Under the pier

One of my favourite views of the pier is this one looking up at the metal understructure. I wonder how many times this has been painted over the years? Interesting day weather wise so far: Heavy rain earlier, then bright sunlight for a while, now back to grey. And it's still only 9.30 am! SOLD

Island in the stream

I found a photo recently of a tiny island (in the English Channel - La Manche) that appealed. Here's a painting based on that photo.

Thanks to the BBC for radio and TV coverage last week of my 'Daily Paintings'. Something I didn't mention is that each painting takes under an hour. I find the discipline creates greater focus and fluidity.

Over the next month I will be showing all unsold daily paintings as part of the Brighton Festival 2008. I'll be at 45 St Nicholas Road (near the Station). Directions on my website.

Lewes landmark

Spent a day in the studio today and created this painting from a photograph I took last week. I love the steam coming from the brewery. For those that don't know it, Lewes is a beautiful town. Fascinating buildings (the home of 'mathematical tiling I believe) outstanding views from many vantage points and plenty of great restaurants/cafes (Bills) and shops (Capriccio - womens clothing) not forgetting the Needlemakers and Sussex Wine Company nearby. There's an abundance of antique shops as well, with the best (in my view) along Cliffe High Street. SOLD

Rain!

SOLD During conversation with Tony (who purchased a painting yesterday) I was asked if I ever painted in Willingdon. Well, I never have so I decided early this morning to head up to Butts Brow, a high point up from Willingdon Village, with beautiful 360 degree views. Trouble was it was raining VERY heavily, so today I used a limited palette: white, blue, brown and a bit of green. Painting from inside the car was interesting with the screen misting up and the driving rain making me keep the wipers on. Anyhow - here it is.

My new FAVOURITE road!

SOLD I've only been on this piece of road for the last year or so. The gently winding Ditchling Road between Ditchling Beacon and Carden Avenue is just fantastic! The views of the field and downs (to the right as you drive towards Brighton) are very inspiring and I aim to create a lot of paintings in this area over the next few months. This is the painting that will feature on the BBC Southern Counties News on BBC1 (TV) this evening after 6.30pm.

Down by the sea

Decided to do the daily painting down by the sea today, and what a beautiful day it is! Really warm with a light breeze. I spent an hour just to the left of the pier looking up, in a similar position to a painting I did in the snow last week.

I took the daily call from Southern Counties Radio (about the daily painting project) whilst I was there and realised I have been painting the pier for over 35 years (since I was first at art college).

A couple of years ago I had two paintings purchased by The House of Lords to complement an existing collection of originals they have. One of the paintings they purchased was of Eastbourne Pier, the other of De La Warr Pavilion, another inspirational structure. Have a look at my main web site where you can see more of this work. SOLD

On the radio

SOLD I had a call today from BBC Southern Counties Radio as part of their coverage of the days leading up to St George's Day on Wednesday. They are talking with artists who are inspired by, and work with the landscape. I was also visited by a BBC TV crew who are also covering it for a feature on Weds after 6.00pm. Details to follow!

Today's picture is based on the view from the brow of the hill just past Wilmington (on the A27 driving towards Lewes from Eastbourne). Alfriston is over to the left (out of view) with Alciston church directly ahead of you as you dip down into the valley.

If you havent visited it, the church at Alciston is beautiful, with views over the fields towards the downs. The nearby Cricketers is a great pub for an outdoor lunch. Just be careful turning in from the main road, particularly when heading East.

More snow?

It has been a nice week weatherwise. Warm, with plenty of sunshine. However it all changed yesterday evening when it became really cold again. This morning it's really bleak! grey, really cold, rainy and windy. Looking through some images I took last week I decided to work on a 'Pier under snow' picture today, which is funny as I usually want to create 'warmer' images when the weather is like this. I wouldn't imagine there will be many images with snow for the next few months or so, but who knows? That's another one of the fascinating things about the 'Daily Painting' practice. It makes you constantly consider your reasons for particular behavioural patterns and actions.

Look out for coverage about my 'Daily Painting' project on TV and radio next week to co-incide with St George's day. Details to follow.

Signs of new growth

SOLD You can see a lot in the hedgerows that border the fields in this area. At the moment there are masses of bright green buds appearing. Don't ask me what they are, they just look beautiful. We are also just begining to see the light dusting of the yellow rape fields through the hedges that will increase in colour and denisity over the coming months. The landscape is changing daily and of course looks different according to the time of day and the weather. One of my favourite pieces of road at the moment is the mile or so from the top of Ditchling Beacon towards Brighton. The views are just wonderful and there is a lifetime of painting in that one little strip

Just a week ago

SOLD It seems incredible now looking out at the green foliage with masses of new spring growth, that just a week ago it was all white! I took quite a few pictures last week, particularly from the A27 between Eastbourne and Lewes. This image is based on one of those taken near Wilmington (home of the Long Man)

A week of contrast

Well, what a week it's been here in Sussex! I started my daily painting project on April 2nd. There has been a real contrast in the weather here is South East England. The week started with a day of snow. From 10.00am - late afternoon Eastbourne was transformed into a winter wonderland. Many roads were blocked with abandoned cars, children were out with their sledges and the town slowed down in a way that reminded me of how Sundays USED to be in the days before 'Sunday Opening'.

The first few paintings of the week reflected the predominant weather conditions, but later in the week I needed to use some colour so I revisited photo images from last summer and created the latter paintings of the week using these as reference.

The image above was painted today and based on a photo taken yesterday whilst travelling to Lewes.