The Folly at Wilton

12 x 14 inches/36 x 30 cm
Acrylic on board
£250

Wilton House is an impressive stately pile. My visit was on a perfect summer's day and the grounds were much more enticing than the house itself which felt too stuffy and elaborate. This folly was visible on the wilder part of the garden, across the river. I longed to walk over the Palladian bridge and climb up to it, but it was forbidden to mere visitors that day. My sketchbook and camera had to cope long distance, but in the end I liked the view of it partially hidden amongst the greenery.

The Evening Kick-off, Chelsea

20 x 28 inches/50 x 70 cms
Acrylic on canvas
Sold Private Collection

This painting came about at the suggestion of a Chelsea fan who gave me some images of the ground as it was in the 1970s. It was a fascinating project, involving a lot of research into the original stadium buildings and even what the fans would be wearing. I also wanted to create the more dramatic atmosphere of an evening match, and that sense of anticipation in the crowd.

Summer Daydream II

12 x 16 inches/40 x 30 cms
Acrylic on board
Sold - Private Collection

I have been painting this during our lack-lustre summer - hence the title. It is loosely based on a beautiful walled garden in Salisbury that has a charming cafe at one end. I often start from a sketch or photograph but, as the work develops, imagination takes over and the end result may be quite different. There are two other smaller versions of this, one a preparatory painting (which I got so involved in it nearly became a finished one!) and one in watercolour, which is has been entered for a national competition. Fingers crossed...

The Cellist, Andalucia

12 x 16 inches/40 x 30 cms

Mixed media
Sold Private Collection

This painting was inspired by a recent visit to the Alpujarras in Spain. One evening our group of painters were invited to sketch a cellist as she rehearsed for a concert. We sat in the small village square, looked up and she appeared on the balcony of her whitewashed house. The strains of a Bach cello suite drifted over us as we endeavoured to capture her in our sketchbooks. The painting is something of a departure for me as I have not included a figure in any of my previous work. I've been really excited by this and am now working on a series based on this intriguing musician.