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CLA Game Fair and new summer paintings

Date Added: Thursday 15th July 2010 06:45

Summer Hebridean Crawfish painting

      

 I have just spent a couple of weeks on the island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Wet and windy, great for Kitesurfing and being under the water! I did manage to create a couple of watercolour paintings of a Hebridean crawfish (Spiny Lobster). Even more colourful and beautiful than a velvet crab I painted last year. These are mostly caught in deep water with nets off the islands, although I have seen them diving as well. This will feature on the new British shellfish tea towel, being launched from my stand (P1266 in Artist's Row) at the CLA Game Fair next week, 23rd to 25th July, Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire.

Farmyard Range

 

 The first firings of the new Farmyard range of ceramics will be ready just in time to launch at the Game Fair, featuring rare breed pigs and cows.

   

Also launched at the Fair is the Bonefish range which will be one of 8 new American and warm water species of fish and shellfish. The first four being Bonefish, Blue Claw Crab, Flounder and Red Drum.

New Spring Work

Date Added: Thursday 6th May 2010 08:26

Asparagus and Watercress

The new Asparagus and Watercress bowls arrived a few weeks ago, just in time for the first crop. Along with a really useful extra large serving bowl with sea fish and shellfish around the inside rim.

Farmyard Range

Currently finishing off paintings to my Farmyard range in the Dorset studio including rare breeds of pigs and cows. I hope to have this on the ceramics and in stock by the end of July all being well. The Oxford Sandy Black Pig is my favourite and Longburton Farm just up the road from us in Sherborne have some great ones, along with Saddleback and Gloucester Old Spot Pigs. They are just great fun to hang out with, whilst I draw them they chat amongst themselves and even to me!        

Next door to us all winter in the old cow yard are young Friesian Heifers, and we always grow fond of them, so the Friesian Cow is defiantly in the range. This week they are off onto the common to graze on fresh grass, marking the turning of the season. This year we also have one very proud cock pheasant with four hens nesting around the garden.  Below is a painting of a Belted Galloway cow another one of my favourites.

 

Just in this week are some new bone china Milk and Creamer Jugs adding onto the breakfast range.

Date Added: Thursday 8th October 2009 09:28

Bespoke plates for charity auction

Just back from North Uist in the Outer Hebrides where I spend as much time as possible. It was very wet and windy, perfect for kitesurfing (a new found passion), until I lost my board in the tide. Still this allowed me more time for painting.

Monty Halls is filming a BBC series on islands and to raise funds for signposts for nature trails there was a great feast at Langass Lodge and a charity auction. I donated a set of the four dinner plates featuring game birds found on the islands, with bespoke drawings on the backs. As well as a large oval salmon platter which I drew a leaping salmon on the back, Monty signed with a pen and Ruben his dog with a paw. Which was no mean 'feet' given Ruben was not the most cooperative with his paw! Can you blame him, all captured on film! The series is showing on BBC in the New Year. The evening was a great success raising money for a worthwhile cause. Wonderful delicious dishes made from local produce donated by crofters, divers and fishermen. Cooked by Chef John Buchanan and his team at Langass Lodge. Well worth a stay and dinner if you are visiting the islands.

Velvet Crab Watercolour

Whilst diving during the week for scallops off Grimsay the next island down from North Uist, I caught a velvet crab, definately the most beautiful of our crabs found in British waters. Original watercolour opposite.