The mighty Flynn

It has been a great year. Comments from viewers of my paintings have been supportive, The John Russell Gallery in Ipswich have been very helpful in guiding me in my studio practise.
The most surprising element of my work has been the request from a friend I met on holiday this year, who is a carer for his wife and trains 'special dogs'.

He had looked on my website and was most impressed he said, then followed up with the request to commission the portrait of his dog Flynn. Flynn is no ordinary dog, he is a 'special' dog trained to help those that are physically impaired, he can even take a bottle of milk from the fridge remove the top and pour the milk, and then reverse the process. I also learnt that he is trained using French language as this easiest to comprehend. How could I refuse such a request!
The painting arrived safely in Holland this week, and the new owners are thrilled .

It's why we like ice cream

I took a day away from the studio today, to recover from Open Studio event and Hadleigh Art Trail.
On Wednesday I held my first painting workshop and it was greeted warmly was a lot of fun an the group asked to do it again in January 2014!

Today I delivered a painting to the City, only to discover that I had not matched the colour, grey instead of limed oak, oops! so it has to be reframed.
I then walked to Tate Modern to draw the turbine hall to find that it closed until next month. As I entered the tube at St Paul's there was a visually impaired busker whistling for his supper, I reached into my pocket and found the 50p piece that I had extracted from the parking metre tray that morning et voila!

Walking along Millenium Bridge in the now pouring rain, I met a man lying on the floor painting. I stopped to chat to him, it was Ben Wilson the chewing 'Chewing Gum Man', and he was having a slightly worse day than me!

Looking forward to a cold glass of Picpoul.
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Summer's gone

Summer gives us all a chance to relax and reflect, and what a summer we had!
 I am back in the studio preparing canvases for my next projects, and looking forward to the Hadleigh Art Trail. Some artists view art trails as an interruption to their work, but I feel they are a great opportunity to present our studio practice to an audience that does not regularly engage with art, but are no less enthusiastic for it.
It also tests the strength in the integrity of our work, surely we are trying to reach a larger audience to convey our thoughts and evaluate the credibility of our work?
For those that can make it to the trail this weekend, I am in Studio 19, Hadleigh Old Fire Station and I shall be pleased to see you!

Queen Victoria Seamens Rest

Yesterday saw the unveiling of the commissioned painting, 'The tide of perpetual love'. Two hundred people were in attendance, and it was unveiled by Tommy Steele OBE.
It was a very humbling experience, leaving the studio and being with regular people who don't always consider art as part of their lives but found pleasure in what had been created.

D Day landings

My dad survived at Omaha Beach during the D-Day landings,( now aged 92 he is still with me) and was twenty-two at the time. He spoke to me recently about the experience and agreed it helped put all his life in perspective and thank God for his survival and life.

We will never see the like of this generation again who gave so much yet have asked for so little in return.

Had the P.V. on Sunday at the John Russell gallery in Ipswich, and a big thank you to everyone that came along to support.
 The show looked strong thanks to the magical skill of the gallery owner, Anthony Coe. Feedback was really positive and hoping that translates into sales over the next month, which would allow me to plan my next project.
The coming month I am locked in to the studio completing a commission for the Queen Victoria Seaman's Rest home, to be unveiled on 26 July by Mr Tommy Steele ( I'll have to get my hair cut).
This summer the Lady Janet and I are staying in Limni, Greece. It is supposed to undiscovered by most Brits, sounds idyllic, and a good opportunity to drink the wine, party and paint?

More soon

I have promised myself some real r and r after I have finished preparing for my show at the John Russell gallery in Ipswich.
It has been decided that all paintings will be box framed and finished in Farrow & Ball 'Down Pipe' in a flat finish, everyone seems to like the contemporary look.
I had hoped to get to the Hay Festival to hear Roger McGough, but I must get paintings finished, but I'll read him instead along with Gerard Manley Hopkins.

'Revival' Exhibition a great success!

My recent exhibition at The Hellenic Centre, Paddington Street, London was a great success.
Here are a few pictures from the Private View on Wednesday 3rd April...