Pelham House, Lewes

If you happen to be in Lewes, there are still two weeks to view a collection of these daily paintings at The Pelham House Hotel in the centre of the town. The exhibition finishes on the 8th December. Meanwhile you can see another selection of the work at 100 Hurst Road, Eastbourne as part of the Christmas Open Houses over the weekend of 5th and 6th December.

Congress Theatre - Eastbourne

There has been a lot of column inches written about the new Towner building here in Eastbourne. It fits nicely on the end of the existing Congress Theatre which I've secretly always really liked. (detail shown here) Incidentally, we saw 'Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance' at the nearby Devonshire Park Theatre on Saturday. It was BRILLIANT.

Barcombe - near Lewes

Coming back from Sheffield Park we came upon this lovely little corrugated iron building. There was no clue to it's current use but it looks eclesiastical. Anyone know? It's between the village and Barcombe Mills.

Muggy

Really warn today but not brilliantly sunny until later on. A beautiful summer evening though - very calm. This is a view looking north near Falmer.

Near Falmer - looking east

This is a view approaching Falmer from the south (Rottingdean) I'm fascinated by the 'farming lines' that occur in the landscape in a completely random way. This is looking east.

Near Cuckmere 2

This is just along the road from the painting below. Not so sunny again today but very 'close' First day of Wimbledon and you can bet that now there's a retracting roof there will be no rain!

Near Cuckmere

After the bright greens and pinks of the last few days, here's a 'quieter' study of a bend in the road just north of the turning by the public car park at Cuckmere Haven.

Wall and Palms

Apparently a wealthy French developer visited Miami in the twenties and sought to re-create the same 'feel' in Juan Les Pins. Funny - I would have thought it had been the other way around. But wherever you look there are beautiful juxtapositions of the built and natural environment.

View from the balcony

Last week Becky and I stayed at a lovely little hotel in Cap D'Antibes. It was a few minutes from a beautiful sandy cove with a little bar and views towards Nice. This a view from our balcony. I love holidays!

Beach family

This is a study of a family at play on the beach. Again - Cap D'Antibes, not Eastbourne.

Back now!

Many apologies to those who have been following this blog regularly. I had a week away with no internet access, so no daily paintings. Back now though after a beautiful week in Nice and Cap D'Antibes. For those that haven't ever been to the Cote D'Azur the colour of the sea is just incredible. One of those things you must see.

Changeable

It was beautiful this morning and then came over cloudy and breezy this afternoon. This is looking from the Bandstand on Eastbourne promenade, eastwards towards the Pier.

Opposite The Grand

Those of you who know Eastbourne well will recognise this view. It's looking out to sea on the Western Lawns opposite The Grand Hotel. The hedge is always very neatly trimmed.

Here we go again!

Back again after a weeks break and a beautiful weekend. This is a study looking out from the Eastbourne lifeguard beach, early afternoon.

Sorry!

It's been a bit of a funny week this one and I've been unable to create the daily paintings. All being well they'll start again on Monday. It's been the first week since April 2008 where I have not painted at least 4 paintings a week. If you've been around me recently, you'll know why!

Eastbourne Pier

Many of my attempts at capturing the pier on bright spring days end up looking like the middle of winter. I fear this is the same. It was actually very sunny. Honest. SOLD 11.6.09

Another downs view

I know, there have been a lot of these this week. It's just that the downs look so beautiful at the moment. I have a feeling that seasacpes will be featuring over the next week or so. This is a field near Ringmer.

Near Ringmer 4

Travelled to Brighton this morning. Beautiful views over the downs particularly near Ringmer on the way back. I love the graphic lines formed by the daily farming procedures in these fields.

My favourite Road 17

Bright and breezy today and quite warm in the sun. Here's a pastoral scene looking west from my favourite road that, if you've been following this blog features quite a lot!

My favourite Road 16

Changeable weather today. Bright and breezy with dark skies early on. My favourite road again, near Ditchling Beacon, looking west.

French Market

Here's an abstract study based on the French Market we had on the Promenade a couple of weeks ago.

Miami Beach, Eastbourne

Here's a study of light playing on an unused beach hut on Eastbourne Seafront, with the shadows of palms playing on the side wall.

Sunset from Beachy Head

This is a view looking out over the channel from Beachy Head (or did I imagine it?)

Seascape 14

Another seascape. At certain times I feel the need to 'commune' with the sea and involve myself with it. That can mean looking at it, sitting by it or painting it.

Seascape 12

I really felt like painting the sea today -so here it is. The water was not as blue as shown here but I felt I needed to use bright paint today. I usually work onto gesso prepared board, but this is actually linen covered gesso prepared board.

Near Alciston 2

It's been a lovely week weatherwise. Really bright today but a sea mist has come over in the past hour or so. Here's a similar view to yesterday. I love the contrast and 'graphic drama' of the elevation of a slice of the downs.

