Highland Cow painting demonstration
A painting in progress, Cow with flowers
I am available to give demonstrations and workshops for art clubs and groups. Get in touch for detailsThis week I am getting ready to give a demo at a local art club. I like to take along some sample pieces, as well as painting one ‘live’ for the event.
A painting in progress
Set of three hare prints - now available
Set of three 28 x 40 “ canvas prints
Three hares sitting in a wonderful magical night garden filled with sweet-smelling wildflowers. There is so much detail in these pieces, the more your eye wanders, the more you see! These elegant canvas prints can be hung singly or as a set. Buy a set of three in any size and receive a 10% discount.
Poppy Cow - Canvas Prints
I was recently asked by a client, whether I could produce a print of my Pitternweem ( Highland Cow with Poppies) painting, in a larger size. It has taken me a couple of weeks, but I have now been able to add these to my new website
I have made two listings, as the different size options are available from separate printing labs. Speedy global shipping is available.
Painting session - Woodland Stag
This week I have changed the way that I work slightly to accommodate a couple of restrictions, and it has turned out to be in my favour. I spent yesterday painting this gentleman. I have used the same reference photo in a previous painting several years ago, and it was interesting for me, to return and see the differences in my own approach.
Owls!
A studio filled with aviators ( I'm not one of them)
This is the face of a person who gets a kick out of painting birds in flight One day I’m sure I’ll fly again myself but until that day I shall paint those who do. I was always a very fearful flyer, which, as the daughter of a fighter pilot is perhaps a bit strange. Recently I overcame my fear by watching videos on a You Tube aviation channel during the lockdown and beyond. Thanks to 74Gear I now have a better understanding and confidence, which I have yet to put to the test.
Who is Humphrey?
A slight change fom my usual posts, as I wanted to introduce an important person in my life!
Riding school pony
In my early 20s, as a recently qualified riding instructor, I decided to open my own riding school near my home in Norfolk. It was a lovely little school, and I mainly taught children, focusing on confidence building and safety. While most of the ponies were ‘working liveries’, I did also buy three ponies. I actually got each of them by accident. I accompanied some clients to try out a pony. Humphrey was there, handsome and available, only two years old. I fell for him, so I bought him. I backed him myself and trained him in English and Western with the help of a friend. He is now 29 years old and doing well at the time of writing.
Tamworth Adventure
In 2000, after I had closed the riding school, I made the decision to move to Tamworth for a change of scenery, and of course, my ponies and my collie dog Danny came along with me. My farm cat Smudge had already decided to move in with the Mercers, who owned the farm, so he happily remained with them. A lot of people thought I was crazy to keep the ponies, but to me it goes without saying. Anyway isn’t it our dependants that keep us going , during the most trying of times?
As we began the adventure, I had rather an empty bank account, no job to go to, and I had £60 in my pocket which had been pressed on me by my dad’s girlfriend as I said goodbye ( ‘Don’t tell your dad’)
I drove behind the horsebox all the way over and it took about 4 hours. I was rolling the dice, while I had located a paddock in Polesworth where the ponies would live, I wasn’t sure where I and Danny would stay. My sister helped me by finding me a room and texting the details to me when I arrived. Once the ponies were ensconced and munching grass, we drove to Tamworth to find the address.
As we got towards the town, the car suddenly stuttered and died. I could have cried! I had to call a local rescue vehicle to take me to my new address. Little did I know it was less than 100 yards away! That was my £60 spent and now I had no vehicle.
I soon got the keys and was able to enter my lodgings, having dumped the car on the roadside. It was one room, complete with 80s decor, and the bathroom had a missing floorboard so you could sit in the bath and see down into the kitchen. My roommate was a Swedish man, who worked in IT and was also renting one room.
The following day I got the paper and began to search for jobs and signed up with a few agencies.
And that’s how our adventure in the Midlands began. Not the most auspicious start. The following weeks and months felt like a nightmare as I worked out how to get to the horses twice a day and to various job placements, and back to Danny at lunchtime on the bus. Once my car was fixed, I used to try to take Danny to work with me as I had in Norfolk, but that didn’t go down terribly well! This led to a whole summer working at a place giving donkey rides, which worked out well because I could take Danny along, and the owner picked us up. The downside was we got £20 cash for a very long day, usually 12 hours. One time, I had worked so long I was dead on my feet and somehow by the time we got home I had lost my £20 note, I was devastated!
Life in the Midlands
Anyway, we stayed here, and over the years the ponies have lived in quite a few different locations, as situations changed, but we have certainly managed. I remember at one point, they lived in a nice yard in Lichfield, and I took one full-time and two part-time jobs to cover the costs for us all. I used to finish at the call centre, race home, pick up Danny, race to Lichfield, sort the horses out in the dark, run as fast as I could, and then drive over to Congerstone to my pub job along with Danny. Rushing in the dark, I once accidentally caught a large sheep instead of my Shetland pony. Luckily both Larry the Lamb and I realised my mistake straight away.
When I look back now, it’s all a million miles and years away from my nice artist’s life here with Mark and our girls in the National Forest.
Happy ‘Retirement’
Two of my ponies passed away in their mid-20s. Danny lived to be 18. This year I moved Humphrey to a lovely yard only a mile away, and this is the closest geographically he has been since we all left Norfolk. I’m really enjoying having him on the doorstep. He is enjoying all the extra attention I am able to give him, and he has a field full of good friends.
