Patchings Festival 2017

Above: Winter Sun, Berry Head

Just got back from an overnight stay in Nottingham, from a visit to the 2017 Patchings Festival. I had a painting accepted for 'The Artist' category of the art competition.
Our first visit to Patchings. It was good to go around the stands as a tourist, 'off duty'. Still, I did get to finally meet Ingrid Lyon, the editor of Leisure Painter. I've been writing articles for LP since 2002, so it was good to say hello.
I also got to meet David Curtis, an artist whose work I've admired for many years (also bought a signed copy of his latest book).

Limited Palette Demonstration

I was at Derriford Art Club, Plymouth, yesterday for a demo/workshop. Here's my demonstration painting of the ruins at Margam Abbey, Port Talbot. Painted on a half imperial sheet of 200lb Saunders Waterford (NOT surface), which was stretched on a board.
My aim was to show what a range of mixes you can get using a limited palette. I used 5 for this one: Cobalt blue, Alizarin crimson, Raw sienna, Burnt sienna & Aureolin.

Paperback edition out in September...

My new watercolour book will be available in paperback from the 1st September, from Search Press:

'The Travelling Sketchbook in North Cornwall'

Got back on Saturday evening, from 4 days on a sketching & walking holiday in Cornwall, with Alpha Painting Holidays. We were based at the Treglos Hotel in Constantine Bay. We had some pretty good weather. A bit windy at times, especially along the headlands but the class really got into it and did some great sketches in their books, which were supplied by Matt from Alpha. I've posted my demo sketches here.

The photo of me with the class was taken by Andrew Flagg, the proprietor of the Simonsbath House Hotel on Exmoor. Andrew will be leading the walks next year, when I do a similar sketching & walking holiday, with Alpha, on Exmoor in June 2018.

'Paignton Harbour'

I painted this as a demonstration for Whitchurch Art Group last Friday afternoon. They wanted a loose style watercolour painting of a harbour scene. This is Paignton harbour, showing the junior sailing club members.

West Moors demonstration

Here's a recent demonstration I did for West Moors Art Society. I was asked to do 'animals' so I chose this feline model.

'Take Three Colours'

I have an article in the April issue of Leisure Painter, which is out now. I was asked to write about my three favourite colours, which turned out to be a bit of a toughie. 
What are my three favourite colours? Only one way to find out.