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Ripple Retreat Donation
My family members delivering Loch Venachar to the retreat manager
Bill, at Ripple Retreat
After a long wait, my Ripple Retreat Donation, (a painting) arrived at the Ripple Retreat in Callander, Scotland. Mum and Mike, Auntie Barbara and Uncle Alan very kindly delivered my painting to Lynn at the Ripple Retreat. Later in the year, the piece will be auctioned at their Autumn Ball to raise funds for the retreat. The centre offers respite stays for children who are cancer patients and their families, on the banks of Loch Venacher. The Retreat is managed and funded by the Scottish charity ItsGoodtoGive. My family were given a guided tour of the beautiful building and grounds and were very impressed with everything they saw. Alan and Barbara live in Callander, so the painting was a welcome addition to a family road trip.
There is another rainbow Highland Cow at the Ripple Retreat - a permanent resident named Bill the Bull, created by Artfe Sculpture
Varnishing the Ripple Cow, prior to her journey, I love the way varnishing seems to enhance the colours.
When I began the painting, I decided to keep a record as I went along, so I took photos and an ill-fated attempt at video. I am a bit more composed on video these days but here are some of the out-takes from a year ago. You can see why, in the end, I just took photos!
This time its a goat looking on!
My newly available colourful wildflower cow piece ‘Glenclova’ who is surrounded by colours I could actually eat, they are so delicious. And a little goat poking out his tongue behind her back.
A new and mischievous Highland Cow pair
Multi-coloured Cows
This cute pair have been a joy to paint and are due to become available on my website once I have named them. I love the rich russet tones, offset by cool purple touches. Their expressions were fun to paint too!
Oil Painting of a Highland cow Couple
Just noticed the sheep photo-bombing the cows :D this is inevitable here in the studio !
Inveraray- getting varnished ready for the exhibition
The varnishing process really does make the colours pop on an oil painting. I’m considering taking my big cow painting Inveraray along with me to the Patchings Art Festival this week. So just in case, I have varnished her and she is now drying off in the studio today. I couldn’t believe how nicely the colours in the background started to look. I’ll get another photograph once she’s upright!
A super-colourful cow in progress
As you know I am compelled to paint cows, and I have two currently in various stages, waiting for layers to dry. I have an English Longhorn cow on one canvas, and this Scottish Highland cow on the other. Both are very bright in rainbow colours, the way I love to paint. Both 76 x 102 cm canvases will be available when finished.
A stag portrait
I love creating deer paintings on canvas. This one is noisy and reminds me of an early childhood memory. I was a toddler and we visited the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham and there was a very noisy deer there shouting and making a funny noise’
A new Highland Cow oil painting on the easel - work in progress
A new 80 x 100 cm oil painting on canvas. This was the second layer of oils. This piece is going to be very rich in blues and teals, with layers of translucent colour building up to a really intense finish. The Highland Cow will be resplendent in shiny gold and blonde waves. That is the plan- ill let you know how it goes! This piece will be available for sale on my website when finished.
Deer Painting on Canvas
I have been working on these two for a couple of months and they are just about finished, bar any tweak i do this week
Art studio mugshots!
Its just me and my cow! This one is just getting ready for a coat of varnish and took the opportunity for a quick snap! I love this one, she’s super-colourific which is just the way I like it!
A New Forest Painting on the Easel 91 x 61 cm
I love painting the woodlands that surround our home, trying to capture the wonderful calming and healing properties of spending time in the woods.
Three new paintings this week
Pensive Moorland Magic, Beinn Eighe, and Hawk Moor Prince all finished this week and available for sale.
A bright and colourful Labradoodle portrait!
Here is my latest commissioned painting, a lovely Labradoodle portrait ready to be varnished and then travel to his new home in the Netherlands. When I paint a pet I seek to capture the fun and personality in the dog. As you know my eyesight doesnt allow for small detailed pieces, but Im always happy to be let loose on a big colourful expressive pet portrait!
Little Red buggy - Citroen 2CV
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am obsessed with these cars! this is the first time I painted one though, and I have no idea why it took me so long! I have owned four (2cv and Dyane 6) in my younger days and I think its about time I had another. Unfortunately they are a bit more pricey thses days! In fact we all had one, My mum had a couple of white ones (Harvey and Alice) , My Dad had several including Jessica the first one who I then had as my first car after passing my test. My Nana had one , and I had a few :D
My last one (Suzie) collapsed in on herself as I got out of the driving seat, one day. There was a crease down the centre of the car and she folded inwards! Id still like another one though, perhaps with a galvanised chassis!
My big lifesize cow painting
I wanted to put an everyday object next to her for scale :D
This is Rosslyn and she is huge! 120 x 150 cm and is sold.
Check out my ‘Originals’ page for newly available paintings, or ask about commissioning your own huge cow painting!
A new colourful woodland painting
A new woodland oil painting. This colourful canvas is part of my new series ‘ Coming Back to Life’, this new oil painting is the third in the series.
New Kingfisher oil painting on the easel
Flash of Gold 61 x 91 cm original Kingfisher oil painting on canvas
New Kingfisher oil painting
My latest Kingfisher painting is finally ready, incorporating many layers of beautiful translucent oil paint in glowing colours, to create this atmospheric piece. This painting in 61 x 91 cm and ready to hang.
Forest Landscape Art
A new expressive painting featuring one of the many lovely views here in the English National Forest project . This is a scene from last May, with bluebells and sunshine along the way.
Big Rainbow Highland Cow
This new piece is really full of glossy colour, with quite thickly applied intense colour. This big bovine beauty is sold, however, you can see newly available cow pieces of art on my website ‘Originals’ page here.
Kingfisher Oil Paintings
A new Kingfisher piece in situ
This small piece is newly available on my website. The jewel shades of green and blue lend a touch of relaxation and nature to a study space (above)
This painting is now sold however I love Kingfishers and often paint them, they’re such beautiful little birds. Take a look at my available paintings here