Summer Exhibition Tarporley

Grosvenor Art Society have a new venue this year - Tarporley Community Centre. This is situated on the High Street in Tarporley village, which is a lovely eclectic setting. I’ll be stewarding on Friday afternoon. Exciting!

Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours

'Ground Cover' is one of two, of my watercolour paintings, that have been selected to be shown at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) 214th Exhibition. 

The exhibition will be held at the Mall Galleries in London, from 25 March 10am to 5pm. There is also a preview online exhibition that is now live, and all works are available to browse and buy.

The exhibition closes 11 April 2026.

I am really looking forward to attending this exhibition, it is always so varied with many subjects covered, and so many different ways of using watercolour.

Daler Rowney Award

I was thrilled to be asked to write a few words about the Daler Rowney/ Princeton Brush Prize which I won earlier this year at the Society of Botanical Artists Plantae exhibition. 

Here is a link to the blog post. Daler Rowney Award

Delamere Forest

 I used watercolour and gouache to paint this Woodland scene of Delamere Forest.

Delamere Forest is in Cheshire England, and is the largest Woodland in the county. It has a mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees. Delamere is a popular place for walking and cycling. I love walking there especially in the autumn; it is really beautiful. 

This forest scene captures the golden light striking a small tree within the pines.

I am working towards producing another book in my 'Watercolour Secrets' series. Delamere Forest features extensively-it is right on my doorstep-and this scene is part of a detailed step-by-step set of paintings.

Wirral Society of Arts

 

Wirral Society of Arts have an Art Exhibition taking place at Mayer Hall, The Village, Bebington CH63 7PL. Open now until 26 October 2025.

It is definitely worth a look and is free to enter. I have two paintings on show.

It is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm, and Thursday 1pm to 7.30pm.

 

Grosvenor Museum's 15th Open Art Exhibition

 

'Keepsake Comes to Life' my watercolour and gouache painting won the Peter Boughton First Prize at Grosvenor Museum's 15th Open Art Exhibition. 

There was a real buzz at the private view. I met lots of artists and members of the museum board. It's a fantastic exhibition and open until the end of August 2025. 

Held at the Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD. 

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10.30am - 5.00pm and Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

Navelwort

This is my watercolour and gouache painting of a Navelwort, Umbilicus rupestris, or common names Wall Pennywort, Penny-pies. I came across this plant growing in a wall by St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

I had seen green ones before, but never one this bright colour. I discovered that if the navelwort grows in a sunny position it can turn red in the sunlight.

The name navelwort is a reference to the shape of the leaves, in the center is a navel-like depression. 

The colours I used to paint this where alizarin crimson, permanent rose, permanent magenta, quinacridone magenta and permanent mauve.

RI 212 Exhibition 2024

Cobweb with raindrops 

The cobweb is stretched over the grasses, and this pulls the raindrops into unusual shapes. 

This is a watercolour and gouache painting. It is one of three paintings that have been accepted into the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours 212 Exhibition 2024.

The exhibition runs from 28th March to 13 April 2024. It is held at the Mall Galleries, London.

Chester Zoo

 

Had a trip to Chester Zoo. Found some plants and look who I spotted.

Grand Christmas Fayre

 

I have a table at the Grand Christmas Fayre. This takes place at Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight Village, Bolton Road, Wirral CH6 5DH. On 26th November 2023 from 10.30am to 3pm.

Come along and enjoy the lovely Christmassy atmosphere, look out for bargains, and I'll have lots of cards and prints for sale.

Ladybirds

 

Ladybirds are the centre of attention in this painting, crawling over a prickly plant. The silvery web adds extra interest. This is a watercolour and gouache painting on paper.

This is one of three paintings available to purchase at the Mall Galleries online website.

Society of Botanical Artists Plantae 2023

 

I'll soon be heading to London for the Society of Botanical Artists 2023 Plantae Exhibition at the Mall Galleries.

The exhibition runs from May 16th to May 20th. Not only a great exhibition but lots of botanical art demonstrations too.

