Bonningtons Archives - Salcombe Art

This photo was taken a few days ago, a few yards from the spot where you can see the magnificent view of the bell tower and out to sea, from the pathway above Salcombe Yacht Club.

Salcombe Yacht Club Christmas Camellias

Salcombe Yacht Club Christmas Camellias is my only ‘Christmas card’ – and it’s the carefully positioned robin which gives it the festive touch.

It’s another of what I call ‘man cards’. Blank inside. Choose your own words!

Where can you purchase the original Salcombe Yacht Club Christmas Camellias?

The original acrylic painting is for sale at £500 and on display at Beacon House Gallery.

Where can you purchase the affordable-art card version of Salcombe Yacht Club Christmas Camellias?

All of my 59 designs of cards are available at Malborough Post Office.

Selections are also available at other stockists: Bonningtons (newsagents in Salcombe), Salcombe Tourist Information Centre, Salcombe Yacht Club, Bloomers (the florist in Kingsbridge), The Gallery @ Avon Mill, and the Project Gallery (Noss Mayo).

You can also buy direct from Beacon House Gallery, and in quantity – at a reduced rate – if you’d like to use my Christmas card as your Christmas card.

Call me on 01548 844020 to discuss your requirements.

13 November 2017 In Art

Affordable art: In aid of Hope Cove Lifeboat

I always support local charities and also like my art to be available at affordable prices.

Now, I can now kill two birds with one stone: providing affordable art in the form of my fine art greetings cards and financial support to the Hope Cove Lifeboat at the same time.

You’ve already seen this image on charity cards?

Yes. You are correct!

A limited number of cards bearing my image of Hope Cove (as featured above) were printed and sold – in sets of 5 – to raise monies for the Hope Cove Lifeboat, particularly at the Hope Cove Lifeboat Fund-Raising Day, back in August of this year.

These cards are new?

Yes. We have now had this design printed …

These individual cards, of my usual 350gsm quality, with a 100gsm envelope, are presented in a cellophane wrap and will soon be available at the usual stockists and also – NEW! – at the Cottage Hotel.

How does your purchase support Hope Cove Lifeboat?

Wherever you see this card – your purchase will result in a donation to this very worthwhile charity. Please buy one. Or two!

And, if anyone would like to buy the original oil painting, costing £450, the Hope Cove Lifeboat will receive an extra donation from me of £50!

Where can you buy these charity cards?

My main fine art greetings card stockist is Malborough Post Office where all 59 designs can be found.

But my cards are also on sale at the Salcombe Information Centre, Bonningtons the newsagents in Salcombe, The Gallery @ Avon Mill, The Gallery Project at Noss Mayo, Bloomers the florists in Kingsbridge – and direct from me.

Will there be more designs sold as charity cards?

Yes!

I am currently in discussion with three other local charities and will post news as soon as designs are decided and texts agreed and I have an image of the new card to show you.

If you are working for a local charity and you think you might like to adopt one of my designs to raise funds for your charity, please contact me to discuss this further.

30 October 2017 In Art

SOLD! Salcombe Dawn III

Salcombe Dawn III

Salcombe Dawn III was purchased as a gift for a special birthday.

It’s a delight that this painting was chosen during the SHAF Arts Trail – a two-week exhibition at Beacon House from 13 October until yesterday, 29 October.

What is the SHAF Arts Trail?

The SHAF Arts Trail is an annual event in which SHAF members open their studios, or inhabit galleries and other exhibition spaces, and welcome visitors to see their art. At each venue, you will find artists happy to discuss their art-form, explain the processes involved and provide the opportunity to view, appreciate and buy unique pieces of work.

Following the Arts Trail also gives visitors an unusual opportunity to explore the glorious South Hams as they map their route and discover more and more artists’ venues (as well as cream tea venues).

This is the third year I’ve taken part in the SHAF Arts Trail. Having two weeks instead of one – and coinciding with half term week when we have more visitors to Salcombe – has provided us with more than double the number of visitors in previous years.

I’ve also enjoyed greater success in that four paintings have been sold – and many, many of my fine art greetings cards too.

The Salcombe Dawn studies

Salcombe Dawn III is a watercolour, and one of three studies of the view across to Salcombe from Snapes.

Salcombe Dawn II

The other two were both oil paintings and one of those has also sold already. The remaining painting is Salcombe Dawn II – which is available as both an original and a fine art greetings card.

