Thunder Storm

Quite a storm passed over Norton Conyers yesterday.....

but it wasn't long before the sun came out and the garden was full of the buzzing of bees and flutter of butterflies again.

Open Days

The iris beds are looking magnificent at the moment and both house and gardens are open this weekend; why not pop along. Oh, and my studio is open too.

Garden girls hard at work on the borders:

Art Classes

A couple of my students not looking in the least eccentric, enjoying a day's painting by the river.

A visit from the farrier

Walter, who lives in Coachman's cottage had four of his horses re-shod this week so it gave me the opportunity to make a little drawing! - 'Farrier' charcoal and ink on paper 1050mm x 950mm

Tunnelling

Work goes on apace on the tunnel at Norton. Probably built in the late 17th century to keep the peasant workers out of sight from the house (nothing like the sight of a rude peasant to put one off the  pheasant terrine), it runs under the drive. It was beginning to fall into disrepair and was in danger of swallowing a car or more likely, the tanker that delivers heating oil to Walter's cottage.

'Tunnelling' sketchbook page 30cm x 30cm

The top has been exposed, bricks removed and a former made in preparation for rebuilding:

First of Many

The woods are carpeted with the fresh green leaves of young bluebells and one or two are in flower already. 

Compost

Giles has been busy whilst I was away in Devon and the new compost bins at the back of the studio are completed and filling up already.

Spring!

Despite flurries of snow this morning, Spring has arrived at Norton Conyers and there are splashes of colour everywhere. Trees are bursting into leaf and birds beaks are stuffed full of nest building materials.

House and garden opening times here: http://www.nortonconyers.org.uk

Fresh from the easel: Sound Of Mull

It has been a busy week in the studio; we're between teaching terms so I have more time for painting. New work has been started and others have been brought to completion, the largest of which is the one I'm working on above: 'Sound Of Mull' oil on canvas 100cm x 100cm. The picture was inspired by our recent return to that beautiful island. Below is the completed painting.