Holmfirth Art Market

Last week was a blur getting ready for the Holmfirth Art Market: new work to finish, work to collect from the framers, new pieces to have printed and then mount and wrap, the usual pre-show evening spent tucking cards and envelopes in to cellophane wrappers.  I had new boards this time and tried to simplify my display.  As usual it was an exciting day.  Met up with faces that have become familiar, and met some new creative folk. 

New Work

'Awakening'

'Over the moors'

Untitled I

Untitled II

Here is some of the new work that I have been doing for my upcoming exhibition at Trattles and Gaell in Whitby (from mid July).  The work is all based on sketches from my trip to Yorkshire in April.  I'm looking forward to it being shown in Yorkshire.

Inspired by work seen at Dorset Open Arts, and by David building a print press, I've been experimenting with some printing.  These are monoprints.  I like these as they are, strong, direct and gestural but I have also been using monoprints to create the 'bones' of my new work as a change to painting with ink.  There'll be more new work on show at the Holmfirth Art Market on June 24th.

Bridport Arts Quarter

Bridport Arts Quarter was a revelation! Tucked behind the town, it's a treasure trove of antique and bric-a-brac stores, vintage clothing, artists studios and small businesses. Housed in converted warehouses it's an exciting example of how creative industries can bring life in to towns and cities. Many artists were showing work for the Dorset Open Arts and it was great to explore and escape the wind and rain.

Inspiring

This is a detail of a piece that Penny created on my last landscapes workshop.  She really engaged with the different mark making techniques and applied it to her own images of travels in Vietnam.  The tumble down buildings on stilts along the waters edge were realised with an eclectic range of papers. Lovely!

Snaps of Saltaire

Saltaire in the spring sunshine was an amazing place to be. The Saltaire Arts Trail draws in huge numbers but even with out that there's a lot to see.  The Salts Mill that stands as the centrepiece of Saltaire houses a David Hockney gallery, designer home ware shop, huge book shop and an inspiring art shop.  There's a canal with boat trips, beautiful parklands, vintage stores and independent shops.  Well worth a visit.

Brave Girl

At the Saltaire Arts Trail I had the pleasure of sharing my exhibition space with the lovely Hannah Nunn. I really enjoyed her company, and as happens at these events, you spend a few days getting to know your fellow exhibitors and I came home feeling I'd made a new friend.  So, as a fellow blogger, I've spent my week stalking Hannah!  Hannah makes beautiful lamps and shades and runs a shop called Radiance in Hebden Bridge selling a great selection of lighting.  I particularly love the tea light lanterns of Kate Lycett whose work I also discovered at Saltaire.

Hannah Nunn

Kate Lycett

So, via Hannah I have discovered the Brave Girls Club.  If ever there was a week I needed to be introduced to such a phenomenon it was this one.  I've needed to be brave to deal with a few too many of life's downs over the last couple of weeks and to receive their daily truth has given me strength. Not one to rest on my laurels, I seized the moment and submitted an image and today I am their 'Birdie artist of the day'.  Hello Brave Girls of the world!

'love'

It's arrived!

As an avid reader of Country Living Magazine for I don't know how many years, I am soooo excited to have my work featured on the Emporium pages!  My 'home' print is from an edition of 250 and each is stitched by me making each unique and maintaining some of the texture of the original. 

It's been a busy few weeks updating the website to include a shop section.  You can now buy all my prints, cards and ceramics here.