Christmas Fayre at Burton Farm

Christmas Fayre poster

The final excursion of 2019, with my affordable art, will be at the Christmas Fayre at Burton Farm.

Anne Rossiter and her team have hired a marque. So, there will be lots of  Stalls, a Grand Raffle …

Christmas Fayre raffle prizes

Santa’s Grotto, Mulled Wine and Mince Pies, Entertainment, Food and much to do for children … like pet the Christmas lambs …

Christmas lambs

When is the Christmas Fayre?

23 November, 11am until 3pm

Father Christmas arrives at 11.30am!

Where is Burton Farm?

Galmpton, nr Hope Cove, TQ7 3EY Kingsbridge. Click here for more information, and directions.

Map of Burton Farm location

Supporting The Triangle Centre

cushion | Christmas Fayre at Burton Farm

As with all my appearances at local events, this is to raise funds for a worthwhile charity: and on Saturday 23 November, it’s the turn of the Triangle Centre, Kingsbridge.

All proceeds from the hire of stalls, and the raffle go to the Triangle Centre.

Each stall holder donates a prize, as do many other local businesses and kind individuals. My contribution is a cushion, value £20.

What’s on sale at the Christmas Fayre?

As well as the many other stall holders, all with gift ideas for Christmas, I shall have a selection from my affordable range.

  • Placemats and coasters
  • Glass chopping boards and coasters
  • Purses
  • Pill boxes
  • Key rings
  • Fridge magnets
  • Cushions

spiral notebooks | Christmas Fayre at Burton Farm

Newest item available: spiral notebooks! Many designs to choose from. Click here for more details.

Last date for Christmas orders

That Saturday, 23 November, is also the last date I can take orders and collection of your order needs to be by Saturday 30 November

The Gallery then closes for the winter … and we reopen on 24 February, in time to set up an exhibition of my work at Kingsbridge Library for the month of March.

PS I’m attending an art class all that weekend, so my beautiful assistant, Anne, will be there to serve you.

Postcard from Cobourg, on Lake Ontario, Canada

Anne and I visited Cobourg, on Lake Ontario in Canada recently, partly to attend the 90th birthday of my cousin, but also to have a couple of weeks holiday with my family out there.

We’ve been once before, two years ago and didn’t expect to go again. We couldn’t refuse the invitation to celebrate a 90th birthday though.

Have watercolour kit, will sketch

After the many outings with the SOS (sketching outside) group this year, it was a delight to be out and about, in the sunshine, in Canada while back home the weather was more inclement.

Sketching en plein air could be said to be best, the quickest, route to mastering an understanding of painting. Whatever the subject, it’s all about learning to ‘see’ it. Think mood. Think atmosphere!

Many books are dedicated to the skills required to create a useful summary – a sketch – of what you are trying to record. The basic sketch, whether indoors or outside, needs to capture the artist’s place and time of day – wet or dry!

There are also two magazines which continually inspire me: The Artist and Leisure Painter. Both are published by The Artists’ publishing company. for more information, go to their website: www.painters-online.co.uk.

Technology to the rescue

Sketching is not an impossible challenge in these days.  With the support of the iPhone or iPad, the four sides of the screen instantly help the eye to sort out perspective, and light and shade of the subject. In addition to electronic gizmos, the humble ruler is an elementary tool.

My watercolour kit

With weight restrictions for overseas travel, I packed only a minimal watercolour kit. See the featured image above. My smallest paint box has twelve basic colours, a very small water bottle, a foldaway palette, a tiny sponge and and equally small brush. It’s very light and suits my purpose.

I spent many hours recording the various sights near where we were staying. This is me perched on a bench, alongside a walkway at the edge of Cobourg marina. Many walkers took a keen interest in my progress.

Sketching on the quayside at Cobourg marina

The big motorboat in the background belongs to my cousin and I wanted to capture this setting as a reminder of our time aboard Colonel Ken.

Sketch of Colonel Ken moored at Cobourg marina

This photo had me with a more comfortable seating. A whole picnic table to myself in the ground of the Cobourg Yacht Club.

Sketching in the gardens of Cobourg Yacht club

It was a hot day and the paint dried quickly on the page so I decided to stick to pencil sketching from this direction.

Pencil sketch of Colonel Ken

This post is one of my POSTCARD series, sharing all things ART with you when I go travelling. My previous postcard was from FROM MILTON KEYNES: WOUGHTON HOUSE. – a hotel Anne and I have stayed in while visiting her family. 

SHAF Arts Trail Update

Taking part in the SHAF Arts Trail is a huge undertaking, and hugely rewarding. We’ve met some interesting people – some artists, some visitors to the South Hams, and some locals. Wonderful!

SHAF Arts Trail Update: the preview evening

After several days of setting up the gallery with works by Michael Hill and Chris Pring alongside my own, we had our preview evening on Friday 11 October. A crowd of 30+ spent the evening in the company of Michael, Chris and myself. We had wine and nibbles and our guests had first choice on the material on display.

If you’d like to be invited to this event next year and, meanwhile, kept up to date with news of forthcoming events, contact me.

SHAF Arts Trail Update: Chris Pring

Several of Chris Pring’s pottery items were sold on the preview evening, including one of his three muses and a hare plate. There’s still much to see though. Most of his work is in the sunroom (AKA our dining room).

Chris Pring display in the sun room | SHAF Arts Trail Update

There’s another display of his work in the entrance hall providing an excellent welcome to our visitors. Chris Pring display in the entrance hall | SHAF Arts Trail Update

The grey vase on the top shelf (Grasses) was sold just after I took this photograph. Come soon, if you want to be sure of a piece of Chris’ pottery.

SHAF Arts Trail Update: Michael Hill

Michael Hill’s new style of painting – focusing on people rather than places – has drawn lots of interest. Michael Hill display | SHAF Arts Trail Update

Which do you prefer?

We also have several of Michael’s unframed original works in the browser, very reasonably priced. To date, we’ve sold five of these, but there are more. Come quick?

SHAF Arts Trail Update: Stephen Thomas

My affordable art is proving very popular. Costing from as little as £3.75 (for a keyring or fridge magnet) – many of these items are perfect for Christmas gifts.

Affordable art display

On the preview evening, I sold all my stock of glass chopping boards, including one showing Dappled Light, and more – in both A4 and A3 sizes – are on order, due in later this week.

During the past week, the Dappled Light design has been the most popular and lots of cards, wooden placemats and coasters, two wall plaques and two pills boxes have been sold. Again, more are on order!Dappled Light

SHAF Arts Trail Update: the weather?

The weather has been variable. Some sunshine. Some heavy rain. But visitors have arrived come rain or shine and have been made very welcome. Tea/coffee and biscuits, and a wonderful view are available for all comers.

There’s still time to visit. We are open 10am-5pm daily until Sunday 27 October.

Closed on Tuesday!

What’s SHAF?

Click here to learn more!