Latest News and Progress

25 March 2019

Summer in Salcombe – in preview sale on 5 April

In the preview sale on 5 April – FRIDAY! – Summer in Salcombe, one of the latest crop of paintings, will be offered at a discount price to those attending this celebration of the start of another season of art.

142 Walking back to Hope Cove
144 Merlin on the Run
145 Schooner Sunset
146 Merlins Racing past Fishermans
147 Summer in Salcombe
148 All Aboard the East Portlemouth Ferry

Summer in Salcombe

For this painting, I set myself the challenge of capturing the atmosphere of Salcombe in the summer.

I could have chosen any one of a dozen backdrops but Salcombe in Summer has two of my favourite places: Salcombe Yacht Club and The Ferry Inn.

The Salcombe Yacht club occupies half of Cliff House, the red brick building on the left. The Ferry Inn has a prime waterside location and you can see the many umbrellas giving much-needed shade to those quenching their thirst.

From the mass of Salcombe photographs I have collected over the years, I then attempted to capture the busyness that is Salcombe in July and August.

So many boats.
Some moored, some racing.
And a crabber returning with its delectable catch of crab and lobster.

The changing face of Salcombe

It’s always interesting to study the Salcombe town from East Portlemouth, to see the changes in the architecture, but also to enjoy what is still the same. In this painting, I have recorded (for posterity!) how it was on one sunny day in 2018.

For those who own or rent these properties, to purchase such a painting provides a reminder of the wonderful times had in years gone by. If the cost of the original is too much, there is always an affordable art option.

Come to the Preview evening: 6-9pm on Friday 5 April

If you would like an invitation to the Preview evening, please contact me. You will be made very welcome at Beacon House Gallery.

18 March 2019

Merlin paintings – in preview sale on 5 April

In the preview sale on 5 April, Merlin on the Run and Merlins Racing past Fishermen are two of the latest crop of paintings which will be offered at a discount price to those attending this celebration of the start of another season of art.

142 Walking back to Hope Cove
144 Merlin on the Run
145 Schooner Sunset
146 Merlins Racing past Fishermans
147 Summer in Salcombe
148 All Aboard the East Portlemouth Ferry

Merlin on the Run

Merlin on the Run is the featured image above.

The Merlin Rocket Association has a long and ongoing relationship with the Salcombe Yacht Club. Sailors too, often have a close ‘relationship’ with Merlins and their crew.

Merlins Racing Past Fishermans

When I’m on the water, if I look over my shoulder to see Merlin’s bow wave, powered up with a mighty full spinnaker, I know it’s time to move out of their way. The right of way rule is immaterial …

Merlins Racing Past Fishermans

I could not have painted the drama of Merlins Racing Past Fishermans without my photos for reference. Everything happens so fast out on the water.

I raced in Fireballs in my twenties and thirties. These also had spinnakers and were equally unstable when a strong puff of wind visited the estuary.

Merlin Rocket Week

Each year, the Merlin sailors and their families and friends descend on the town for a week of racing.

In 2019, this event is called Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week 2019 in recognition of the sponsors: Salcombe Gin.

Salcombe Gin

The Salcombe Gin Company can be found at The Boathouse, 28 Island Street, Salcombe TQ8 8DP. On-site, there is a distillery, shop, and bar, and they offer courses too at the Gin School. You can make your own gin …

Back to art!

Merlin paintings

I love painting these beautiful crafts and now have five images featuring them.

123 Merlins is sold already but the image is available as a fine art greetings card, and – both as a square image and a rectangular image – for the affordable art items too.

Come to the Preview evening: 6-9pm on Friday 5 April

If you would like an invitation to the Preview evening, please contact me.

You will be made very welcome at Beacon House Gallery.

11 March 2019

Walking back to Hope Cove – in the preview sale on 5 April

In the preview sale on 5 April, Walking back to Hope Cove is one of the latest crops of paintings which will be offered at a discount price to those attending this celebration of the start of another season of art.

142 Walking back to Hope Cove
144 Merlin on the Run
145 Schooner Sunset
146 Merlins Racing past Fishermans
147 Summer in Salcombe
148 All Aboard the East Portlemouth Ferry

Walking Back to Hope Cove

The geography is so compact in the Hope Cove area that, to climb the hill to the West of the Cottage Hotel, and to look back gives a fascinating view.

It’s a walk that Anne and I have done many times. We tend to walk as far as the shack overlooking Thurlestone Rock, have a snack and walk back. Either way, we get the view I’ve tried to capture in this painting. And much-needed exercise …

Why the Cottage Hotel?

For us, the Cottage Hotel is home from home.

Whenever we want to ‘get away’ from Salcombe, rather than driving for hours, maybe spending time in an airport, and going through the drama of travelling, we head instead for the Cottage Hotel.

Fifteen minutes in the car and we are transported to another era. The Cottage Hotel is going through refurbishment and redevelopment, but the traditional qualities of service and putting the visitors’ first remain.

The Cottage offers two bonuses for us – things we don’t have in our home in Salcombe, and miss – the sunset and a bath.

If we wake early enough, we enjoy spectacular sunrises as Beacon House faces east and we are high up Bonfire Hill …

We sacrificed our bathroom to make way for a platform lift so that our home is wheelchair friendly. In years to come, we’ll be grateful not having to climb the many stairs. Meanwhile, when we want a soak in the bath, we book an overnight stay at the Cottage Hotel.

We enjoy the sunset and a delicious dinner. Of course, the sweet trolley has no impact on our decision making!

Is Hope Cove a special place for you too?

Over the past few years, I’ve painted quite a few Hope Cove scenes. This year, there’s the Schooner Sunset plus Walking Back to Hope Cove.

Previously, the most popular painting was Hope Cove, and that image (and many others) is now available in my affordable art range, as a key ring, for example.

Come to the Preview evening: 6-9pm on Friday 5 April

If you would like an invitation to the Preview evening, please contact me. You will be made very welcome at Beacon House Gallery.