This image of Salcombe was captured very early one morning. I’d invested in a photography course with Bang Wallop, and a small group of us drove up to Snapes in the early hours so we’d be in position as the dawn broke. I’d never before sat in the dark, with a group of strangers, cameras ready, waiting for the sun to appear on the horizon. It was a magical experience and provided a series of wonderful photographs.

Affordable Art

Out of 135 completed paintings to date, 80+ have been sold, but 59 are available as fine art greetings cards.

In Salcombe, my card designs are stocked at Bonningtons (the newsagents) and Salcombe Information Centre (both a short walk from the Loft Studio).

Further afield, my cards are stocked by Malborough Post Office – they offer the entire range – The Gallery at Avon Mill, The Gallery Project at Noss Mayo, and in Bloomers, the florist in Kingsbridge.

Just think: for less than 1% of the sales price of an original painting, you can invest in a fine art greetings card. Send it to a friend or frame it for yourself.

10 April 2017 In Art

Salcombe Art Club Exhibition preview: Shifting Sands at Burgh Island I and II

Two of my paintings of Burgh Island depicts the shifting sands between the mainland and the island.

I’ve included both for consideration of the Hanging Committee of Salcombe Art Club, hoping they will be accepted for the 2017 Salcombe Art Club Exhibition which opens on Thursday 13 April.

On this blog, over the past few weeks, I’ve also posted a preview of the other three paintings that I have submitted: Provident, Hope Cove Fishing Gear, and Blackstone.

What’s special about these two paintings of Burgh Island?

Shifting Sands at Burgh Island I, the featured image above, is an acrylic painting. In the sky, I included a vapour trail to remind me of a flight from Gatwick to Malta a while back. For some reason, the pilot chose to go west before turning south. Seeing this spectacular coastline from the air was a magical experience.

Shifting Sands at Burgh Island II draws particular attention to the dramatic cliffs. Also clear in this image is that the Island is set apart from the mainland by a strip of sand, only visible at low tide. When the sea is in full tide, the sea tractor ferries the visitors to and fro and there is a continuous clamour of sound from waves and gulls.

What’s special about Burgh Island?

Burgh Island, with its Art Deco hotel perched like a crown on its island site, has always captured the visitors’ imagination – not just Agatha Christie’s but many many artists too.

The setting is like a jewel, but with constantly changing tides and weather and light.

Acrylic paint was my choice because the summer light is strong and the tones of blues and greens etc compete. The fast drying time of this medium means there can be no delay in capturing the moment.

AFFORDABLE ART

Both images are available as a fine art greetings card.

My cards are stocked at Bonningtons (the newsagents) and Salcombe Information Centre (both a short walk from the Loft Studio). Further afield, my cards are stocked by Malborough Post Office, The Gallery Project at Avon Mill and at Noss Mayo, and in Bloomers, the florist in Kingsbridge.

Just think: for less than 1% of the sales price of an original painting, you can invest in a fine art greetings card. Send it to a friend or frame it for yourself. Whistlefish sell frames that fit … about £10 each.

25 December 2016 In Art

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

What’s my news?

WIP

Anne and I are on vacation in Australia, visiting family and enjoying some c.

Meanwhile, work continues on our home – and my gallery – in Salcombe.

What’s happening at Beacon House?

A platform lift is being installed to make the house wheelchair friendly, and this involves the complete reconstruction of the front half of the property.

This photograph shows the work-in-progress of the uppermost floor. As you can see, there is currently nowhere to hang my paintings!

I’ll keep you posted on developments, and we will have a celebration when the new gallery is ready for visitors.

Watch this space!

Where can you see my original paintings?

All the galleries, including my own, are enjoying a well-earned break so I have no paintings available for sale for a while yet.

The first exhibition on my list for 2017 is the Salcombe Art Club Main Exhibition which opens on Thursday 13 April.

You can still buy my affordable art though: my fine art greetings cards.

Where can you buy my fine art greetings cards?

For the full range of 59 cards, visit Malborough Post Office.

Other stockists carry a selection:

Bonningtons, the newsagent in Salcombe
Salcombe Information Centre
Bloomers, the florist in Kingsbridge
Project Gallery at Avon Mill, and at Noss Mayo

20 September 2016 In Art

STEWARDING TODAY: 11am – 2pm Tuesday 20 September

Today, Tuesday 20 September, I’m stewarding at the Loft Gallery from 11am until 2pm.

