About Me
Here in Weardale I enjoy working on rural and village landscapes in oil and acrylic, often ‘plein air’ sketches completed in one session. The paintings are exhibited locally and London, a couple of times at the RA Summer Exhibition and on display in the studio.
Plans for exhibitions of paintings and art work are on hold the moment as is the Display of the Heartland Banners. I would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in the artwork or with painting, textile or tutoring commissions, or looking for on-line advice about their own paintings.
My Work
At the moment I find portrait painting a challenge, working from life rather than photos and I’m always on the look out for customers happy to sit and keep calm for an hour so.
I find rag rug making satisfying, building pictures and patterns and textures in clippings of recycled material. I have been lucky to pass on the traditional skill and interest to different groups and ages from Hartlepool to Teesdale including to young mums who created a special heirloom for the new family.
I also do silk paintings and Batik Courses with different age groups Students may be apprehensive about their drawing skills but the colours and qualities of the techniques soon win them over.
At one time I was busy with Creative Community Workshops in Libraries, Youth clubs, Church and school groups and made willow bonfire sculptures for Wear Valley Council. Most recently I have been involved with a Northern Heartlands Project making banners that celebrate rural Weardale in Community Workshops. People of all ages used sewing and textile techniques to create little books of writings and visual examples of memorable and favourite places.
