News

Despite the -16°C snowy weather last week I managed to fit in a trip to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.  The buildings of the Museum are worth a trip let alone the treasures that await you when inside.

The original building opened in 1912, however a new extension was built in 1991 by the architect Moshe Safdie, creator of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec.  It is a wonderful, atmospheric space creating a perfect setting for the art curated within it.

On this particular trip I came across works by Bruegal, Maes, Daumier, Tissot, Sisley, Rodin and Dix, to name but a few.

A couple of favourite pieces were by Richter, Alma-Tadema, Picasso, and Dali.

I have a new range of greeting and postcards available.  You can purchase the greeting cards from Jaynes Frames, 8b Station Road, Histon, CB24 9LQ. However the full range,  and postcards can be purchased from my studio.

Greeting cards are £1.85 each or 3 for £5.00

Postcards are £1.00 each.

Tomorrow, 2 December I am taking part in a very special event at The Wildlife Trust.  Ovenden Contemporary Art have organised a one night only exhibition with 20 Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire artists. 30% of all sales will go to The Wildlife Trust.

This special event will take place at The Manor House, the headquarters for The Wildlife Trusts for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire, in Cambourne, a new village just a few miles west of Cambridge. There will be original paintings, prints, sketches, photography and sculpture directly from the participating 20 artists.

You can turn up at anytime between 5.30 and 9pm, entering through the main pedestrian entrance on Broad Street.  I

For more information please go to the website.

These are my first attempts at dry point etching.

Oops first one, too much ink:-)

This weekend the Windsor Contemporary Art Fair is taking place.  Six of my paintings will be on display with The Siott Gallery.

Here is Winter Fields in a local Berkshire newspaper.

A few of photos during the installation of my work for The Art & Craft Design Fair, Newmarket.  Last day tomorrow - 6 November 2011.

I am now 5 weeks into my Certificate in Printmaking course at The Curwen Print Study Centre.  Here is my first ever attempt at collagraph printing.

My Collagraph Plate built from old wallpaper, lace, cardboard and fabric.

Prints from my Collagraph Plate

Art Kudos International is an on-line juried competition.  Twenty three countries were represented in the 2011 competition. I was thrilled to find out 'Break Through' was a finalist.  The 80 x 80 cm painting has now been sold.

I am now approaching my third week of a course at The Curwen Print Study Centre, based in Linton, Cambridgeshire.  I decided early on this year to acquire a better understanding of print making.   I don't wish to change direction away from oil painting, but I thought a course in the basics of every type of print making would challenge me.  And challenge me it does!  So far I have spent my time learning to lino print and how to print using a collagraph.  The course is intensive but such a treat.

These are my attempts at lino plates

I will be displaying a new oil-on-canvas paper painting at The Cambridge Drawing Society in October. 2011.

Shifts, oil on canvas paper, framed in birch wood.

A lovely surprise that Moody Marshes is a showcase round winner in the Artslant London juried competition.  I will wait and see what happens...

From mid-November I will have 6 paintings on show at The Cass Business School, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB.  The paintings will be displayed for 6 months and will be available for purchase.

Cambridge Christmas 11 is shaping up nicely.  I started this event in 2008 and it has grown steadily since then.  This year I decided not to exhibit due to other work commitments, but I am organizing it.  There is now a website and I am delighted to reveal the invitation, designed by Alison Hullyer and hot off the press!

From October 2011 I will be represented by Cambridge Contemporary Art.  I am very excited about this and I am looking forward to exhibiting some of my oil on wood panels during their Christmas exhibition.  Watch this space:-)

I am a big fan of David Hockney and loved this recent BBC interview with him.  He hits the nail on the head when he talks about how we really look at the world.

This year I will not be exhibiting at The Cambridge Christmas 11 show but I am organising the annual event for fifteen local arts and crafts professionals. On Monday 21 November 2011 from 4 pm until 9 pm you will be able to purchase work from the local talents of:

Katharina Klug, Ceramicist
Amanda MacPhail, Ceramics
Daniela Stief, pottery
Alison Tait, stained glass
Claire Howieson, Jewellery
Abi Cochran, Jewellery
Tricia Taylor, Jewellery
Janet Powell, Jewellery
Marieke Hordyk, Jewellery
Rebecca Ilett, Jeweller and Sculptor
Birgitte Bruun, Silver Jeweller
Hannah Collins, Bespoke Jeweller
Jessie Hymas, Textile Designer
Roxana De Rond Illustrator
Anna Nilsen, Children's author and illustrator
Alison Hullyer, Printmaker
Rhiannon Thomas, Textile Artist

For more information keep an eye on the Cambridge Christmas 11 website.

I have been away for the last few weeks visiting Lazio and Umbria. During my travels I made a special trip to see one of my favourite paintings. The Calling of St Matthew, by Caravaggio hangs in the San Luigi dei Francesi church in Rome. Having seen it in magazines and books for so many years and then to see it in all it's glory was truly wonderful. Caravaggio's use of light and drama is awe-inspiring. Three of his paintings sit together; The Calling of Saint Matthew is the one on the left.

Here is the video of an interview of me done by Noel Garner, founder of Cambridge Art Academy, on the advantages of having one’s own dedicated studio. It’s an excellently put together production, and features some shots of my Open Studios private preview party. I prefer to be behind the camera so I hate seeing myself like this – but enjoy. Visit Noel’s website, too, since he is looking to turn these sort of interviews into a commercial venture.

I have fourteen mounted original paintings available for purchase at Frameworks, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire.

My gallery and studio are open during weekdays and some weekend hours until mid-August and then I re-open in September 2011.  Please contact me if you would like a private viewing of my latest work.