In need of some colour on this grey day?
How about this bright happy seaside scene?
It's nearly finished for a client.

(check out the donkeys - my favourite part)

Dogs walked, floor washed, blog written, studio open - a grey, rainy day here at Tollgate Studios, but happy art is being made. I just love donkeys, so I'm painting them right now, and cows. I've had a life long fear of cows, inherited from my father I think, but even I can't deny their cuteness.  I love the visual distortion you get when they push their noses out to smell you - but I've not painted in the drool and dribble that accompanies it!

So today - cows and donkeys

Busy autumn ahead

Back from painting in the south of France and Bordeaux - so there should be some sun filled originals ready in mid winter ...

And back to work! Getting back to speed is a challenge, luckily we have almost too much work on, but steady progress is being made.

NEWS:
- an exhibition with Diane Mathias at Victoria Fearn Gallery in Rhiwbina, Cardiff continues for another month.

- the new Origin shop 23 King Street, in Carmarthen opens this Saturday, 24 Sept, with a preview of some stunning artists and makers work on Friday 24th from 5pm. All welcome.

- our studio & gallery continues to be
open 11 - 6, wednesday to Saturday.
- Pembrokeshire Craft Makers are holding an event at the City Hall in St Davids.

We are also planning our Winter events and shows, details soon - or join our mailing list for early dates and special offers.

One day I will have time to do some painting!

off in search of inspiration... studio closed for our holidays

It's that time of year and I am off to warmer climes to swim, sketch, visit galleries, eat fresh peaches and melons and drink wine that is grown and bottled within a few yards of the restaurant I'll be eating in each evening.... so sad as it seems, the gallery will have to  close for a couple of weeks. Last day open will be Saturday 27th August, reopening on 14th September, refreshed for the new term.

In the meantime, if you desperately need to buy art (I understand, it's OK), try our new outlet at Mundo's on the High Street in Cardigan. But be warned - it's a shop crammed with such gorgeous things, you will come out with your wallet lightened !

The Big Picture

It's taken 4 months; 24 brushes; 32 tubes of paint; 1 case of sunstroke and  and about 16 bottles of wine..... but finally this commissioned work is completed. Professionally photographed today by Peter Mayes, this original will be carefully packed ready for shipping to it's final destination later this week. 

Paintings are like children - great to have them around  but there come a time when it's nice to see them settled elsewhere....

New range of 'poster prints'

I'm quite excited about these. My top 20 favourite pictures in an 'poster' edition, ready to frame.

The colours have reproduced excellently. Will be launching them at Pembrokeshire Craft Makers show at St David's City Hall, tomorrow (Friday).

It's coming on ...slowly

It's a good job that summer had been postponed for a while - I need to get on with this little picture....

Poppit cafe goes to Poland

All packed up and ready to go to Poland, this 100cm square painting of our much loved local beach cafe at Poppit Sands.
Quite sad to see it go, but it's been selected to go the the 6th International Festival of Naive Art in Katowice, Poland, so go it must.
I can't think why really, but there's something strange about a picture of a Welsh beach in a Polish city gallery....

Back from France and ready for the next challenge

Ok, now back in grey and damp West Wales from a week  in sunny France, visiting galleries, taking pictures and sitting in cafes - sketching and absorbing the atmosphere. I know you think that being an artist is easy and fun, what with all the travel, socialising, food and wine, but it's jolly hard at times, I can tell you!

For example, here's the next commisssion I'm about to start - it measures just over 2.5m x 1.5m, and will feature the coastline of west & north Wales, as well as parts of Powys, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire.

It's had a custom made frame/support; an imported roll of canvas; will take about 5 weeks to complete and will use approximately 45 tubes of paint; 10 packets of baby wipes; 5 kitchen rolls and probablly 20 brushes (I am a bit hard on them...). Then it will be professionally photographed.  Packing and delivery will be ...interesting. Hope it will fit through the door at the other end!

Myddfai

Finally finished - original painting measuring 100cm square of Myddfia village. The place is famous for the 'Physicians of Myddfai' and its enterprising villagers!

This original is currently available for sale from the Myddfai Trading Co., and prints are available from my website, via the link above.

Myddfai begins

There it is - a start made on a metre square canvas of the village of Myddfai in  Mid Wales. I will have this ready for the opening of their new community centre  (although that word does not do the state of the art public building justice...) on May 21st . For those not in the know, Myddfai is a small Welsh villlage with a lot of myth and history to it; it attracts international tourists and is re-generating itself to preserve its heart for future generations. I've attached a link if you want to know more.

Galanthus Gallery, Hereford

Pleased to announce that I will be showing work with the Galanthus Gallery, in Hereford, this April.
http://www.galanthusgallery.com


Ah, what a lovely day - Spring really is in the air here (I am having to be patient and wait for my new bike to arrive -meanwhile lots of painting to get on with!)

Today, I am working on two new pictures for the Royal Academy summer show, which will go to the selection panel on 30th March. Here they are as of today - comments anyone?

I will be adding a wedding party to the one with the church (Mwnt) and people on the lane in the second one.
I like the feel of them both. They remind me of how I feel looking at work by two artists I admire - John Piper and Stan Rosenthal.

canvases for summer

90, yep, ninety, blank, bare naked canvases just arrived. That's a lot of painting for this summer.

Hmmm better find somewhere to stack them!

You just never know...

You just never know who you'll meet next. Today had the great pleasure of talking to not only one, but two famous astrophysicists who came to the studio to buy a picture. Thanks guys lovely to meet you - hope you have some clear skies for your stay in West Wales.

New Gallery

Happy to announce that I will be showing with the Evelyn Gallery, based in Northampton, in the coming months. Looking forward to working with you guys!     http://www.evelyngallery.co.uk/

Royal Academy of Arts

Well that's it - it's official. A bit of a milestone really I guess. After over forty years of painting, twenty of those professionally, I have finally joined the herd/succumbed to my ambition/taken myself seriously (delete depending on mood and motivation) and sent off my submission of paintings (two) to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
I have yet to paint these paintings - but don't panic - they are cogitating in my mind and I am just waiting until the time is right to pounce on them, commit to canvas, and hope they work. One's called 'Wedding on the Beach' the other, rather loosely, is entitled 'Summertime'.
I've also booked my train tickets, to London from Carmarthen return, as paintings have to be taken there, unwrapped, and scanned in. DHL not allowed, nor Royal Mail, so it's me or a specialist art courier - and I'm cheaper. The journey by train is just over 4 hours each way, plus a 2 hour window in London in which I should just about be able to get to the Academy in Piccadilly, drop them off, and leg it back to Paddington.

Co-operatives

Co-operatives - I like them. The one I'm a member of in Carmarthen - Origin Dyfed - shows the Best in the West of Arts & Crafts - is now tweeting Tweeting

Fine Art Guild - member

Great news - I have been accepted as a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild.
This means that I adhere to strict guidelines regarding professinal ethics and quality Fine Art Print production. Thereby assuring  collectors that they are investing in high quality pictures.

New paints

Got back from Paris last night, bags bulging with new paints and good wine. This pictures shows what 200 euros worth of Cobra oil paints looks like. I am trying them out today, hope they are worrth it!

Another happy client

Chris just collected a commissioned work of his house, which he has renovated and is really lovely. He's done loads of landscaping too, and built a lake - all of this is in the picture, as are his three children, himself and his three dogs.

It's always a little exciting when clients collect commissined work - in this case Chris had seen the picture in it's early stages, but was amazed by the change when the detail was added - that's when the magic happens!