painting a picture of a pretty cake shop in Pimlico, Peggy Porschen

initial sketch

all drawn out and ready to colour

the finished painting

I stumbled across Peggy Porschen cake shop on Instagram, so had to go and have a look myself. It is so pretty! I brought the sun a bit more overhead for the finished painting because I wanted my people on the right to also be in the sunny seats, and I wanted that free table to look inviting. But somehow it looks less sunny than the first sketch where the sun is lower and the shadows deeper. something to remember!

An advent card for Taylors Port

initial rough sketch to work out layout 

the sketch looked a lot better with colour

and now drawn out on a much larger scale

the first colours go on

a few extra details are added as I go

have a closer look at the treading

and here it is at Judge Sampson in production

I had the exciting challenge this autumn, to paint the  beautiful Vargellas Vineyard in Portugal for Taylors Port, and to include in the painting people working on the harvest, and also treading the grapes in the tanks in the winery. This involves much jollity with music and dancing too!

It took a while to figure out the layout, and did need a couple of minor changes. Adding watercolour to the sketch helped the client to see the final effect.

This was a lovely picture to paint, full of sunshine and celebration. It was then printed as an advent card and has now been sent out to Taylors' friends for christmas time.

Lewes war memorial Charity Card - Merriment and memories

A rough sketch 

ready to paint

Here is the first plan, drawing and finished painting ready for this year's SASBAH Christmas card for Lewes, to be sold at Cards for Good Cause. The Town Cryer was a perfect finish to the drawing which had that open space at the right hand side. He can also hail the selling of the card OYEZ!

An Advent Card for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Initial sketch,trying a layout

All drawn out and the first paint goes on

Lots of people to draw

finished painting, includes Nelson and a ship's figure head

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard commissioned me this year to produce a painting for an Advent card to be sold at the Royal Navy Museum there. Here is the link to the finished card  https://shop.nmrn.org.uk/products/advent-card

progress of a painting for Leeds castle Christmas card

plans in my sketch book

pencil drawing following my rough sketch

nice and tidy with pen

the snow comes alive with blue shadows

all done!

and dusted! (with glitter)

Last year I painted a greetings card for Leeds Castle, featuring the queens and King Henry VIII among others, and following that a Christmas card was needed.
I took the same view, altering the angle slightly so that the fairground and Christmas market could be seen across the moat. some of the same characters are in the winter scene, but with additions of course.
Both cards are now for sale in the Leeds Castle shop, and the Christmas card is all glittery : )

Inifinity in the North Laine - steps to a painting

initial sketch in A4 Seawhite sketch book

drawing out on heavyweight Bockingford paper

drawn out in pen, bigger and ready for colour

I usually start with the colours of the building

grounding helps, and I decide on a sky and shadows

its the last details that take the longest

Infinity Foods stands on a corner of the North Laine in Brighton, a busy buzzy area that is great for a wander, and something to eat. Exciting shops, always something different. And plenty of seagulls!

Sunshine and Sunflowers in France

first plans in sketch book

drawing out on thick watercolour paper

finished painting

sunshine and sunflowers! detail

Here is the development of a commission from last spring, to bring a little sunshine to the blog (especially as I am working away on snowy paintings at the moment!)
this couple love to walk and cycle on holidays in the Vendee, France. The sunflowers were a joy to paint!

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 header for a website

first thoughts doodled in a sketchbook

I took the elements from the first sketch and laid them out again

Redrawn and painted in watercolour

Here is a recent illustration to be used on a website. I find that often I can lay out my first ideas in my Seawhites sketchbook while sitting in front of the telly, and these will end up being the basis of the finished piece. Here you can see the development, from first thought to final artwork.

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.

The Hearth, (the Bus Station) Lewes

rough sketch of a plan for the painting

drawn out on heavy weight watercolour paper and the first colours washed on

close up on the detail

finished! Blue Skies, Buses and The Bakery

all framed and cards made

 The old bus station in Lewes is a fantastic building with an american feel. There was once a cafe up top and newsagent and sweet shop downstairs, which went the way of many old shop and closed up. But the bus station building has been brought back to life with a lovely bakery and a Pizza restaurant upstairs with Sour Dough pizzas that are getting rave reviews!
To give a nostalgic feel I brought back an old green and cream Southdown Bus!