Autumn days

Strange times continue to challenge us all, however at least I have been able to find solace in nature and quiet hours sitting at my desk. Fortunately walking is still an option and we have enjoyed some splendid excursions. The photograph below shows the landscape around my home close to the Cheshire-Staffordshire border in NW England. I enjoyed working on this gilded painting of a Screech owl with Tiger moths. Earlier this year we visited an owl sanctuary in North Wales and I was able to observe this owl at close quarters. 

This is the time of year we would normally be travelling down to London to visit the annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, to meet up with friends and to experience all that is lovely and magical about Christmas in London. All these things and more have been cancelled, I expect you also have a long list of cancellations. It is possible to visit their exhibition of previously exhibited work here 

Earlier in the year I enrolled on a hand throwing ceramics class with master potter Jon French. I managed to throw and complete several wobbly and imperfect pots before this too was cancelled due to our newly enforced tier restrictions. It was so disappointing as the whole class had made progress and were getting into the swing of things, so fingers crossed we will be allowed to continue our studies in the new year. I tried my hand at decorating with various glazes and techniques including sgraffito.

Fortunately I have been able to sell some of my original paintings through Art of the Imagination who have an online gallery. Nearly all of their planned exhibitions and events have been cancelled, indeed it feels like everyone is living in some sort of suspended animation. They have some pieces for sale online including this badger miniature. Although we have wild badgers living near our home they are very elusive and are now being ruthlessly culled, so I was very grateful to the photographer Steven Owen @steadyowen for allowing me to use one of his photographs as reference. 

I do hope you stay safe and keep busy and hope this wretched virus clears off once and for all before too long. 

Strange Times

Over the last months I have been concentrating on decorative illumination inspired by Medieval manuscripts. For inspiration I have turned to my collection of books and exhibition catalogs that I have acquired over the years, after visiting museums, libraries and charity shops! During this pandemic it has not been possible to continue attending workshops or other events I would have enjoyed in more normal times and apart from dog walking, shopping and gardening there has been little to distract me from sitting at my desk and practicing.

I created this miniature using two gilding techniques, raised and flat gilding.
For the flat gilding I used miniatum and transfer gold leaf. The raised gilding was a new venture for me, for this I used Instacoll which I found much easier than gesso.

We are now being asked to wear a face mask when social distancing isn't possible. I have been having fun creating some designs using my artwork, these are now available to purchase in my Redbubble shop.

So far the owls have been the most popular! 

Home schooling

With so many parents now finding themselves at home with children I thought that some of you might like these sheets to print and colour? I am uploading at a high resolution in the hope that you might be able to print them onto A4 paper? I created them to give to schools and bookshops to accompany my book "White is the Moon". Stay safe everyone X

O is for Owl.

January and February are always something of a struggle for me; my energy and enthusiasm levels are low and hibernation seems like a pleasant notion. At last the days are getting longer and despite the cold and rain there are welcome signs of spring. We travelled down south through the Avon valley region and saw some rather alarming floods. Bradford-on-Avon was open as usual but the river was dangerously high. It was so lovely to see primroses growing in the ancient churchyard.

We had a trip to Llandudno in North Wales and visited The Owls Trust, primarily to see a White -faced Scops Owl in order to complete a commission. Despite the howling wind and cold I managed to photograph many of the owls and had a guided tour by a knowledgeable and friendly guide. The miniature painting was duly completed and delivered.

The Illuminated letter O shows another bird I met at the sanctuary; this time an Ashy Faced Barn Owl which is now endangered. The lettering style and decoration were inspired by historical illuminated letters, in particular those depicted in Owen Jones's Grammar Of Ornament. The border has been gilded in gold leaf, the rest is water-colour on hot press paper. It measures three inches square, and yes, I do need specs and a magnifying glass!