Peek at work in progress on my new bird art series featuring expert aviators
New Bird Art
I have been looking forward to this series for a while. Aviation is a topic that I am transfixed by, and it is a thrill to get started.
A successful sale of small paintings!
Summer Sale of Small Paintings
Thank you to everyone who supported my sale last weekend, whether by logging on to take a look, sending me messages, or buying a painting! I am now busy packaging the paintings and organising shipping to UK , USA and Canada, Fourteen pieces found new homes and I couldnt be more delighted. This one is ‘Lysander’, photographed while getting varnished ready to travel.
A Heron's Graceful Flight: An Artistic Interpretation of Nature's Elegance
Experience the majesty of a heron in flight.
As part of a new series inspired by birds in flight, I will be offering a few paintings of herons for sale in the upcoming year. The largest piece in the collection is an original oil painting titled "Positive Rate," which measures 100 x 120 cm. To add texture and intricate details, I used a palette knife in the creation of this stunning piece in a fresh palette of dark teal and sea green.
Sale of my demonstration pieces - this Sunday!
Summer sale of original paintings
Sale of my demonstration art pieces, small acrylic originals
Summer sale of original paintings
I have gathered together all of the demonstration paintings that I have created at my workshops and demos over the past year. I have finished the ones that needed more work, and I’m going to present them for sale on Sunday. This is a chance to acquire one of my paintings at a preferential rate. These pieces are smaller than I typically have available, around 45-50 cm, some are acrylic, and some are acrylic with oils. There will be sheep, cows, hares, kingfishers, stags etc, with painted sides, ready to hang. There are around 30 paintings that will be available, and this will be on my new site, so Klarna pay in instalments is an option.
My mailing list subscribers will receive an extra discount code for 20% and will get 24hr early access. so its worth signing up.
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!
A lovely day at White Dove Gallery
I was invited to spend the day at the beautiful gallery in Shenton, painting and chatting to the gallery visitors. I really enjoyed myself. I may have done more chatting than painting in the end - luckily I had brought three ‘works in progress to carry on with, so I think I got away with it! I met some really interesting people and saw some friends that I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic, so the whole day was a joy. It’s nice because the gallery supports several local artists and makers, and I had the chance to meet artists as they popped in to visit. I always love the chance to chat with fellow artists, it really lifts my spirits..
This gallery is dog friendly, so every now and again, I would hear the pitter-patter of tiny claws and I’d grab a couple of wet wipes, clean my hands and get ready to make friends! I managed to meet a Spaniel, a Jack Russel and a Labrador- I saw another spaniel from afar but didn’t get a chance to pet him. I think most of the dogs were regulars as they all seemed to know where the cafe was!
I had delivered my new owl painting at the gallery on Friday, and he sold on Saturday so I didn’t see him in situ, however, I was delighted that he had so swiftly found a beautiful new home.
I brought some sheeting to cover any surfaces that might get splattered, and we moved vulnerable art pieces out of the way too. I brought my day-to-day palette and a small selection of paint tubes. However, it turned out there was enough paint already on the palette to last the day. Wet wipes and kitchen roll for quick clean-ups, a drop of Zest-it medium, and a few brushes although I only used one. But the most important thing was the cough sweets!
Right next to my little table was the cafe entrance, so I enjoyed a coffee and then had a delicious slice of Bara Brith for lunch. They make wonderful cake-always a vegan option available and plant-based butter too.
Above: Inveraray on the wall at White Dove Gallery. The gallery is open on the first weekend of every month, 11-4 Saturday and Sunday. The cafe is open and you can sit inside or outside. The space is wonderfully cool on a hot day, as I discovered!
White Dove Gallery , the Old Village Hall, Shenton, Leics CV13 6DP
Painting on location this Sunday!
Painting Demonstration at White Dove Gallery
My new owl painting ‘ Air Disturbance’ , and’ Inveraray’ the big Wildflower Cow painting to display at White Dove Gallery this weekend. I’m going along on Sunday to paint in the gallery, hopefully, see you there!
White Dove Gallery, The Old Village Hall, Shenton CV13 6DP
A video showing my Highland Cow painting with flowers in progress
A short clip showing work in progress on my Highland Cow painting with flowers. This piece uses all of the colours of the rainbow.
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 !
Derbyshire Art Workshop - 21st August - Paint a Kingfisher canvas at Castle Donington
My next available workshop is a Kingfisher one, and there are spaces. This is a new venue at Castle Donington and Im really looking forward to it!
Getting small 'demo' paintings ready for sale!
I have decided to offer my demonstration paintings for sale. These are the pieces I paint for my workshops, and they are all smaller pieces, around 45-60 cm. Having completed almost a year of workshops now, I have quite a collection of these paintings. I have been going through them all and making sure they are finished, and then as soon as they are all ready to hang and varnished etc, I will have a sale event. Watch this space!
Pukaar Magazine Feature!
I was delighted to be interviewed for a feature in Leicester's Pukaar Magazine. A magazine that celebrates cultural diversity, local news, events and the arts in Leicester and Leicestershire. I had a chat with Louise who asked me lots of questions about my painting practice. This was a couple of months ago, and the article will appear in the August issue. I love this photo with Bonnie, the Poochon who was just having a quick flick through while she spent the day at work with her Mum
