Salcombe Art Club Exhibition Preview Archives

19 March 2018 In Art

Salcombe Art Club Exhibition Preview: Noss Mayo Sunset

Noss Mayo Sunset is one of a crop of six new paintings destined for the Salcombe Art Club Summer Exhibition.

Today, I am collecting them from the framer, just in time for the handing-in day on 24 March. If you’d like to purchase one of them ahead of the Exhibition and save 10% on the price (they range from £500 to £750), contact me to arrange a private viewing urgently!

What was I doing admiring the Noss Mayo Sunset?

Although I now live in Salcombe, and most of my paintings feature scenes near my home, the two villages of Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo are also close to my heart. This idyllic estuary has had me under its spell since 1968 when my two children were young, and we would rent Rose Cottage, next to The Dolphin.

At low tide, there are causeways to help pedestrians cross the water between the two villages. So, if the tide was out, we’d cross the causeway on foot. We often ate at The Ship and enjoyed the views across to the Swan Inn. If the tide was in, we’d visit the Swan Inn by boat!

I have very many happy memories of those times and still have friends living there.

All the hostelries offer excellent food and are ideally sited from an artist’s point of view. Decades later, it’s a treat to venture away from Salcombe now and then and to enjoy such picturesque scenes. Anne and I often take house guests in that direction.

So, imagine me, with friends, on the way to a pub at sunset. Of course, I have with me my camera – two actually! – and I had to shoot the ‘light moment’ of a beautiful day to capture this image of all those craft moored up. Then, once I start taking photos, I can’t stop. And once I’m back home in my studio, it’s not long before I’m compelled to start painting …

Many of this most recent crop were painted in oil. This one is an acrylic. Why not an oil? No reason really, except acrylics dry very quickly and are easily carried to and from my art classes in the Loft Studio.

It’s not quite square so it’s been cropped to create a fine art greetings card. Can you spot which bit Anne cropped?

12 March 2018 In Art

Salcombe Art Club Exhibition Preview: Merlins Crossing the Bar

Merlins Crossing the Bar is one of a crop of six new paintings destined for the Salcombe Art Club Summer Exhibition.

Right now, they are with the framer so they are not available to view just yet. However, if you want to purchase ahead of the Exhibition, and save 10% on the price (they range from £500 to £750), contact me to arrange a private viewing ahead of handing day on 24 March.

Merlins Crossing the Bar

This is yet another oil inspired by the wonderful Merlin sailors who love to race in our beautiful estuary with all its challenges.

The spinnakers are not just difficult to paint but, in reality, need very good sailors to fly these.

I remember that as a skill I once had in Fireballs, many many years ago.

Now my sailing days are over, I’m content to capture the joy and the challenge, through my painting.

From oil painting to fine art greetings card

Many of my originals are also available as a fine art greetings card. I call it affordable art!

For this particular composition, part of the image had to be cropped to create the required square shape for the card. If you compare this image with the featured image above, you’ll notice the Merlin with the pink spinnaker didn’t make it onto the card version.

It still works as an image though, and I’m sure it will be as popular as others cards featuring Merlins, especially during Merlin Rocket week: 8-13 July.

This is Merlins and shows these magnificent craft racing past Mill Bay.

And this is one of the new crop: Watching the Merlins Race.

5 March 2018 In Art, Exhibition

Salcombe Art Club Exhibition Preview: Longstone

Longstone is one of a crop of six new paintings destined for the Salcombe Art Club Summer Exhibition.

The view of the Cottage Hotel, from Bantham

This image is taken from Bantham, looking towards Hope Cove. High on the cliff, you can just about make out the Cottage Hotel, currently under major redevelopment and refurbishment.

This view, taken from the beach (and one of the hotel’s own photos) shows it in more detail.

The Cottage Hotel is one of my favourite destinations. Whether it’s for Sunday lunch – like yesterday – or for a romantic getaway where Anne and I can relax and enjoy the wonderful sunsets – we are regular visitors.

We love the old-fashioned family atmosphere where customer service is the top priority. And, of course, the dessert trolley.

More about Longstone

Back to my painting! Again, I am using oil paints.

In the middle distance, Longstone, this magnificent rock does look as if it’s braced against the roaring sea.

And, notice a streak of orange: the Hope Cove Rib at full tilt on a mission of mercy in those foul conditions.

Supporting Hope Cove Lifeboat

I am keen to support local charities and good causes generally. To this end, there is a fine art greetings card which supports the Hope Cove Lifeboat.

Watch out for these and buy them!

They are on sale at the Cottage Hotel, and also at events organsied by the charity.