If you expect to be in Salcombe then, please drop by and say hello!

WHERE IS THE LOFT GALLERY?

The Loft Gallery is situated behind the Fortescue Inn, and above a popular shoe shop, on a delightful footpath called Victoria Quay.

WHAT IS THE LOFT GALLERY?

The Loft Gallery is the home of Salcombe Art Club.

Every year since 1960, the Summer Exhibition opens at Easter and continues until the end of September. In the winter months, the Loft Gallery reverts to being a working studio with a full programme of workshops and classes for its members.

WHO CAN JOIN SALCOMBE ART CLUB?

Salcombe Art Club comprises a mix of artists: some professional artists such as those who teach our classes but also many amateurs and some very new to drawing/painting. Everyone is welcome!

Step 1 is to enroll as a Lay Member. That’s the first rung of the ladder! Then Salcombe Art club has three categories of membership.

Lay members (for a subscription of £12 per annum) may take part in workshops, courses and social activities and generally assist in supporting the club. Lay members may not exhibit, nor vote at the AGM.
Associate members (for a subscription of £17 per annum) may take part in most club activities including exhibiting in the Little Studio section (but not the main gallery) of the Annual Summer Exhibition.
Full members (for a subscription of £27 per annum) may take part in all club activities and exhibit their works in the Annual Summer Exhibition.

WHO EXHIBITS AT THE LOFT GALLERY?

Essentially, exhibiting is limited to the associate and full members of Salcombe Art Club. Full members are invited to display up to five of their works in the Summer Exhibition.

Full – and associate – members may also book a week or more in the Little Studio.

In the Little Studio also, our teachers exhibit material of works produced by the various class groups; this inspires other club members to enrol for classes during the winter months.

FEATURED IMAGE: Salcombe Dawn II

The original of Salcombe Dawn II is on display at the Loft Gallery as part of Salcombe Art Club Main Exhibition. It’s an oil painting, 16 inches x 20 inches, priced at £450.

A fine art greetings card of Salcombe Dawn I – a similar but smaller oil painting that was sold in 2015 – is available at a fraction of that cost, within walking distance of the Loft Studio. Try Salcombe Information Centre or Bonningtons, the newsagents.

25 July 2016 In Art

Going, going, gone! Sold …

In the past week, I’ve sold three paintings. Going, going, gone! Sold!

The first was Sunlight on Avon River, a watercolour, and one of the few of mine to be predominantly green.

There is water, as ever, but it’s not blue, and there’s no blue sky. And no sailing craft in sight … or seagulls …

This painting has graced the walls of Beacon House Gallery for some time now. Painted in 2012, it will be missed.

The second sale was Dawn at South Pool Creek, an acrylic painting of the view from my studio window.

It’s rare for me to be up so early. I am a night owl and enjoy sleeping late. However, my wife, Anne, is always up before dawn and, if it’s an especially beautiful one, she will wake me. I take photos and go back to bed, and she goes back to her computer.

Last but not least to be sold: Paddling at Burgh Island – a painting which captures one sunny day when Anne and I visited her friend, Sheila, and we walked across from her house to Burgh Island.

Like many of my paintings, Dawn at South Pool Creek and Paddling at Burgh Island are available as fine art greetings cards.

When the original is not square, the card image is created by cropping – and you can be seen the difference between the two if you compare the featured image (far above) with that shown immediately above. I decided to focus on the two lady paddlers and the island and to lose some of the left-hand part of the image.

AFFORDABLE ART

You may be surprised to know that 52 of the 127 original paintings I’ve created to date are available as a fine art greetings card.

For less than 1% of the sales price of an original, you can invest in a card. Send it to a friend or frame it for yourself. Whistlefish sell frames that fit… about £10 each.

Where can you buy my cards?

The complete range of cards is available at Malborough Post Office. View while you queue!

bloomers-florist-of-knigsbridge-shop-front Bonningtons (the newsagents) and Salcombe Information Centre are both a short walk from the Loft Studio and stock a range of cards.

Cards are also on sale at The Gallery Project (at Avon Mill and in Noss Mayo), and at Salcombe Yacht Club.

If you are visiting Kingsbridge, our newest stockist is Bloomers, the florists, 37 Fore Street (about half way up the hill!).