Exhibition Award, New Work and Forthcoming Shows

I am pleased to announce that I have been awarded the ACAVA Studios Artist Development Prize at the Three Counties Open Exhibition for my painting ‘GEC’. I will be having a meeting soon to find out more about this creative opportunity. The exhibition is held at The Burslem School of Art and has been organised by Keele University. You can view the exhibition online on the Barewall Gallery website.

I have just completed a new graphitint drawing featuring a derelict ceramics factory in Middleport. This is the same building that features in my painting ‘Inside Out’. It was good to tackle the subject with a different medium as it brings out different qualities due to the nature of the water soluble pencils. The new drawing is called ‘Return’ and can be found in the ‘Abandoned Spaces’ section of my website. This drawing, along with ‘The Mirror Tree’ piece, will feature in the forthcoming Birmingham Art Circle Exhibition at the RBSA Gallery in Birmingham.

I have plenty of other ideas on the go including a new acrylic painting which is almost halfway through now. Life is never boring!

New art, competitions and ideas

As usual, I am busy with a variety of creative projects. I have a new acrylic painting on the go featuring the interior of a derelict ceramics factory that I discovered in Middleport. This is the same building featured in my painting ‘Inside Out’. I’m still experimenting with the graphitint pencils and have a new drawing planned with those. I have more ideas around the abandoned war base theme which look promising too.

There’s a few competitions I will be entering soon. I discovered today that my oil painting, ‘GEC’, has been selected for the Three Counties Open Exhibition 2022 (organised by Arts Keele). The show runs from the 29th July to the 30th August at the Burslem School of Art in Stoke-on-trent. This painting features an abandoned factory in Stafford which has since been demolished. It was a building I was used to seeing throughout my childhood and so it is strange to see it gone.

The Memory Tree

I have just completed a new graphitint drawing based on an area of Cannock Chase. I’ve only used this medium a few times before for quick sketches but this time I’ve produced someone more layered and detailed. I discovered this tree on a walk with the family a while back and was struck by how unusual it looked and the small faded photo frame that had been nailed to the side. Who was this person? Who put it there? I like scenes that have a bit of mystery to them! You can view the drawing in the Woodland section of this website. It is called ‘The Memory Tree’.

New work and Exhibitions

I’ve just completed a new drawing called ‘Milvale Street’. which is based on some derelict buildings I discovered whilst urban exploring in Middleport. For this one I used a new set of graphitint pencils which I have never tried before. I like the muted colours and the way I can build up textures and washes quite quickly. It’s a medium I think I will used again.

I also have an ink drawing and acrylic painting planned which will feature buildings from the same area. There are a few factories near the canal which have become abandoned but you can see traces of the past when the ceramics industry was thriving.

I have two ink drawings selected for the forthcoming Society of Graphic Fine Art Annual Exhibition which runs from the 17th to the 21st May at the Mall Galleries in London. My pieces include ‘The Igloo’ and ‘Whiskey 13’ which are both based on buildings from RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire.

Hidden

I’ve just completed a new oil painting which I’ve called ‘Hidden’. This one is inspired by a walk on Cannock Chase near the end of last year. I found an area that was supposed to be out of bounds but couldn’t resist ducking under the gap in the fence to see what lay beyond. I came to an area with a steep drop and below I could see the land stretching out draped in a mist. It was an inspiring view and I wanted to respond to it.

i’ve been enjoying working in oil paint again and can see myself working with it as much as acrylics. I have a couple of new projects planned now which will see me returning to the dereliction theme. But even this theme is all about nature - you can’t get away from it!

You can view ‘Hidden’ in the Natural Landscapes’ section of my website.

SGFA Open 2022

I’m pleased to announce that I have had two drawings selected for the forthcoming Society of Graphic Fine Art Open Exhibition 2022; ‘The Igloo’ and ‘Whiskey 13’. Both pieces depict buildings from RAF Upper Heyford, a disused airbase in Oxfordshire. The show will be held at the Mall Galleries in London from the 17th to the 21st May.

