Architecture, art, illustration and more…

Latest New Forest sketch and this time part of a single tree covered in moss. Watercolour over pencil in handmade 190 x 280mm sketchbook on 90Ib Arches NOT.

Posted on 01 November 2021

Handmade sketchbook size 190 x 280mm on 90Ib Arches paper in around an hour or so.

Posted on 22 October 2021

Here's a recent New Forest sketch done in about an hour or so in sketchbook size 190 x 280mm on 90Ib Arches paper

Posted on 20 October 2021

and here's a recent watercolour commission of Elvetham Hall, now a hotel in Hampshire designed in the high Victorian Gothic Revival style. 420 x 590mm on 140Ib Arches paper. This was one of the largest commissions to date and took a while!

Posted on 01 October 2021

in the New Forest yesterday! Watercolour over pencil in handmade 190 x 280mm sketchbook on 90Ib Arches NOT

Posted on 30 September 2021

Here's my location sketch/preparatory colour study in advance of a final watercolour of Blickling Hall in Norfolk. Originally owned by Sir John Falstolf of Caister from 1380-1459, it then changed hands to the Boleyn family, their most famous daughter being Anne Boleyn. The present house was built in 1616 on the ruins of the original site. Keep a look out for the final work! Sketchbook size 180 x 280mm on 90Ib Arches paper

Posted on 29 September 2021

New Forest sketch, this time done in about an hour. I was attracted by the morning light filtering through the canopy of trees and lighting up the forest floor.

Posted on 26 September 2021

Norfolk's north east coastline has beautiful sandy beaches and many seals visit this shore to breed in winter. Watercolour with coloured pencil in 190 x 290mm size sketchbook on 90Ib Perrigot Arches paper. 

Posted on 19 September 2021

Here's my latest commission and another country home in France. I always feel that a one point perspective view works best for this type of subject matter and, in this case, draws the viewer's eye along the drive and into the courtyard entrance. Acknowledgements to the quality of the photograph taken by Marc. Image size: 280 x 410mm on 140Ib Arches Cold Pressed

Posted on 22 August 2021

and here's the result - a double-page spread in my hand-made sketchbook on 140Ib Saunders Waterford.

Posted on 15 August 2021

... New Forest sketch done on location in one of my favourite spots. Showing a double-page spread in hand-made sketchbook size 190 x 280mm on Saunders Waterford 140Ib NOT paper.

Posted on 24 July 2021

Please find attached poster for your information - all welcome to PV but numbers are limited so RSVP first.

More dates and venues to come for this touring show - tbc

Posted on 15 July 2021

Location watercolour sketch in A4 sketchbook on Arches 140Ib NOT. In this part of the forest the tree shapes are amazing with beech, oak and holly growing in harmony - wonderful atmosphere. 

Posted on 15 July 2021

showing a watercolour view of a long lost building in France. Approximately A3 size on stretched 140Ib Arches NOT paper.

Posted on 08 July 2021

showing a French Chateau in winter. A3 size on 140Ib Arches Cold Pressed surface.

Posted on 28 June 2021

Sudeley Castle is a grade I listed building in the Cotswolds near to the medieval market town of Winchcombe. My watercolour shows the partially ruined banqueting hall reputedly built by Richard III in around 1483 although the main castle was started in 1443. The grounds consist of 1,200 acres with 15 acres of formal gardens. Artwork size approximately A3 on 140Ib Arches cold pressed surface created from client photos and online research.

Posted on 12 June 2021

Here's a colour sketch I did yesterday in the forest near Ashurst. It was quite overcast but I didn't mind as the view was so serene and much easier to find a position without having to consider the sun direction etc.  About an hour and a quarter on 140Ib Saunders Waterford in 190 x 280mm hand-made sketchbook.

Posted on 05 June 2021

I am very pleased to announce that I have work accepted in the following forthcoming shows:

•   Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours open exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London (The Vyne). Dates:  20 - 29 May 2021

•   St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery, New Street, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 9BH (Winchester Cathedral). Dates: 17 May - 12 June 2021

Also a further touring exhibition:

•   Island Fortress 1940 exhibition - details to be confirmed

Posted on 24 April 2021

It was on the 10th April 1912 that the RMS Titanic set sale from Southampton on its fateful voyage which ended early on the 14th when the ship hit an iceburg and sunk the following morning with more than 1500 out of an estimated 2,224 passengers and crew lost. I thought it would be appropriate to post my watercolour of the Memorial to the Titanic Engineers in Southampton who perished on board. The bronze and granite memorial was unveiled on 22 April 1914. (It's also my birthday tomorrow!). The monument was restored in 2010. Close by on the corner of Cumberland Place and London Road, is the Titanic Musicians' Memorial to Wallace Hartley and the other musicians who played on the Titanic.

Posted on 13 April 2021

An early morning view across Southampton Common

Posted on 20 March 2021

After so long it's been nice to sit and draw in the Forest - this one is on a toned paper size 240 x 330mm using just charcoal, chalk and a sienna brown conte stick.

Posted on 18 March 2021

and here's the finished artwork with the right-hand side now complete showing the side of another building built by the friars probably as a guest hall which dates to around 1320. Image size 320 x 450mm on 140Ib Arches NOT.

Posted on 06 March 2021

Here's work-in-progress #3 of the Dominican refectory on the Great Stour river at Canterbury. Now working on the river surface, reflections and cast shadows - important to show the building reflections vertical and in the correct position. To do this I have indicated the lights and darks using Caran d'Ache coloured pencils ready to brush in. Not long to go now!

Posted on 28 February 2021

Here's a work-in-progress enlarged detail showing the Dominican refectory building on the Great Stour river at Canterbury. With the building almost complete, now to continue with the left side of the river.

Posted on 22 February 2021

Pencil drawing with sky wash for a watercolour showing Blackfriars, an ancient Dominican refectory, now the home of the art department of The King's School, Canterbury.

Posted on 12 February 2021

Here is the finished watercolour of a view looking along the path on the south elevation. I positioned myself on a low stool whilst drawing thus the low eye-level which helps to create a dramatic viewpoint. Image size 340 x 300mm on stretched 140Ib Arches NOT paper. 

Posted on 07 February 2021

I'm currently working on a watercolour of Nunnington Hall, a country house in North Yorkshire on a beautiful spot next to the river Rye. Here's my location drawing from a visit in 2018 and watercolour version in progress.

Posted on 02 February 2021

This time it's St Andrew the Apostle at Framingham Earl. This lovely Grade 1 listed medieval parish church is built mainly of flint with a 12th century tower and 13th century south porch. The sunlight was perfect during my visit and brings out the subtle colours in the flint stonework. 230 x 350mm on 140Ib Saunders Waterford cold pressed. I spent far too long on this one but I really enjoyed rendering the trees and foreground details so it was worth it!

Posted on 19 January 2021

showing All Saints church at Woodton in Norfolk. There was a wedding ceremony taking place at the time of my visit with guests spilling out onto the grass so I had to be discrete where possible! 230 x 350mm on 140Ib Saunders Waterford NOT

Posted on 05 January 2021

and it's a work in progress showing a view of All Saints, Woodton in Norfolk. Another charming round tower church making this one number eleven!

Posted on 02 January 2021