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!

new range of prints

Just initialised a new range of limited edition prints. Edn size of 195, printed on thick 410gsm archival textured paper with Epson Ultrachrome inks. These are un-mounted, print only, with an acid free backing board and poly bag. Set of 12 of print numbers 1/195 already sold... collectors iems?? who knows?
What do you think?

Call yourself an artist?

I call myself an artist and a painter- oh really! For the last two weeks I have not so much as looked at my paints.... this afternoon I must take decisive action!


My excuse is - I have been busy with business, rather than painting I have:
-initiated and proofed a new edition of prints
-worked with a new photographer to get good images
- spent a week at a trade show
-started this blog
-booked several pieces of advertsing
-collaborated on a book cover with a publisher
-negotiated an Easter joint show with other artists
-booked flights to Paris to visit a gallery there
-personally delivered work to a new gallery
-booked couriers and packed work for another gallery
-re-hung my own gallery and spring cleaned it

not yet done the accounts.....

or walked the dog!
better get on with it then....

We love Tenby

New painting of Tenby ready for exhibition at Victoria Fearn Gallery in Cardiff.
That was fun painting it. May yet add some more characters - I'm not in it yet!

Sunday night

Sunday night and the rugby's finished. OH & dogs snoozing by the fire. I'm planning delivery this week of some new paintings to the Waterfront Gallery in Milford Haven, so a nice drive out to Pembrokeshire with the dogs for me.
But first I need to have them professionally photographed by our near neighbour Peter Mayes. Some of these new originals we may make into a print run, and so we will need excellent professional images to work from. Peter has many years experience, and first class equipment to get the job done, just hope he's free this week!

In the coming weeks we'll be busy too shipping work to several new  galleries- in Abergavenny, Dolgethllau, Hull, Cowbridge, Cornwall, Devon Portsmouth and Ireland! Phew - exhausting just thinking about it!

And in between we have to (oh it's a hard life...) pop over to Paris for meetings with a gallery there re an exhibition in September.....

Slowly but surely

Good. Managed to link this site with my web page. Hope to move news to here soon.

Here we go

Heya, having attended a fab seminar at the NEC Spring Fair by Cormac Heron, I am now, officially blogging. Hopefully this will tie together all my online 'presences' (multiple mes?)