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.

BEVERLEY Minster, a quick sketch using a sharpie pen.

 

Beautiful buzzard

My books featuring the Yorkshire Wolds ( Low and High) are full of paintings done at various venues. Video here of the HIGH WOLDS book.  Other books feature panoramic sketching using a concertina sketchbook, a Yorkshire sketchbook and how to paint plein air and make your own painting box.

 

Magic in the garden

Watch the sketch grow below

 Corner of the garden, doodling with an iPad. These are quick to do and perhaps rather intuitive than detailed. However, I find, like a sketchbook they remind me of the moment.

Hare magic and a dancing stoat

Taken from my book of High Wolds paintings, comments and poetry.

Over 400 pages, containing views of the Yorkshire Wolds. Each painting is accompanied by a narrative of the day with occasional poems added.

£35 incl p+p ( £30 collect)

 

Look Sharpie, in Beverley Minster

 

Click the image above to be taken into a virtual gallery, where you will see a collection of quickly sketched paintings,. Sketched with a Sharpie pen, thus they are quite crudely drawn. Acrylic is then added to give some depth to the paintings. It’s an alternative way of working. Using a Sharpie directly makes one concentrate. Mistakes might well be made but hey-ho that’s how it goes. Adding acrylic paint afterwards brings the pictures alive. Anyway, here are a few I have done click the image above and you will enter an exhibition which you can move around using the various arrows hope you like it I particularly I’m pleased with the secret garden sketch.

Dancing in the wood

14x10 oil on canvas - slightly reworked version posted early July

Two large whites dance in dappled light watching the guardian disappear. It is a place of ancient memories where a spring feeds a chalk stream. 

Below books for countryside lovers, artists, poets and those aspiring to painting outdoors. Written, edited, and published by John Geekie. All are first editions, highly collectible and available from me. Email for details.

Super special first edition

Beverley Minster Secret Garden first of August 26

 

Popped down to the secret garden at the Minster this morning to paint a picture, providing the garden was open. It was open. I went in and quickly set up and had a go at this painting looking across to a small umbrella. The volunteers were in tidying up the garden and keeping it spruce. This is a view of the cutting garden used to provide flowers for inside the Minster.

On another note, my latest book about the High Wolds of Yorkshire is being reviewed very well. It augments my book on the LOW WOLDS, and rather fittingly has many mentions of my friend David Hockney, to whom I would have sent a copy. All my books are both published and only available from me.  Just drop me an email if interested in buying one and I will post one or more to you. Payment by bank transfer.

Super special first edition

More books by John Geekie

Fairy Dale where a curlew calls

One of over 20 poems written to accompany prose and artwork in my High Wolds book. Art, as a medium is all encompassing. For me as an artist, I am also an observer of the moment, appreciating rhythm and poetry of the countryside. My High Wolds book, though essentially an art book containing a record of the area in paintings, it also reflects how I work including my thoughts, my feelings at the time, my memories and imaginings, particularly poetry. This poem, it augments prose speaking to one painting.

Available only from me. An email will secure your copy which will be posted to you - cost £35, payable by bank transfer.
 

Free Virtual exhibitions..…plus superb new book.

 VIRTUAL EXHIBITIONS FREE TO ENTER.

• VIRTUAL GALLERY - Prints
• VIRTUAL GALLERY - INSIDE BEVERLEY MINSTER 
• VIRTUAL GALLERY - PAINTINGS OF HOWARDIAN HILLS
• VIRTUAL GALLERY - KIPLING COTES DERBY

My latest book, available now, email me for your copy (£35 incl p+p)