Open Up Studios Sheffield

I am taking part in Open Up Studios again this year and really looking forward to meeting new and familiar visitors. As well as paintings on show I will be giving little demos on work in progress. My Sketch books and journals are available to view.  Prints, cards and tote bags featuring my work are also available.


I do hope I will see some of you over the two weekends. there are other artists nearby and tea, coffee and cake will be on offer too. If the weather is kind our garden makes a lovely haven to sit and contemplate on art and life.

2015…and February already!

Belated Happy new Year Greetings! 

So much has been happening…I became a grandmother for the first time at the end of 2014. A boy and he and his parents are doing really well.

He has become a new source of inspiration to me and I have been putting my new coloured pencils to use trying to capture his likeness.

I have even knitted a few creations for him!

The pencil drawings encouraged me to try a few other subjects too.

Elephant's Eye

Milo

Herring Gull

I have been painting too and am working towards my first exhibition of 2015 which will be a solo exhibition at The Old Grammar School Gallery in March.

Here are a few images that will be on show then.

Yorkshire Farm

Blue Staithes

I will also be including a few from my travels such as this one of a boat on a beach in Suffolk.

And, of course some of my favourite muse, Staithes in North Yorkshire.

There will be a few urban landscapes too as I continue to explore old Sheffield.

I do hope you will come and meet me at the opening. This will be Friday 6th March 2015. I will post further details soon.

Open Up Sheffield

Wow, nearly 300 visitors came to my Open Studio, some from as far afield as Nuneaton, 'a mission of love' Pam told me and I can't tell you how humble that makes me feel.
Everyone was very generous with their lovely comments.  It is very rewarding to have so much positive feedback.
Lots of paintings have now gone to their new homes and I sold out of lino prints of Staithes and many of of my card designs!

Here are a few photos of how the studio and gallery looked over the 2 weekends.

Card Corner

Sketch Books and Paintings

Contrasting Subjects, Staithes and Old Sheffield

Back Wall

Over View

Josh Made a Great Meeter and Greeter

Me Talking About How I work

Now I need to collect myself together and start organising delivery of new work to galleries as well as working on all the new ideas that are buzzing around inside my head.
A big thank you to everyone who came and all the organisers of Open Up Sheffield. Same time, same place next year :)

Open Up Sheffield May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 May 2014 11 am - 5.00 pm You are all welcome!

Yes, it is that time of the year again when artists across Sheffield will be opening their studios to all the lovely people who take time to visit, and even buy original pieces, prints and cards. I am really grateful to all. I love to meet you, hear your comments and discuss art, weather, garden or whatever takes your fancy. There will be tea, coffee, juice  and no doubt cake.
Here is a small selection of what will be on show.

Barnsley Works, Kelham Island, Sheffield

Beached Boat, Runswick Bay

Blue Coble

Roxby Beck, Staithes

Lino Reduction, Staihes

Sunny Day, Staithes

Reflections, Staithes

Michael Rosen: Gove nicked our schools and handed them to his mat...

Michael Rosen: Gove nicked our schools and handed them to his mat...: Further to the question of 'hey Gove, where have the title deeds of our state schools gone?' there is a post on the Guardian comme...

Life is Good

A good start to the new year, two new galleries, good sales and commissions coming in almost weekly. All good stuff but doesn't leave me much time to work on my blog!
Texture still a prominent feature in my latest work but, as always, I like to surprise every now and then with something completely different. One of my favourite paintings so far is Blue Staithes a  big canvas 120 x 90 cm. I really enjoy working on a  big scale and I was able to great a great feeling  of space with this one.
Available from  http://togs-gallery.com

Blue Staithes

Another one that was a joy to create was a this almost monochrome painting of Staithes, a little 40 x 60 cm. It just 'painted itself'. I love it when that happens, when everything just comes together.

Over the Bridge

It also happens to be one of my favourite spots in Staithes. There is a seat that catches any available sun and it is possible to sit quietly, reading, painting, sketching or just watching the cobles bobbing up and down in the Beck.

My Heart Misses a Beat

My Heart Misses a Beat (above) so titled because that is exactly what my heart does as I approach Staithes and this view comes into site. I haven't been to Staithes as much as I would like recently as we are having lots of work done on the house and in between painting I am Project Managing all the work! Hopefully everything will be completed by the end of next month and then it will be Staithes, followed by a week by the sea in Suffolk.

Staithes, linocut

I have been continuing my printing sessions and this year felt confident enough for some bigger, bolder lino reduction prints. I am every pleased with the way Staithes and Steers Dreaming turned out and will be showing them at Open Studios in May.

Steers Dreaming Lino cut

I have been concentrating on Staithes as a subject but have wandered as far as Runswick and Robin Hood's Bay after a recent trip staying at Raven Hall, which I can heartily recommend. Here are the results of that trip.

Beached Boat, Runswick Bay

View to Robin Hood's Bay from Raven Hall

Roof Tops, Robin Hoods Bay

And, on my easel now, trying something a bit different, very much a work in progress and may very well be starting again on a differently shaped canvas! 

Where Did the Summer Go

I knew that it would be difficult to keep my blog going over the summer as my son and daughter in law were visiting from Russia and lots of work being done on the house. Much of the  painting I did consisted of rolling emulsion on walls!
At least we had a summer this year...that is until we had our holiday on The Llyn Peninsula, fortunately I like painting atmospheric scenes. Here are a few sketches I completed during my few days away. I am not saying it rained all the time but I think the sketches speak for themselves!

I will be working on some paintings of the area throughout the autumn and winter.

My big painting of Stunning Staithes that I showed the developmental stages of before the summer sold shortly after I delivered it to Staithes Gallery. 

Stunning Staithes

Many years ago when I was a student in Hull I did a series of paintings around the Land of Green Ginger (no idea where they are now).  I was wandering around the old industrial area of Sheffield and was struck by the similarities of the two places which inspired me to produce this painting of this old building in Kelham Island, Sheffield.

Wharncliffe Works

And, now we are moving into autumn, the house renovation is nearly complete and my studio is raring to go after a big clear out...though there was a moment of extreme panic when I thought I had thrown out my 'most important note book', after much racing around like a headless chicken and emptying the recycling bins I remembered that I had put it in a 'safe place' before the holiday!!

so, what next....well I have many plans, an exhibition next year with other artists from 'The North' a gallery in Scarborough requesting some of my work and an exhibition next year, as well as Open Studios and supplying work to four other galleries...plenty to keep me busy over autumn and winter.

On my easel now?

Staithes, of course

WIP Staithes