Picture In the Royal Acadamy Summer Show

For over two weeks I was in a lovely bubble of possibility. Having recieved the letter saying that my work was still under consideration for the R.A Summer Exhibition. I also had been contacted by the Culture Show and that was all wafting about my head. So arriving home, no sign of the letter... until I went into the Studio and saw it on the shelf next to the telephone. Opened and sighed with relief. Because that it what is it, after all the effort and hope.

RSW at RSA

Well, lets be honest... It is a real phillip to get a picture accepted for a big open show and particulary splendid for it to be hanging in one of the rooms of the Royal Scottish Academy. I dropped the pictures off in Edinburgh on Wednesday 13th Febuary having driven through some pretty grim snowy conditions - so it would have been doubly galling to not get one through the selection. A self imposed anxiety, to shake myself out of the Studio confort and see how the work fares in the outside world. I have a stack of totally reasonable reasons why any work does not get hung, but the bottom line is... it is good if it does.

Tolquhon Gallery Spring Exhibition

And delighted that Tolquhon Gallery will have two or three of my paintings in their spring exhibition opening on Sunday 3rd March.
Now I am out for a walk with Maybelle and Mattie.

Hedgerow Art and Alchemy 26th and 27th April

Lovely workshop with Judy Patterson (herbalist;) - For a second workshop which will include walking along the lane next to the river Don, drawing, sketching, brewing and delving into the hedgerow herbs and medicinal flora that we find along the way.

Spring Sunshine

February is just drawing to a close and some of the pictures that were on their way to show at Touched By Scotland in November are due to be picked up to return home at the end of this week.
I have driven to Kent and back delivering work to RSA on the way for the RSW open submission.  Glad and relieved that one will be showing when the exhibition opens tomorrow.

Coming Up... Touched by Scotland

Opening Friday 9th November.  I will have about 12 works on show at Touched by Scotland
Gallery near Insch, Aberdeenshire.
Opportunity to show some figure drawings and one large painting.
Come and see.  If you don't like the paintings there is good coffee and food at the restaurant.

West Dean College

West Dean College was enjoyable and challenging.  The 'delegates' are demanding but stimulating.
The swimming pool which I discovered in the Vicarage garden was a delightful relaxation at the end of the teaching day.... and heated to boot.  I would of course have swum in it even if it were cold and newts and tadpoles had been my companions, but what a pleasant surprise it was so clean and warm.
So - if you fancy a few days in a valley near Goodwood, dignified architechture, library, workshops, artifacts. And with delicious food and top notch tutoring.  I suggest you get signed up to a West Dean course.  But I don't mind if you leave the swimming to me.