A ladder, seemingly to nowhere. I was reminded of Jacob’s dream whereby a ladder appears, a reminder of heaven above, and of the promise that exile will end. The tree, gnarled and ancient, also put me in mind of biblical gardens, of olives and jasmine, of hot desert winds, of red rocks that echo the […]Read Post ›
A wonderful, almost secret corner of Hull, a place of Bohemian charm, of Victoriana laid bare, rough at the edges at times, splendid palaces of bourgeoisie aging gently, their red bricks eroded. Nature spreads inexorably at the edges, a cool shadow and a musk-like scent, patches of mystery and darkness. Nearby, a stone’s throw away […]Read Post ›
The heat is like a wall, the sky open, wide, endless. Crickets, dust, the hum of a distant engine. France in the summer, douce France, sweet, the Land of Wonders. A village, asleep, secret. The road leads upwards, a game of shadow and light. Echoes of a time long passed, an old garage, dated, nostalgic. A lovely […]Read Post ›
This work depicts the high street in South Queensferry. The atmosphere is serene, the sky textured and peaceful. I smell the sea, fish and chips with its tantalising, seductive scent. Memories of dad, memories of being a child. The bridges tower and frame. The trains rumble above, seagulls scream. The work is on a 0.4 […]Read Post ›
A wonderfully hot Sunday morning in Oban, Western Scotland, as the sun approaches its zenith and the town basks in light and rest. The light is everywhere, well almost, with just a few corners in shade. And there is not a person to be seen as the town is resting. Oban is one of my […]Read Post ›
A pair of red doors in Hull’s Bohemia, the HU5 postcode, the “Avenues.” The area fascinates me, huge Victorian townhouses in various stages of decay, glorious palaces of decadence, with wrought iron railings now rusty, crumbling stucco exposing brick work, plants growing from cracks and wood beams with crisp scabs of peeling paint. This work […]Read Post ›
There is something about Brick Lane. It evokes such strong emotions in me. A sense of belonging, layer upon layer of memory, a tinge of excitement. Powerful scents of food, enticing and seductive, curry and cardamom and beer. Yet off the road lurk Victorian streets of shadows and ghosts, the haunt of Jack the Ripper, […]Read Post ›
Envious, I must confess, I decided to paint this lovely house. It is a perfect house, under a perfect sky, a garden overflowing with bucolic pleasure, scents of jasmin and lavender. Heat. Light. Croissants and coffee in the cool garden under a tree. Peace. My heart ached at the brief glimpse. The work is on […]Read Post ›
I took the original photos on a canal trip organised for my 50th birthday. I then made it into a painting. The sun and the light are intense, reflecting on the white and soft brown surface of the houses. The foliage is luxuriant, the water still, the boats rich in soft colour. The work can […]Read Post ›
This work depicts a fairly common Edinburgh cityscape bar the fact that there is a red phone box in the garden of a house. The colours of the work are warm, summery, intense and vibrant. A Scottish summer at its best, Edinburgh at its quirkiest. The canvas is 0.4 inches deep, so it can hang […]Read Post ›
