Painting the Islands; Anglesey & Skye
I’m now back home, after 2 months painting the Isle of Skye and Anglesey. Travelling with my camper van and bicycle to paint some works in preparation for my solo exhibition in August 2023.
Plein air painting
Painting Arolla and The Grand Hotel & Kurhaus
This painting diary is from my recent trip to Arolla. I'm stayed in a fantastic hotel surrounded by pine forest and snowy mountains. The start of the week consisted of skiing and walking about the region to discover the views and see what inspires me the most. It's winter and very cold right now so ski touring equipment is the obvious choice here. I take a pencil and sketch book along with some small boards which I can paint postcard sized works on to test ideas and compositions. The Hotel interior Right from the first day I was inspired to also paint the lobby at the hotel. It looks over a balcony, through a beautiful forest made up of...
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Painting on the ancient ‘Axe Apollon – Saint-Michel’
It took some time. We had a plan, but it’s surprisingly hard to get enough consecutive days of similar autumnal weather. High up in the Alps on the Axe Apollon – Saint-Michel where every side of each peak has its own micro-climate.
Finally, just before I need to head to Wales again we get a window.
Discovering ‘ La Région Dents du midi’ – in paint
‘La Région Dents du Midi’ and me:
Champery was the first Swiss mountain resorts I ever visited. Back when I was racing mountain bikes at about 19 years of age I had stopped by on a road trip with some friends. After visiting for a week or so I knew I wanted to come back again. Skip 3 years and I was working as a ski instructor for the Freeride ski school in Champery.
Ski touring & Painting in the Swiss Alps (video)
To begin painting in the Swiss Alps I first need to get there with all my stuff. This time I take the train, with a pair of skis , 3 canvasses, my backpack and a large roller bag. Then finally from Sierre I hop on the funicular, then finally a bus to my destination.
Painting Pembrokeshire | North – South Wales | Part 3
Painting Pembrokeshire is on my radar but I need to wait for the weather to agree with my plans. I can’t believe it’s taken me two years to put all these paintings together. With my largest welsh exhibition on the horizon things are getting exciting now.
Painting the Welsh Coast | Part 2
Over the course of painting this new exhibition I have decided to change the name, so what started as ‘Painting the Welsh coast’ will now become ‘ North – South, A very Welsh Exhibition’. This is Mostly due to the fact that whilst at the coast I began venturing in land. I couldn’t resist. There are so many fantastic places to visit throughout Wales.
Painting the Welsh coast | Part 1
Behind the scenes, painting along the Welsh coast for my upcoming solo exhibition.
Ever since painting Barmouth Bridge a year or so ago I have been inspired to paint a collection of works along the Welsh coast. Working my way from North to South, following the coastline heading inland, here and there as and as I fancy. (This was the rough idea at least)
Commissioning a landscape painting
Commissioning a landscape painting is unknown territory for many people. So I’m writing this blog to take you ‘behind the scenes’ and show the whole process of commissioning your own landscape painting from start to finish. What the process involves and which choices you might make as the commissioner. This particular painting is being painted in the Swiss Alps.
