Leicester Guildhall and Cathedral.

We spent the morning painting and talking to passers by in front of the Guildhall and Cathedral in Leicester, and beside the very interesting monument to Richard III. We were accompanied by the sounds of the traffic, the work going on in the garden and the Organ playing in the Cathedral. Wonderful!!

Leicester Sketch Club is holding its Exhibition in the Guildhall, and there are two days left if you want to see some lovely art!!

Leicester Guildhall and Cathedral.  oil on board.

Reflections from the Shore. Staithes

This is a view of the boats with all gorgeous reflections, and the village of Staithes from the Shore. This is the second larger canvas currently hanging in the exhibition at the Alfred East Gallery, Kettering. The Exhibition is open until the 11th October. 

We were very lucky with the tides when we were there, lots of mud and puddles and colours! It could have all been under water! I wouldn't have thought of such things before my visit!! 

Reflections from the Shore. oil on canvas. 66*56 cms

Staithes, A View from the Shore

I have recently been working on a larger canvas from my stay in Staithes on the Yorkshire coast a few months ago.  This was a really lovely view on the shore with lots of colour and light in the sea.

This work is now exhibited in The Alfred East Art Gallery in Kettering. Pop along if you live this way there is some lovely work on display. 

Staithes shoreline. oil on canvas. 66*56cms

Japanese Maples, Leicester Botanic Garden

These Japanese Maples are in the Sandstone Garden, with some beautiful moss covered rocks, providing some lovely contrasts.  The sun came and went, but stayed out long enough to bring out the gorgeous colours....I shall have to go back, I think they have only just got to the point of beginning to turn!

Japanese Maples.  oil on board.

Another day painting on the Canal

This is a really lovely view to paint where the light on the water and on the trees keeps on changing and presenting great challenges to capture that one moment!! Standing there on the bank there is a constant flow of canal boats going back and forth towards Market Harborough.  Plus walkers and cyclists along the bank. There was also a very perky looking cat sat up in the basket of one biker! I couldn't believe my eyes! 

Old Saunts Bridge.  oil on board.

A visit to the Leicester Botanic Garden

I have to report with a little bit of sun, and absolutely no rain thankfully!! There are so many lovely corners in the Garden, which also has some wonderful outdoor sculptures. I found myself in the Sunken Garden with the rocks, and some gorgeous light mauve flowers catching the sunlight to give a lovely focal point.

Leicester Botanic Garden.  oil on board.

And it rained and stopped and rained and stopped!!

We are having such a lovely Summer, however I seem to be always reporting wind and rain! But it did keep on starting and stopping, and I kept moving under the trees for shelter and back to my view. In the end even the trees couldn't shelter us anymore, so I had to finish it off at home.

Great Bowden Hall Bridge.  oil on board.

Naseby Reservoir

We have had so much beautiful warm weather lately.  Yesterday I set off with some good friends to paint at Naseby Reservoir, and yes I didn't know there was one either!!  When we arrived it was grey, overcast with a very chilly wind!  Gradually it cleared up to be a lovely day with warmth and a sparkle on the water.  I really liked the tree which must have been there before the reservoir was constructed.

Nearly finished!!
 

Naseby Reservoir.  oil on board.


 

Another lovely garden in the pouring rain!!

The weather forecast did promise us some intermittent showers in the day. It poured and poured in the morning but by mid afternoon the sun shone. We were very lucky, this garden had lots of places to hide from the elements and still have a great view to paint.  I was sheltering in a gazebo!  Luckily we were spared the thunder and lightening!



Janet's garden.  oil on board
 



A Beautiful Garden!

Yesterday our art group had a lovely day sketching and painting in Helen and Geoff's lovely garden. I painted their greenhouse from the shade of the old apple tree!



Greenhouse. oil on board.

The colourful Basket Seller!

It was an extremely hot day in Marrakesh when we arrived in the main Square.  This lovely basket seller was dressed in wonderful colours, all reflected her gorgeous baskets.  I had the  time to set up and do a quick sketch when the police arrived to move her on.  I guess she had the wrong kind of permit.  I had enough information to create this painting on canvas.

The basket seller

Stormy Staithes, North Yorkshire

I was in Staithes for a few days last weekend.  This quick painting was done in the cold, wind and for a while the rain! My hand was shaking because it was so chilly.  In the end we had to give up and retire to the Cod & Lobster for shelter and some welcome food!

Stormy Staithes!