Near Alciston

The rape fields are starting to appear now, creating a beautiful contrast with the rich 'spring' green of the fields and downs. This is just before Alciston going towards Selmeston looking left from the A27.

Drove over to Lewes on Saturday morning and came back via Ringmer and Glyndebourne. Just near the turn off to Glyndebourne there are some wonderful views of the downs. Here's one.

The Barn

Another view of the barn between Eastbourne and East Dean. Really bright spring colours appearing now, with promise of a bright weekend ahead. (My birthday today by the way!)

Wish Tower Cafe 3

Here's a view looking west from the bandstand towards The Wish Tower Cafe. I mentioned last week that It's ripe for development. The council have just publicly invited tenders from interested parties - so watch this space!

Bandstand 2

A placid view of the bandstand on the seafront - looking East.

Eastbourne promenade

After a beautiful weekend weatherwise, today is cold rainy and windy! Yesterday was a perfect early spring day - bright and breezy. This is looking towards the Queens Hotel on the promenade, early morning.

Seascape 11

It seems that this week is becoming 'seascape week' At this time of the year I am particularly drawn to interacting with the sea. And painting it.

Seascape 10

Another beautiful day today and another seascape. Calmer sea today and a few impressive swells. 'Surfs up, aboard a tidal wave, come about hard and join the young and often spring you gave. I heard the word, wonderful thing, a Childrens song. Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks - Surfs Up 1967

Wish Tower Cafe

Another very recognizable Eastbourne landmark (though actually you wouldn't know it from THIS image!) and a wonderful location (ripe for sensitive redevelopment) Since posting this there has been publicity about developers being invited to tender for the site.

Seascape 9

A beautiful day today. Spent a while on the seafront and though it's still a little cold the sea looked wonderful. Here we are looking out from the beach at the Wish Tower.

Eastbourne Pier 8

I haven't painted the pier for a few months now. It's such a brilliant structure and the slight delapidation only adds to its charm.

Crowlink 3

Here's a painting looking west from the car park at Crowlink. The grass is really green at the moment and there are plenty of signs of growth in the Sussex countryside.

Belle Tout 4

Another beautiful day today and REALLY warm. This is looking up to Belle Tout lighthouse from the road. This building suits itself to being very graphic. Actually one of my big influences is the series of graphic images of San Francisco used to promote the city around the mid nineties.

View from the train

Here's a view from the train between Lewes and Glynde, looking south out of the right hand window. I love the idea of the juxtaposition of the jet trail and the natural line of the downs.

Near Charleston Farmhouse

Thanks to all who visted my Open House as part of the Eastbourne Festival over this past weekend. This is a painting I did today of a farm track near Charleston Farmhouse (facing South West) SOLD

Seascape 8

This is a rather more 'developed' seascape. I love the sea - the look, the smell and the sound of it. In fact I'd like to be asked to paint the sea each day for a year. Any takers?

Long Man

Another beautiful day today. I first painted The Long Man of Wilmington about 4 years ago when I made the original images for The House of Lords commission. Here's a new image painted today.

Spring!

A beautiful Spring day yesterday. Really warm for most of the day. Went to the first boot fair of the year at Copall Farm near Polegate, (bought 3 brand new acrylic brushes, a nice frame and some divorce proceedings papers from the early sixties) then onto Alfriston early afternoon and ending up in Normas Bay later on. This is a view looking west, just south of High and Over.

Cuckmere Haven 5

This is an early morning view from the west side of the river near the Golden Galleon.

Seascape 7

Once I start painting seascapes I tend to do quite a few. How lucky we are to have such a beautiful stretch of coastline. This painting and the one I made yesterday are going to be on show at the Eastbourne Group of Artists show at The Casson Gallery at Eastbourne College during the upcoming Eastbourne Festival (April 11-26th) At the moment I've also got quite a few paintings on show at The Wingrove House Hotel in Alfrison. Call in and have a look (and say hi to Jackie!)

Seascape 8

It was a beautiful day today. Warm, with a promise of warm days to come. This is looking out from a beach opposite the Grand Hotel on the seafront.

My favourite Road 15

Here's a view looking West towards Lancing and Shoreham. Its fascinating to see the man made marks on the landscape. Tractor tracks and the like. Very warm today.

Dramatic Sky

One day in the next month I'm going to spend A FULL DAY painting on my favourite road leading from Brighton to Ditchling Beacon. This is a painting from the car park (at the Brighton end of the road) looking west. SOLD 11.4.09

View from Exceat Bridge

This is another view from the car park at the Golden Galleon at Exceat Bridge. If you visit Sussex once only there are several places you MUST see and this is one of them. The meander of the Cuckmere River is extraordinary and offers different charms at various times of the year.