The bike

Helios. Oil on canvas 28×34 inches 2020

Sol After A Storm Bryher. Oil on canvas 28×34 inches 2020

Studio

Two artworks on show Gallery Tresco

Exploring

Storms

Crescent Moon….the bright line is an over exposed twig

working in the studio

Beginnings

Well…..you just never know with this life, just what is arund the next corner…at least with the way I live my life……no fixed home…..cycle touring between artst in residence projects…to stayng with friends, to painting and new commissions……

Back in Cumbria…we started to make some plans. I had some new commissions so money was no longer a problem and we began to think seriously about spring and continuing the tour……and then Gallery Tresco offered me an extended artst in residence on Tresco Isles of Scilly. They had much work for me to do…and it was imminent. I literally had two weeks to get down to Tresco, but it was worth it….Aarn was offered some work too and of course he helps out with the artworks I create ……so it was a case of down tools and oragnise the transport of all our stuff….mainly the painting commissions I had just started and then…suddenly there we were back on Tresco……unpacking our few possessions, having some meetings with Gallery Tresco and Tresco Estate……and organising a studio for me to do the work…..

First things first……Studio, and yes, It’s a shed……GREAT STUFF…

A couple of weeks in Manchester with Jan, Ewa, Alex and a few of their friends was such good fun and  a welcme end to the horrendous job Aaron and I were doing in Keswick…..Lot’s of good conversation, good Polish food…and a great walk up Kinder Scout…… It was also a good chance to make some plans and hopefully to start repairing and replacing some of the badly worn components on our bikes……I needed  new rear  wheal – the hub bearings were a complete disaster and that was urgent, something that Jan helped out with. I found a new wheel on e bay….same as the old one, brand new and half the price so Jan said he would take us to buy it as it was not far away…..so great stuff…. that was one problem solved…….Here are some images from our stay…..

Kinder Scout……

So….we were at the end of this phase of our world cycle tour. November was cold and stormy….but we found ourselves some part time work in Keswick….It actually turned out to be the worst job I have ever done in my life. Thing is we had found ourselves a winter let and sales of paintings had been slow……. the plan was to save up some money to continue the tour next spring into Scotland…..so no choice……..

Well….so much for plans…….the job was so bad and the employers so utterly unbearable….I  was not sure what was going to happen….money was short and there were no alternative jobs worth considering. In the end  I walked out of the job……it was just shit……..As it happens though I had a concurrent reason to …..walk as well……good friends of ours asked us if we wanted to spend Christmas with them in Manchester…..GREAT STUFF………

SNOW…..FUN FUN FUN

AHHHH BROKEN SPOKE…….first time

First of a series of paintings about Cumbria. There will be more to follow, especially some coastal seascapes…….

Moon and Mars above Allan Crags

Skiddaw from Blencathra. Oil on canvas 38×42 inches

Waxing gibbous Moon between Seathwaite Fell and Base Brown, Mars above allen crags Seathwaite Cumbria 22nd august 2018