Photo Diary

Ridiculously enough, this is the very first painting I have managed in the year. For a year, in fact, I think! I am determined to get on and do more pictures from now on. I think it’ll mean giving up a half day a week. So be it!

Since this is the first chance I’ve had to paint in a year, I thought I’d do a nice, local scene: the Finch Foundry, a National Trust site that’s full of waterwheels and hammers!

This was one of those pictures I took a while ago, and wanted to paint for quite a while. It’s a neighbour’s house in the street not far away, but with the hulk of Cawsand Beacon rising in the background. I’ve always liked this road.

I had a second or two to nip into the road to snap this photo on my camera. I liked the view going down the hill into the town, and when I got home I had to paint it.

I’ve been back to the brushes at last. This year I am determined to paint more often. I need the relaxation! Meanwhile, thanks to the folks who commissioned paintings last year … here’s hoping I get some more in 2018!

A nice little commission from Chagford Cricket Club – good fun to paint some characters!

This is West Henstill House, the lovely old place where I first started thinking about writing, and where I invented Simon Puttock and Baldwin de Furshill!

A simple village scene based on a photo I have of the snow that fell 6-7 years ago. Not had any since, sadly! Still, I think it has the right atmosphere.

I rather like this. A quick sketch tonight. Reminds me of dancing Morris at Exeter Quay for the Dragon Boat races! Very wet in parts, and then suddenly the sun came out!Apologies for the angle. It was still on the easel, so the angles seem to slope inwards!

This is the scene in the mornings outside the village school

Occasionally I like to take photos while wandering the streets, and then make the pictures up as paintings later.