. This may help introduce a 3D element. Let me know it it works for you.

Hutton Cranswick, St.Peter’s Church original painting.

Just dropped off this original painting of St.Peter’s church at Hutton Cranswick 

It is to support the art exhibition which runs  Friday, Saturday and Sunday ( see leaflet below) I have also taken some copies of my ART books and some greetings cards. It would be lovely if you could visit the Methodist Church Hall at Hutton Cranswick, where tea and cakes will be on sale.  I painted this standing underneath a beech tree, its embryonic buds forming. What was really lovely to see were the arrival of three men, who planted a tree behind the totem stump of the old Sycamore near the entrance you may just be able to make them out.

Thixendale from Huggate Hill road.

 This was a large demonstration piece showing how to create a painting using only three colours red, yellow and green…plus white, so four colours. It is HUGE at 40 x 32 inches. It would need a large space to hang it. It is acrylic on canvas available at the special price of just £50. All proceeds will go to the Hutton Cranswick Methodist Hall maintenance fund.

The small cluster of buildings to the left are Robert Fuller’s Gallery. I can deliver subject to location.

PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION

Black Mill at sunset..

I did this small, 8x8 inch approx., oil on canvas as a little exercise. It is available from me, for a suggested £15 only. This will be passed on to Jacob’s Well charity. Email me direct if interested first come first served basis. 
 

A little sound experiment

 

Free entry ART exhibition in aid of charity.Tea, cofffee and cakes available.

 

Snowdrops for YOU

 

East end of Mere Lane, South Dalton.

 Well it was very misty in Beverley first thing but it cleared a little making me think of a late sketch. I set off with a concertina sketchbook soon realising it would be impossible to sketch where I was heading, up at Fridaythorpe. So I turned off to return home. After walking George in this quiet lane I thought it had possibilities. I rather liked the weakening misty feel. Could I catch it? For this I used my recently acquired Koh-I-Noor Gioconda propelling pencil. It uses chunky leads 5.6mm which allows me to work quickly. I added a watercolour wash whilst there as one or two cars passed me. Huge tractors towing massive laden trailers slowed down and waved. It was very cold and the mist clinging. I decided to head back home where I added minor details.

Fridaythorpe - the ancient St.Mary’s Church on a grey, dull day

Detail

Four page wide sketch

Late yesterday the sun shone in Beverley. As it had been wet, windy and grey for a long time I thought it was about time to go out, enjoy the weather and do a sketch. I ended up in Fridaythorpe where I topped up my petrol before ambling round to the church. Often this is well hidden by vegetation. Also the most suitable point from which to work is usually covered in a matting of high, dense brambles. Today the vegetation was bare and the brambles cleared. So I set up the concertina sketchbook. I wanted to try a new propelling pencil. It is a special pencil that uses 5.6mm lead. ( I have some lead which was used by Owen Bowen, one of the Staithes Group of artists). The pencil is chunky and reassuring to hold. I worked quickly. The unusual clock face is an amazing thing to see. It is dated 1903 and rather ornately decorated though on close inspection I could see some deterioration at on side, plus, when I arrived, the time was about a hour and a half in front. Actually it was probably stopped but I did not check when I left.The temperature up here was much lower than in balmy Beverley. It was about 4°C and dull with a suggestion of fine rain. As I worked a young woman passed heading left passing the church. She had a black Labrador and another smaller dog, a terrier. A short while later they returned, the Labrador holding a small tree!. Another woman passed and repeated the walk with her two dogs. Two more women, deep in conversation, appeared from the left, walking back towards the village centre. With the details all added the inclement weather forced an early finish. I headed home via a rendezvous at the Pipe and Glass where I was treated to a warm soup. At home I tried a different approach to adding colour. I added dark shades with diluted black Indian ink, let it dry then added colour. This may feature in my latest book about using a concertina sketchbook.

2026 John Geekie Art calendar - Last chance to get one..