Latest News and Progress

20 August 2018

Exhibition time: Class of Michael Hill

Michael Hill is an experienced and highly accomplished painter in both acrylic and watercolour.

In his Tuesday classes at Salcombe Art Club, he demonstrates both mediums in all his classes, taking in a drawing, painting techniques, and composition. It’s a friendly and informal class which welcomes beginners and more experienced painters.

Michael’s classes are very popular, so much so that there is a waiting list for places for each term. Each year, there’s also an exhibition for two weeks in the Little Studio, showing the work of Michael’s students, myself included.

When is the Class of Michael Hill exhibition?

On now until Saturday 25 August

Where is the Class of Michael Hill exhibition?

Little Studio in the Loft Gallery, Salcombe Art Club, Victoria Quay, Salcombe, Devon TQ8 8DA

Open daily, 11am-5pm

What’s on display at the Class of Michael Hill exhibition?

Jim Smart and Stephen Thomas in the Little Studio

There are works by several of Michal Hill’s class of 2018.

Debbie Horton
Valerie Lambert
Ann Merritt
Yvonne Paul
Deborah Rickard
James Smart
Robert Smith
Stephen Thomas

My three paintings are at the top (left to right)

Michael also has several of his paintings in the main exhibition, on show until the end of September.

To attend Michael’s classes, you need to be a member of Salcombe Art Club. Click here for details of how to join.

13 August 2018

SOLD! Harvest Reaper II – the South Sands Ferry

It’s a delight to support local good causes and charities.

Each year, as a member of the Salcombe Art Club, I’m on a rota to exhibit in the Redfern Health Centre, Salcombe.

I’m told by many who have cause to visit the health centre that, while they wait their turn to see the doctor or nurse, they enjoy admiring the work of local artists.

I’ve exhibited eight times to date and this year, once more, I had a sale.

SOLD! Harvest Reader II

Harvest Reaper Beyond Fort Charles

Harvest Reaper (featured image above) is the name of the South Sands Ferry.

To travel in a boat is a must for every visitor to Salcombe, especially the very young. What better way to travel but on the Harvest Reaper?

The Fisher Price colours of yellow and blue make the South Sands Ferry look as if it’s popped out of a child’s toy box.

The journey from Salcombe to South Sands on the Harvest Reaper takes only 15 minutes, and then it’s the turn of the tractor to ferry the passengers ashore.

On the return journey, the prospect of driving back into the sea to await the incoming ferry can worry some youngsters. However, any apprehension is easily forgotten with the promise of an ice cream at the end of the journey. Salcombe Dairy ice cream is the finest. (They also make chocolate too now.)

The views each way are spectacular, along the beaches of the ria and out to sea. On a Saturday afternoon, the passengers can also take a close look at the dinghy sailors racing past.

More paintings of Harvest Reaper

Ferry to South Sands

I have painted the Harvest Reaper many times. The original of Harvest Reaper Beyond Fort Charles was also sold when on exhibition at the Redfern Centre.

Then I created

the watercolour Harvest Reaper II which has just sold
an acrylic, Ferry to South Sands
an oil painting of the rear view in Harvest Reaper III.

All of these are now sold, and I really ought to paint this wonderful craft again. But, these images are still available, as fine art greetings cards and/or as prints.

Affordable art!

Harvest Reaper III

Over 60 of my images are available as fine art greetings cards.

Blank inside, you write your own message.

Only a short distance from the Loft Gallery, you have the choice of buying these ‘man cards’ at Bonningtons, the newsagents, or at Salcombe Information Centre.

Prints also available

If you would like a high quality giclée print of any of my originals (sold or not), contact me. Prices depend on size and quantity but are a fraction of the cost of an original. Supplied as a canvas, you can choose your own mounting and frame too.

6 August 2018

SOLD! Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

It’s a delight to support local good causes and charities.

As a member of Salcombe Yacht Club, this year, during Merlin Rocket week, Anne and I spent nine days in The Chart Room at the yacht club, welcoming the Merlin sailors and their families, and exhibiting my original works, limited edition prints, and fine art greetings cards.

The weather was too hot for me to paint, but I enjoyed watching the sailing, photographing the Merlins and talking with lots of art lovers, while Anne ‘manned the shop’.

SOLD! Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

Ebb Tide at Batson Creek As well as over 100 cards, I sold a painting, which swelled the donation to the Salcombe Yacht Club.

While I am happy when any painting sells, I’m especially so when I meet the purchaser and know it’s going to a good home.

A purchaser is a local person, someone I will see often, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy his purchase.

My paintings grace many a wall in Salcombe, and elsewhere.

See if you can spot one of my originals next time you go visiting?

Which cards were the most popoular?

I had painted two more Merlin compositions especially for Merlin Rocket week, and used them for new card designs, bringing the number of cards featuring Merlins to three: Merlins, Merlins Crossing the Bar, and Watching the Merlins Race.

Merlin cards for sale of Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

All three sold well, but they were pipped by two other designs: Salcombe Estuary Trots and Dappled Light I, a watercolour which is now sold but very much like the still-available oil painting Dappled Light III.

Salcombe Estuary Trots

Local artist, supporting local causes

This year so far, I’ve made donations to The Friends of the Redfern and Salcombe Yacht Club. If you would like me to support your good cause, contact me.

Anne and I are happy to attend events and we have specific cards being sold through charities, such as Salcombe Regatta and Hope Cove Lifeboat.