I attended the V&A’s Digital Design weekend recently, experiencing the intersection between art, design and technology.
A few highlights included using Humanhood’s augmented reality to dance in the multiverse as well as meeting Jacqui Ramrayka, the V&A’s ceramics artist in residence, who is focusing on the significance of objects and memory to the Indo-Carribbean diaspora.
On 28 September, I explored the often humorous, daring and thought provoking modern and contemporary artworks at the British Art Fair, held at the Saatchi Gallery, before heading to the National Army Museum for an exciting collaboration..
Stay tuned for news on the collaboration!
I enjoyed an inspiring few days in Greenwich in July, visiting the gloriously baroque Painted Hall, Royal Observatory and Maritime Museum.
Known as Britain’s ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’, the breathtaking Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College was designed in the early 18th century by Sir James Thornhill. Spanning more than 3,700 square metres, the baroque mural depicts 200 figures including kings, queens and mythological creatures. It’s worth listening to the audio to discern the various symbolic elements and the people portrayed.
It was intended to be a glorious monument to Britain’s naval power, political stability and commercial prosperity as well as the Protestant accessions to the throne of King William III and Queen Mary II in 1688 and George I in 1714.
James spent 19 years planning the painting and was the first English artist to be knighted in 1720 by George I.
Fun fact: The hall has featured in a few films, including Pirates of the Caribbean!
You might also be interested in visiting visual artist Luke Jerram’s ‘Mars’ installation at the Painted Hall this winter.
For those that love cartography, as well as astronomical, longitudinal and timekeeping devices, particularly during Europe’s exploration of the seas, the Royal Observatory is a must visit. Make sure you stand on The Meridian Line, which is the reference point for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
You can easily get lost in the National Maritime Museum while discovering the Tudors and Stuart seafarers, pacific encounters, Atlantic and polar worlds. Nelson’s jacket is also on display!
The museum is also home to beautiful stained glass from the Baltic Exchange building, which was severely damaged by a terrorist bomb on 10th April 1992. John Dudley Forsyth was commissioned to design the stained glass windows after the First World War, unveiling the windows in 1922.
It was an incredibly memorable week at Henley Royal Regatta in July this year; the sporadic rain showers didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits and the day was one of celebration, with Sir Steve Redgrave and Prince Albert II of Monaco presenting the trophies.
I’m also absolutely delighted to have sold two of my oil paintings at the Art Gallery within the Stewards’ Enclosure and hope they bring a lifetime of joy to their owners.
It’s a wonderful event to participate in and to spectate, you never know who you might meet!
Stay tuned for more exciting news from Henley over the coming months…
I’m very happy to have donated and sold this little oil painting for the Sussex Wildlife Trust at last month’s Sussex Art Fair 🌿🍃🐭
I love the fact it was a family decision, with the little girl and boy picking it out from the artworks available.
Visit the Trust’s website to find out how to support their work:
I’m delighted to reveal the three original oil paintings that I will be displaying for sale at Henley Royal Regatta’s Art Gallery this coming week from 2-7 July. The gallery is located within the Stewards’ Enclosure on the Berkshire side of the river and is open to Members and their Guests.
Each painting aims to evoke the timeless spirit of the event, the historic sport of rowing, and the colourful fashion.
For ‘Golden Hour at Henley’, I aimed to capture the warm pastel colours of the rowing blazers and boats, all bathed in golden hour on a sunny afternoon. I wanted to evoke a French Impressionist style and feeling.
I purposely left some of the linen canvas board exposed in this quick oil sketch, to lend contrast with the light emanating from the clouds and reflections in the water. The brown tones give the painting warmth as well as a period feel and reflect the wooden posts. I wanted to paint the rowers as if they were from any era.
I wanted to lend this scene a Caneletto feel, with the simple sky and expanse of water, drawing attention to the rowers, the riverside and the bridge providing a central point of interest.
[Extract from the website] Established in 1919, 80 years after the founding of Henley Regatta, the Stewards’ Enclosure was set up as a private members’ club to protect the future of the event and to provide an exclusive area for rowing supporters to enjoy the racing.
Competing at Henley Royal Regatta is considered to be a highlight in a rower’s career, and Membership of the Stewards’ Enclosure gives the best access to this prestigious event. The organisation is overseen by a self-electing body of Stewards, most of whom are renowned rowers, scullers, coaches or administrators.
I’m delighted to share the recently published Sussex Art Fair 2024 brochure, which features my oil painting of Polperro, Cornwall, on the front cover!
You can use the brochure to see who else is exhibiting as well as the floorplan – find me at stand 21 on May 10, 11 and 12.
Advance discounted tickets for Sussex Art Fair can now be purchased from our website. Come and meet 90 exhibitors with 3000+ original artworks available to add to your collections.
Starting at the ‘Preview Evening’ on Friday 10th May from 5.30pm until 8.30pm, come and be the first to view the works of the exhibiting artists along with a glass of fizz, before the event opens to the general public over the weekend on the 11th and 12th May.
Opening hours:
Friday 10th May – Preview Evening – 5.30pm to 8.30pm
£10 Advance tickets online. £15 on the door
(Ticket includes complimentary fizz and unlimited weekend entry)
Saturday 11th May & Sunday 12th May – 11.00am to 5.00pm
£5 Advance tickets online – £7.50 on the door
(Free weekend entry for children under 16 and £5 weekend concessions on the door.
(Online tickets subject to Vat)
Address
Goodwood Racecourse
Selhurst Park Road
Chichester, UK
PO18 0PS
Prices of art start from as little as £50 for prints and smaller works to over £3,000 for outstanding masterpieces, so whether you are a collector or enthusiast, there will be something to suit every budget. The first floor café will be serving a selection of hot and cold food and drinks for visitors to make a day of it.
Plus, keep an eye out to see what I will be donating to the Sussex Wildlife Trust during the event…
A day to remember. I first discovered I shared my birthday with Earth Day when I joined social media – a day dedicated to environmental protection seemed apt as I have always loved being in nature and painting God’s creation. In honour of this special day, I recently published the first glimpse of a new oil painting of bluebell woods that I will be exhibiting for the first time at the Sussex Art Fair.
You can find out more about the origins of the organisation here.
My favourite musical for many reasons and one I will never tire of seeing – it’s a feast for the eyes and heart. These are a few still life sketches that were partly inspired by the musical…
I recently applied the finishing touches to a new, partly imagined oil painting of bluebell woods at Golden Hour. These are just a few of the artworks that I will be showing at The Sussex Art Fair, Goodwood Racecourse on May 10, 11 and 12…
