Category Archives: painting

making images with paint

brushes for a change

This large painting on unstretched canvas, stapled directly to the painting wall, is unusual for me. I’m not using cold wax medium, but instead oil with a liquid siccative added.  This is a much wetter medium, so I am using brushes for a change instead of my usual squeegees, scrapers and rollers.


The painting was to a certain extent inspired by views like this, of Mount Errigal and the Aghlas, across the small strip of sea that separates Cruit Island from the mainland. 

This painting is to me a natural step onwards from these three, on pre-stretched box canvas, made over the last few days


colour and boundaries

I’m having some fun with process, using old unsuccessful painted canvasses to re-work, amend or completely paint over

These 2 canvases, each 80cm sq, were initially very different abstract paintings, but both had quite a lot of structure and quite large areas with earth and ochre colours. I have kept some of the initial areas but built up additional structures and much more detail

Here are the two separately:

And here is another, larger canvas. This one is 80 x 120cm and has much more tentative amendments – might not be quite finished yet

What a week

And I just mean in my studio!

I have been reworking some old canvases and completely repainting some too

These 2 above are each 80cm sq


Here they are with another one the same size and a 65cm one on the end


Here’s a bigger reworked piece

120cm plus it’s frame also painted over



Here’s a fuller view of my favourites (today anyway) – with a sort of invasion of pink


This one and the last one below are a bit odd, and maybe not totally successful. But they were an important challenge for me in terms of structure, form and process. Each 80 cm plus frame

residency at Stiwdio Maelor in Corris 


A great 3 weeks at Stiwdio Maelor

If you are interested in having some time there yourself for your art (including writing) you can email for an application form to stiwdiomaelor@gmail.com 

The 5 paintings in the top image are all also available through the same email. Funds from any sale of donated works goes both towards the ongoing costs of the residency programme and helps to fund the artist’s next residency!

The other image is of a 65cm painting on canvas that I completed on the residency which is on its way to @greenfusegallery  in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland for their next show opening mid November

big canvas small space

Each new challenge brings a fresh approach to the work

I am painting in an old ‘back kitchen’ with poor light and much less manoeuvrability than I’m used to. I started by working on paper on the table. Progressed to 2 A1 (c. 60 x 80cm) canvases propped up in the doorway. And a few days ago bought 2 big canvases c. 100 x 130cm (40 x 50inches) These I started off leaning against the wall on top of the radiator. Then some layers applied with my right hand while I held and rotated the canvas with my left.

I had to carry the painting out into the lean-to conservatory (trying not to get paint on the tomato plants/ chair /bike) and out through a second door into the yard to see it in the light

Here are some progress shots and the finished piece in the garden

Dance