What I've been up to...

So much has happened over the last few months it's hard to know where to begin!

Earlier this year I was busy producing new work for events such as The Petworth Park Antiques and Fine Art Fair, Dorset Art Week, the Stourhead Summer Exhibition, the Jerram Gallery in Sherborne and the Wealden Midsummer Fair at Hole Park.

In order to produce the work I needed new inspiration so in March I went to several city farms to get new material to work from. I took myself off to the Mudchute City Farm on the Isle of Dogs where I came across a couple of beautiful donkeys and have since drawn them in pastel. They also had some very amusing looking alpacas!

My favourite city farm is Surrey Docks Farm in Rotherhithe where they have lots of farm animals within a courtyard which you are free to roam around. I got some exciting new pics of chickens, pigs, sheep, pigme goats so watch this space!

I have long wanted to draw another pheasant. My last drawing was used by Countryside Alliance as one of their Christmas cards. I approached Neil Salisbury whose photo I came across on the internet and he kindly let me draw from his photo. This is now framed and in the Jerram Gallery in Sherborne.

I have also completed a series of small birds from from photos taken by photographer Karen Summers. I've absolutely loved drawing them. Here are three of 7 that are now all in the Jerram Gallery. The swallow has since sold.

Pipit, Swallow and a Blue Tit in pastel on paper

I have completed several commissions including these pencil drawings of Winston, Bertie and Dougal ...

and these pastel drawings of Coco and Apollo...

I have also applied and been accepted to lots of Christmas fairs including The Cheslea Physic Garden, Dulwich College, the Dummer Fair and many more. Have a look here to find out where I'll be and when and do get in contact if you're planning on coming, I am quite often given extra tickets to the fairs.

The next fair I have a stand at is the Firle Place International Horse Trials, Country Fair & Dog Festival on August 20th and 21st (Saturday and Sunday) in East Sussex. They're celebrating 40 years of Horse Trials at Firle Place. I'm all ready for it, I've bought sides for my gazebo and a whole new hanging system!

For the third time Countryside Alliance has asked to use one of my images for their Christmas card which is hugely exciting. Here is a sneak preview of Toutes Directions (with Norman)...