This image is from one of my watercolour paintings appearing at the exhibition. Oenothera biennis, Common Evening Primrose, painted in watercolour and gouache.

Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours

 'Purple Rain' is one of three watercolour and gouache paintings that have been selected to be shown at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 211th exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. 

The exhibition is open on 30th March until 8th April. 

I am really looking forward to attending this exhibition, it is always so varied with many subjects covered, and different mediums. 

Watercolour Secrets: Coastal Plants

 

This week I launched a new book called Watercolour Secrets: Coastal Plants. It's the second in a series of books covering the techniques I use for my particular brand of botanical art. 

I guide you through step-by-step demonstrations on painting coastal plants in watercolour, which include Sea Holly, Gorse, Scentless Mayweed, Saltmarsh Goosefoot, Common Evening Primrose, Sea Aster, Bittersweet and many more.

Scattered throughout this illustrated full colour book are tips and secrets to help you on your way.

Coastal Plants is available for purchase on Amazon

Grosvenor Art Society of Chester

Eclectic Summer Exhibition 2022

Held at Castle Park Arts Centre, Off Fountain Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire.Disabled parking WA6 6SE Main car park WA6 6SA

Wednesday June 29th - Saturday August 6th

All paintings for sale. Admission Free

Open Tuesdays - Saturdays 10am - 4pm

This is a lovely venue for the Grosvenor Art Society of Chester exhibition.

Beautiful art works and lovely surroundings, and a cafe.

I have one painting, prints and cards in this exhibition.

I'll be at the Gallery on Friday July 1st between 7 - 9pm for a Meet the Artist Evening.

Upcoming RI Exhibition London

These are my three paintings that have been selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 210th exhibition.

The exhibition is open from 14th April to 23 April 2022. It is held at the Mall Galleries in London.

The exhibition is of very high standard, displaying a wide range of subjects, ideas and styles. This is my tenth year exhibiting with the RI, and I am very proud to be associated with these talented artists again. 

 'Keepsake Comes to Life' is the title of this watercolour and gouache painting. It is my first painting of a trompe l'oeil on paper.

It features a torn and once-loved image of a feverfew plant taped to a wooden board. The image is struggling to spring back to life.

 

'Sand Dunes' features plants growing on the sand dunes at Harlech, North Wales. 

'Sand and Shadows' the play of deep shadows in the sand is the main feature of this painting.

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International Artist magazine

 

It's nice to get into an art magazine now and again. My watercolour and gouache painting 'Rhododendron' made it into the International Artist magazine October/ November edition, as a finalist in the Florals and Gardens Challenge.

Valerian

 

I painted this picture of Valerian using watercolour and gouache.

 

The tiny little flowers of the Valerian were quite fiddly to paint, but I do enjoy painting small details. To paint the flower heads I used washes of permanent rose, carmine, permanent magenta and alizarin crimson.

The leaves are just as interesting as the flowers, being stalk-less and joined around the stem. I used washes of sap green, oxide of chromium, midnight green and neutral tint for the strong shadows.

Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours

 

'Rubus fruticosus, Bramble' is one of my two paintings selected to be shown at the Royal Instititute of Painters in Water Colours 209th Exhibition, held at the Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1. 

The exhibition runs from 20 to 29 May 2021, 11am to 4pm. Tickets have to be booked in advance at www.mallgalleries.org.uk 

This promises to be an excellent exhibition, and it's wonderful that live exhibitions are beginning to happen once again, I am so happy to be part of it. 

There is always such a diverse range of art work at the RI, and the exhibition showcases all that can be achieved in watercolour. 

Navelwort

This is my watercolour and gouache painting of a Navelwort, Umbilicus rupestris, or common names Wall Pennywort, Penny-pies. I came across this plant growing in a wall by St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

I had seen green ones before, but never one this bright colour. I discovered that if the navelwort grows in a sunny position it can turn red in the sunlight.

The name navelwort is a reference to the shape of the leaves, in the center is a navel-like depression. 

The colours I used to paint this where alizarin crimson, permanent rose, permanent magenta, quinacridone magenta and permanent mauve.