Exhibition News

Three cows will be going to Delamore Arts Exhibition at Cornwood in Devon for the whole of May 2011. The exhibition is in aid of St Lukes Hospice in Plymouth and is taking place in the stunning Delamore estate on the edge of Dartmoor.

Wonderful cows

Just been up to Shropshire for the weekend to celebrate 40th birthdays - went to Attingham Park. AMAZING cows - Belted Galloways and Longhorns. Obviously very used to people as they barely flinched when we took photos of them. Hoping to do some large paintings of them in the new year.

It's dogs and sheep on canvas too!

Well, the kids are back at school and my days are my own again. Although, I'm sure 9am til 3.30 pm is shorter than it used to be. I've hardly got time to gossip at the school gates and eat chocolate without children wanting some, let alone pick up a paintbrush, before it's time to go back again.

So, this academic year I seem to have started the year with labradors and sheep. I am painting the paintings that I have promised people over the years and never had time to do. But all that cow painting has stood me in good stead as it seems that labrador fur is not that dissimilar to cow and I am hoping that sheep wool is similar to a curly faced bull.

Then it will be back to painting the cows -some are currently on show at the King's Arms Charlton Horethorne, Baxters Gallery, Dartmouth and the Cottage gallery in Wedmore.

I've got to go and find some Dorset Longhorns down near Dorchester, some Highlands up on the Mendips and some Holsteins up on the hills near Sherborne. I've got some new walking boots so there is nothing to stop me now.....

Dorset Art Weeks - 11 days away

Oh my goodness. Studio still not quite finished. Still need stairs to get in to it from outside. I phoned the stair man today and he promises it will be ready in time. I hope he is right! Otherwise I may have to have the exhibition in the garden!

I have been sent wonderful photos of some cows in France by my card printer that I am painting at the moment. They are ginger, like me, and very grumpy looking (hopefully not like me).

There are so many cute calves around at the moment that I am desperate to paint.... if only there were more hours in the day...

studio nearly finished

It is been a long hard winter in Dorset - especially living in a rented house with night storage heaters - what a waste of time they are. Anyway, rant, rant, grumble, grumble - the sun is now shining and the daffodils are emerging and all is progressing in the new studio. I have a floor and white walls and light switches (no lights yet) and .......... heating !!!!!!! So excited about that.
I haven't moved in yet but will be doing in about three weeks. Then I have to PAINT, PAINT PAINt - cows - not walls ready for Dorset Art Weeks which starts at the end of May.
I'll post a photo soon.

somerset art weeks now open

The exhibition at Somerset Art Weeks opened on Friday evening (18th September). After two days of frantic hanging of paintings, we had a very relaxing private view accompanied by the lilting sound of latin guitar with the duo "de la luna" . In the photo, they are flanked by Steve Morris's chicken paintings.

The exhibition is in a 18th century congregational chapel (Rook Lane Arts) in Frome and I am exhibiting along with six other artists - Claudia Phipps, Carolyn Finch, Steve Morris, Sue Spurrier (my mum!), Alison Bundle and Sarah Fraser. It is an amazing space - very contemporary in a very old building. We have had lots of children visiting who have enjoyed our quiz and adding to our collage in the cafe.

Mulberry (who is a white park cow painted as a result of the jeep ride in my last blog) peeks out at you as you approach the doors of the chapel. At 150cm square he is quite a large beast. I am hoping someone comes who loves cows and has a very big house.....

Jeepers - a bumpy ride

I've had an exciting week visiting some Somerset cows ready for Somerset Art Weeks.

In Beckington, near Frome there is a gorgeous herd of organic Jerseys at Ivy House Farm. Geoff, the farmer introduced me to the bull of the herd with the caveat that Jersey bulls are known to kill the most people of any breed. I thought I would steer clear of him.

The cows were much more appealing to mingle with, although they did like to be scratched and want to lick my camera, which wasn't very conducive to taking photos of them.

Later on, after avoiding an torrential May downpour, I ended up near Street at Sharpham Park where Roger Saul has a gorgeous herd of White Park cattle. Marcus, the farm manager, offered to take me to see them, but I ended up driving the farm jeep (which is a first for my cow painting career) down a very soggy mud track. The cattle have the most astounding horns, which I was told they have no problem in using to protect their calves in the first few days after birth. Marcus was very kind and watched that those horns came nowhere near me as I crouched taking photos in amongst the cows.

I can't wait to paint them now......