The Gallery at the Tapas Bar and Grill, Heckmondwike.

We chose this piece to go into my first solo exhibition. I would be unbelievably happy to sell it though it's pretty unlikely but never mind a lot of people wills see it as they sit drinking their coffee.

Here we have a rather poor photograph of a large water colour which is based on the repeating pattern of a tulip head. 

I have tried to involve transparency in this piece which gives it a pleasing kinetic quality I hope.

There are prints of my big poppy available here as well as a selection of cards. 

Perhaps someone may buy a card..............

Slaithwaite Vintage and Craft Emporium

My friend Heather has opened this brilliant unit in a mill up the canal.

There are several artists and crafts people with work in there who man the shop on a rota basis. 

I am in there on a Thursday morning

I have two of my large pieces there on the wall as well as some water colours behind the counter along with cards and prints of the big pieces.

The unit is open Thursday through Sunday - same opening hours as the Handmade Bakery Cafe - absolutely stunning bread, cakes and croissants which they make fresh every day.

The walk by the canal yesterday morning was quite blissful in the golden light of a quiet autumn morning.

A September Sunday in Slaithwaite.

On September 18 in the round car park I was part of a local food fair.

The idea was to show people what food can be found in the Colne Valley.

Although the weather look a bit grey we did have sunshine and it didn't rain which was the main thing.

There was a nice buzz for most of the afternoon and there were plenty of people wandering around.

The ladies of the Women's Institute manned the cake stall and sold raffle tickets for the quilt in aid of the village Christmas Lights. We raised about £100 and we were all very pleased.

I brought plants and cards to sell as well as my 'signature dish' of treacly flapjack which always goes down well and I sold most of it.

Marion completes her work before clearing up and packing. 

I left my painting lying flat on the table so that the exciting dribbly bits don't go awol. I want them in specific areas. 

I have a lot of pieces ready to work on over the next few weeks but I must put my studio back into some kind of order before I allow myself such indulgence.

I have packed all my pieces for the exhibition next month and feel as though that is at least a bit under control - only time will tell......

The painting continues...........

This is not the most flattering of pictures.......!!!

A very dismal Monday afternoon sees us working in the studio with the door open even though the rain is torrential - we have no wish to suffer from inhaling turps and goodness knows what else we are using!

I have decided to work with great slabs of colour that have boundaries which blur and bleed. I find this really very exciting but I'm not quite sure where it is taking me. However, it is an interesting journey which I am enjoying hugely.

 Marion is working with shades of grey and has used no colour today at all. She is very disciplined and hasn't been deterred from her investigation of grey tones at all. Commendable.

Painting week.

I met Marion last year when working at the Slade in London. She is a ceramicist of tremendous talent creating the most lovely Raku pottery and smoke-fired work. Her website is www.crabbytaylor.com. Check it out people.

Anyway, she has joined me here in Slaithwaite and we are concentrating on our painting this week. Mick has gone off to see his brother in Toronto so we have no-one to worry about or get in the way. It's rather nice.