Retrospective Gallery

Welsh Torrent, acrylic on canvas, (48 by 36in.)

I've always been interested in this subject since days 'tramping' in New Zealand forests. In fact one of my all-time favourite painters is Petrus Van der Velden, an acquaintance of Van Gogh who emigrated to New Zealand and who made rocks and rushing water his signature theme. I found this Van der Velden motif near Dolgellau in Wales and balanced on rocks in the stream sketching it. In a nice finale, it sold to a teacher friend who had fallen down a waterfall whilst visiting Jamaica - straight into the hands of her future husband!

Stoke Newington Doorway, watercolour, (12 by 9in.)

These roses were growing in the unpromising environment of a London east end street. Yet they, and many others, seemed to thrive - a symbol of the life in a big city I guess. I was also taken by the details of the door - details which owe a lot to that complex Victorian critic John Ruskin. I'm not sure he would have approved of his gothic decoration being applied to this kind of housing but it was fun to paint!

Dee Valley Panorama, acrylic on canvas

Monet is one of the giants of landscape painting so it's hard not to be inspired by his idea of painting the same scene through the seasons. Painting in the winter in Scotland has certainly made me appreciate how tough those impressionists were, parking their easels out in the snow! This chilly number (and one of my favourites of a view now obliterated by a certain local developer Forbes Homes - gee thanks guys) now resides in sunny Spain.

The Old Fishing Boat, Island Bay,watercolour, (approx 9 by 12in.)

Here's a change of scenery: back to my native New Zealand, and actually back quite a few years, in a little tribute to the old fishing boats worked by the hardiest of men out in Cook Strait, between the north and the south islands. This was ashore for some painting in "Fisherman's Creek" a little inlet around the corner from Island Bay proper. The island, Taputeranga, is in the background.

From the Bridge, Braemar, acrylic,(approx 12 by 9in.)

As much as I love basking in summer warmth, there's something about winter light that's a beacon for the landscape painter. Maybe another attraction, in the northern hemisphere at least, is the revelation of the trees' structure as the leaves fall. In Braemar, which I think still holds the record for the coldest ever temperature in the UK, all my artistic obsessions fell into place: rocks with water flowing around them, the abstract linear shapes of trees and the subtle harmonies of snowbound hills.

Across the Bay, Island Bay, egg tempera,(approx 6 by 12in.)

I like to use different media and,with my interest in art history, egg tempera has often appealed. It's purity of colour suits the clarity of the New Zealand light. Perhaps that's a bit like the light imagined in the early renaissance paintings of artists like Fra Angelico as they painted their angels in heaven. Indeed there's something of the paradise about Island Bay on a clear fine day - especially when the wind hasn't got up yet!

Just Chillin', watercolour on paper, (10 by 14in.)

About a year ago I met these two men outside a pub on Church Street, Stoke Newington, London. The pub is 'The Rose and Crown'. I was just passing through London on my way to New Zealand so didn't have time to draw them so asked if I could take a photo. I said to keep an eye out for my next exhibition in London where I'd hope to show the painting based on the photo I took that day. In October 2011 I had my London exhibition - at the charming Petit Coin Cafe. Arthur, the man with the pipe, now owns the painting!

	Welsh Torrent, acrylic on canvas, (48 by 36in.) I've always been interested in this subject since days 'tramping' in New Zealand forests. In fact one of my all-time favourite painters is Petrus Van der Velden, an acquaintance of Van Gogh who emigrated to New Zealand and who made rocks and rushing water his signature theme. I found this Van der Velden motif near Dolgellau in Wales and balanced on rocks in the stream sketching it. In a nice finale, it sold to a teacher friend who had fallen down a waterfall whilst visiting Jamaica - straight into the hands of her future husband!
	Stoke Newington Doorway, watercolour, (12 by 9in.) These roses were growing in the unpromising environment of a London east end street. Yet they, and many others, seemed to thrive - a symbol of the life in a big city I guess. I was also taken by the details of the door - details which owe a lot to that complex Victorian critic John Ruskin. I'm not sure he would have approved of his gothic decoration being applied to this kind of housing but it was fun to paint!
	Dee Valley Panorama, acrylic on canvas Monet is one of the giants of landscape painting so it's hard not to be inspired by his idea of painting the same scene through the seasons. Painting in the winter in Scotland has certainly made me appreciate how tough those impressionists were, parking their easels out in the snow! This chilly number (and one of my favourites of a view now obliterated by a certain local developer Forbes Homes - gee thanks guys) now resides in sunny Spain.
	The Old Fishing Boat, Island Bay,watercolour, (approx 9 by 12in.) Here's a change of scenery: back to my native New Zealand, and actually back quite a few years, in a little tribute to the old fishing boats worked by the hardiest of men out in Cook Strait, between the north and the south islands. This was ashore for some painting in "Fisherman's Creek" a little inlet around the corner from Island Bay proper. The island, Taputeranga, is in the background.
	From the Bridge, Braemar, acrylic,(approx 12 by 9in.) As much as I love basking in summer warmth, there's something about winter light that's a beacon for the landscape painter. Maybe another attraction, in the northern hemisphere at least, is the revelation of the trees' structure as the leaves fall. In Braemar, which I think still holds the record for the coldest ever temperature in the UK, all my artistic obsessions fell into place: rocks with water flowing around them, the abstract linear shapes of trees and the subtle harmonies of snowbound hills.
	Across the Bay, Island Bay, egg tempera,(approx 6 by 12in.) I like to use different media and,with my interest in art history, egg tempera has often appealed. It's purity of colour suits the clarity of the New Zealand light. Perhaps that's a bit like the light imagined in the early renaissance paintings of artists like Fra Angelico as they painted their angels in heaven. Indeed there's something of the paradise about Island Bay on a clear fine day - especially when the wind hasn't got up yet!
	Just Chillin', watercolour on paper, (10 by 14in.) About a year ago I met these two men outside a pub on Church Street, Stoke Newington, London. The pub is 'The Rose and Crown'. I was just passing through London on my way to New Zealand so didn't have time to draw them so asked if I could take a photo. I said to keep an eye out for my next exhibition in London where I'd hope to show the painting based on the photo I took that day. In October 2011 I had my London exhibition - at the charming Petit Coin Cafe. Arthur, the man with the pipe, now owns the painting!