Exhibitions and Workshops

It has been a busy year so far with lots of things on the go. I currently have a few pieces of work included in the new Birmingham Art Circle exhibition which is being held at The Granary Gallery, Weston Park. It’s quite a diverse show and includes drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and mixed media pieces. The exhibition runs throughout March.

I have a few workshops scheduled and more planned, so do keep checking my workshops page if you’re interested.

I’m currently working on a new oil landscape painting which is going well so far. The aim with this one is to create a sense of stillness and calm - to feel as if you are completely in the moment. It is important for me to not just describe the scene but to also capture the mood that I felt when I was there.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

2021 was a busy year as usual. My time was split between working in my studio, exhibiting my art and teaching.

I produced quite a few drawings last year working mostly in either pencils or ink pen and also developed my painting technique. I have started working in oils again which I think has had some impact on my acrylics because my brushwork has slightly changed. My aim is to get better each time and to push myself as an artist. I’m never short of ideas and have plenty of ideas to work through!

I worked on a couple of commissions which I enjoyed and the clients were happy.

Late on in 2021 I became an Associate Member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art (SGFA) who are based in London. This is a good opportunity to work with other artists who enjoy drawing and to exhibit with them. I have also continued to be a member of the Birmingham Art Circle who are supportive and very approachable.

My art classes continue to be popular and I have helped a lot of students develop their work and become more confident. I have run my own workshops as well as some at Bullclough Art School. I also delivered workshops at schools and helped the pupils develop their projects.

My diary for 2022 is starting to fill up and I have plenty of plans for the year. Keep checking my website and social media channels for my updates. Let’s have an inspiring year!

Sandonia

I am often fascinated by how the landscape changes over a period of time. The Sandonia in Stafford has recently seen some dramatic changes after builders started to knock down some of the walls but then stopped, leaving it in a semi demolished state. This opened up the side of the structure revealing some of the interior, which I found interesting. I have just completed a new pencil drawing of the view from one of the sides and tried out a number of techniques to capture the gritty textures on the walls and ground.

As always, my interest in this kind of scene is the way nature takes over the places we abandon. In addition there’s the history side of it where people have memories of how the place used to be. The building has been used for various things over the years, finishing off as a snooker hall towards the end of its life. I remember playing snooker there once as a teenager with friends. At the moment I’m not sure whether the place will be fully demolished or restored once again.

You can view the drawing in the Abandoned Spaces section of this website.

Bullclough

For just over a year now I have been running the odd workshop at Bullclough Art School in the Peak District. When I’m there, we use the surrounding landscape as artistic inspiration and work from life. I decided to paint my own version and photograph the piece as I went along in order to help the students see how you can build up a painting. Having been there many times now, I feel that I have managed to captured the atmosphere of the place. You can see the picture in the natural landscapes section of this website.

Visit the website of Bullclough Art School to read more about what they do. I will be running more workshops there in the new year.

SGFA

I have just been accepted as an Associate Member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art. (SGFA). This is a great opportunity to meet new artists and it will also mean more opportunities to exhibit my work. Drawing is a big part of my practice and so it’s good to be involved with an organisation who focus on that.

I have had drawings in the last two SGFA Open Exhibitions and look forward to working with them on a more regular basis. Take a look at their website to find out more.

Seleucia

I’ve just completed a new commission featuring the Ancient Greek city of Seleucia. This is a large painting and has taken a long time to complete but I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I used acrylic paint on a wood panel and built it up gradually with multiple layers of colour. Sometimes with commissions I tackle subjects that I wouldn’t normally consider but this one is the sort of thing I would normally go for - nature taking over a derelict building!

You can see ‘Seleucia’ and other commissioned work in the Commissions section of my website.

Next I will be working on a smaller painting based on the scenery at Bullclough Art School in the Peak District. I have run several workshops there and will use this piece as a way of demonstrating painting technique.

GEC

I have just completed a new oil painting based on the old GEC Factory that was recently demolished in Stafford. This building was part of the landscape for as long as I can remember and it seems strange to now see it gone. The site was large and it took a few weeks to remove the various buildings. I have captured the main part of the factory, partway through demolition and was interested in how various parts of the interior became visible after some of the outer shell was removed. There is something quite sad but also beautiful about the last remaining parts of the structure. It was once a major employer for Stafford but this once busy area has now become very quiet and still.

