to entertain, inform & inspire
Mayflower400, Plymouth, >progress< with a new meticulously researched painting. Painting on speculation, 61 x 91 cm [24″ x 26″], available, £5,000 a bargain as any good gallery should be delighted to show this painting. Discover more on my web site page ‘Plymouth, Mayflower‘ Mayflower400 [2020] is billed to be the biggest anniversary celebrations in the … Read more
Drake and slavery
Knocking down statues has become the ‘in’ thing among part of our population.
Now- Wow we have a proposal to knock off Sir Francis Drake, remove his statue from Plymouth Hoe.
If you disagree I suggest you sign the petition to keep the statue on site in place.
https://www.change.org/p/1000-save-drake-statue/psf/promote_or_share
We might as well knock down the Pyramids as they were allegedly built by slave labour.
Such vandalism would be bad for tourism !
Robin Knox-Johnston, an inspiring sailor, a real man, a role model, a film worth watching? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdIIYr1GdIs&feature=emb_share.
I feel honoured to have been commissioned to make #paintings 3 times, “Roaring Forties“, “The Clipper Way” and “Dumra departing Bombay“.
I produced prints for the first two paintings made for Sir Robin #Knox–#Johnston which we both signed [a few copies are still available], and I am proud to be considered one of his friends.
“Roaring Forties” subsequently is and continues to be reproduced in journals world wide and is a proven influential painting.
Robin still is a considerable influence and benefit for many lives, mine included.
Some years ago Robin and I were discussing our roles in life.
Today was mostly spent exploring the world heritage city of Carcassonne. 
The morning started as so many others here this year since mid June, grey and a chilly 13 C with spots of rain.
The prime task was to take my friend Suki to Carcassonne airport for a Ryanair flight to Stanstead.
Secondary was for Michael Baker and I to explore Carcassonne and or drive down to the Med.
This last day of May day finished this varied month in fine style.
A real English ale with the rare pleasure of my son for company and a yarn at the China House, 
Sutton Harbour, Plymouth.
Up early ish today and loading my car including with 2 major marine paintings 
(Plymouth Cattewater and Nelson at Gibraltar 10 Dec 1796) and numerous French landscapes.
One of the objectives of this return to my home port of Plymouth is to find out how the paintings are received, perceived and valued, another is to consider suitable exhibition venues.
The Flying Scotsman has as a result of Mike Jeffries comments had a a re appraisal of the painting and some re working, specific replies to points raised listed below and may be of wider interest to artists.
The remarks have also underlined a serious problem I have here at Itzac; the studio space is tooooo small for paintings over 16” x 20”.
I need a larger studio ASAP but where, anyone want an artist in residence?
Read moreThe Flying Scotsman and “a brutal critique yes,” from Mike Jeffries
More snow today, it has been bitterly cold for the past 3 days with a North wind, the pop up pic opposite shows a car stuck outside my cottage…
Today’s task is to work on the larger marine painting of the Cattewater, Plymouth by moonlight, a scene showing the clipper Samuel Plimsoll loading emigrants Australia bound.
The studio space is very limited, I need more space but where and how, any suggestions?
Making steady progress with this new painting despite numerous distractions not least the recent heavy snow which again stopped all the local traffic except 4 x4’s who compacted the snow until even they were ditch parking, hence the phrase “ditch it“? 
I have some 5 paintings on the go at present, this one at 1220 x 760 (48″ x 30″) is to be the largest.
The clickable pic (left) gives you much information re the progress, a bit more in this text below…