Blue Door Commission

I've just finished a commission to paint a doorway for my friend Mary - I think she likes it, but it's so long since I've done a commission I must admit I was nervous! It's quite a big canvas, so it made a lovely change from book illustration. I thought the door was in Ireland but it's actually in Monmouth, in Wales.

One for Father's Day

We had a swarm of bees in the garden on Sunday, which is lucky because we just happen to be beekeepers! So Jeff cut the branch with the swarm on it and put it in front of an empty hive. The bees obligingly walked up the ramp and set up home - so cute! As a result Jeff has a big swollen hand where he got stung. In Northern Ireland we would have said "it swelled up like a bap".

On the plus side, we have a nice big bowl of honey in the kitchen which he collected from our other bees to remind us of why we like to keep them!

The swarm looked like one of the illustrations I did for 'Me and My Dad' by Alison Ritchie.

And I thought I might as well plug the book as a great Father's Day gift while I'm at it!

Illustration Friday - 'Trail'

One of my illustrations from 'The Magical Snowman' by Catherine Walters

Little Rabbit stopped and looked around. He wasn't sure which way he had come.The swirling snow made everything look strange.

I'm probably going to be sacked from Illustration Friday because it took me three goes to get this link to work - but it's my first go!

Flax fields

My daily walk with the dogs is getting very pretty now that there's flax flowering in the fields! I couldn't resist bringing my camera - and there's always a chance that I can find the time to create some new paintings!

My Pewter Plate Award!

My Highlights Pewter Plate award has arrived and Dorry is very impressed!

Bluebells in the Wye Valley

Just had to post this photo of the bluebells in the woods between Bigsweir Bridge and Redbrook in the Wye Valley. Don't know whether it's because we were in France last year but the bluebells look stunning this year and they seem to be everywhere round here!

It's Christmas - in May!

As usual I'm in Christmas mode again in May because of the big shows - Surtex and PG Live. I managed to do seven new cards in time for the shows - bit of a rush but two were commissioned so it was well worth it! Some traditional Christmassy scenes and some quirky ones...