Three Counties Open Exhibition 2021

I’m pleased to announce that my painting ‘Inside Out’ has been selected for the Three Counties Open Exhibition 2021. This normally takes place at Burslem School of Art but this year will take the form of an online exhibition, available to view throughout the summer.

My selected work is based on an abandoned ceramics factory in Middleport, which I discovered during a day of urban exploring with printmaker Jemma Gunning last year.

I’m currently working on a new painting featuring another derelict factory, this one based on the GEC factory in Stafford which was recently demolished. Both pieces form part of a collection of work exploring the decline of industry.

Broadway Arts Festival 2021

I am pleased to announce my oil painting, ‘After the Rain’, has been selected for the Broadway Arts Festival 2021. This piece depicts an area on Cannock Chase that I discovered on a walk just before the last lockdown. The forest was quiet and the mist made the landscape look very atmospheric. For me, surrounding myself with nature has been a great way of staying calm and focused during a period of unrest.

My work featured in the Broadway Arts Festival last year but this time it will appear in the real world rather than online. I’m looking forward to exhibiting again and meeting the other artists. The show runs from the 4th to the 13th June.

New Commission

I have just completed a new commission, this time featuring a cat called Henry. It is not the sort of thing I would normally use as subject matter but it was for a special occasion and so I decided to take it on board. This drawing is built up with multiple layers of ink pen to create the textures of the fur and a dash of watercolour to add tone and colour.

As I am a teacher it is useful to take on a variety of projects so that I gain new experiences which in turn feeds back into the art classes. Ink pen has featured many times in my more recent work and this project was an interesting diversion which I enjoyed.

Back to dereliction now……

'Guard House' selected for the Annual SGFA Exhibition

I am pleased to announce that my ink drawing, ‘Guard House’, has been selected for the Society of Graphic Fine Art Annual Exhibition. The show will run 5th - 10th July 2021 at the Mall Galleries in London. It is good to be part of a show that focuses on drawing as it is a big part of what I do as an artist.

‘Guard House’ is part of a series of work focusing on war remains and features RAF Tilstock, an abandoned airbase near Whitchurch.

Whiskey 13

I have just completed a new ink pen drawing of ‘Whiskey 13’, a watch tower at the disused RAF Upper Heyford site. I feel the black and white look of the drawing suits the subject and the ink pens were good for capturing the battered surfaces. I used a variety of techniques on this piece and enjoyed the process.

I find the structures at the site to be quite haunting and yet rather beautiful in a way. It wasn’t just a case of describing the appearance of these structures but trying to capture the atmosphere of the site which is full of history. You can find the drawing and others in the series on the ‘War Remains’ page of this website.

New Work

I’m currently working on a few creative projects and the current lockdown has meant I have spent more time in my studio.

Today I have repaired one of my recent oil paintings, ‘After the Rain”, after it fell off a shelf. This is now fully restored and if anything, looks better than before. I am also working on a new oil painting featuring the GEC Factory that has recently been demolished in Stafford.

I have begun a new ink drawing based on one of the towers at RAF Upper Heyford. I have a new technique I want to try out on this piece which I think will work well.

I’m never bored!

HAS 7

I have been working on and off on a new pencil drawing for a few months now and have eventually got round to finishing it. It features one of the shelters at RAF Upper Heyford, a disused airbase in Oxfordshire. The building is known by the USAF as a ‘TAB-V (Theater Air Base Vulnerability Evaluation Exercise) Shelter’ but at Upper Heyford they referred to it as a ‘HAS’ (Hardened Aircraft Shelter). They were used to house combat ready jets during the Cold War.

I visited the site near the end of 2019 and it was a fascinating place to experience. I have quite a few research photos of the area which I’ve dipped into for inspiration on recent work. Some of the buildings on the site had been repurposed as storage buildings for local businesses whereas other structures are derelict and in poor repair.

My drawing, ‘HAS 7’, can be found in the ‘War Remains’ section of this website.