Jazzy jamming at The Paris House

plans in the sketch book

all drawn out and ready for colour

I fancied a really strong colour scheme this time 

Have a closer look at the jam session, in watercolour



This pub on the border of Brighton and Hove was crying out for me to paint it. I have always loved a tall thin building and this one, along with its French styling was summing up images of Vincent Van Gough and Toulouse Lautrec.
So all this was in mind when I drew it out.
The chequerboard floor inside the pub was too good to leave out, so it spills out onto the pavement outside with the light and music

No worries at the Brighton Beer Dispensary

initial rough sketch of the painting..notes to self

all drawn out again on watercolour paper

the first colours go on and the painting comes alive again

finished!

I was commissioned to paint the Brighton Beer Dispensary by a regular. He wanted to have his friends from the pub included too. I was sent a collection of photographs of the people and placed them all together for this busy day at the pub. There is a copy hanging up in the pub if ever you go there, and I hear that the roasts in there have won national awards : )

Developing a painting of The Swan pub, Lewes

the sketch in my A4 Seawhite sketch book

drawn out at twice the size on heavy Bockingford watercolour paper

base colours added

and then the colourpops! the finished painting

Here is the development of a recent painting ready to be exhibited at Chalk Gallery, Lewes.
The Swan pub, sits on a busy junction at the top of a hill in Lewes, on one of the very old routes out of town. Once a blacksmith worked behind the pub, and beer was brewed across the road.

Painting the Mayflower Pub at Rotherhithe

drawn out in ink...love the clean white paper ready to paint!

first colours, earthy and fairly monchrome

blue sky brings in some cheery colour

ooh that black contrast helps, and the first bright splashes of pink and yellow

all the colours on...I may have missed a few spots. has it come alive?

I have really enjoyed painting this historic little pub on London's river bank. I have roots in this area, and so do so many people across the world! The Pilgrim fathers began their journey from the steps beside the pub, fishermen calling at Londons docks could call in and buy a stamp, and my ancestors build barges just yards away.