Winter colour at Norton Conyers

New Painting

New Painting: 'After The Harvest', oil on canvas 100cm x 100cm. The painting is part of the 'A Summer's Lease' project which charts my summer at Norton Conyers - a kind of visual diary from May to October.

It will soon be made into a full size, limited edition canvas print and is also the image I'm using for the exhibition invitation:

If there's anybody out there reading this, do come along.

Indian Summer

A beautiful autumn day with warm sunshine and a chill in the shade; Mrs S. and I wandered the garden and sat watching insect industry:

Teaching

Finally I have a studio big enough to use as a teaching space as well as for painting so each Wednesday students (poor buggers) come as part of a six week course. The course is open to all levels and is run on an 'atelier' style of mentorship and demonstrations. I will be running more courses later in the year.

Bringing The Studio To Life

When first we see the studio space there is no electricity or water but it is a beautiful space nonetheless. It may have been a grain store or hay loft and the door has a sliding 'cat flap', probably to allow access to ratting terriers.

Moving my easel in was a huge moment:

Uber electrician, Alan Shaw came and power and lighting were installed in a day.

I found a butler's sink,

Built a painting table

and before long we were in business with the first paintings started.