In celebration of our creative year

As the year draws to a close (no pun intended) it's a great time to reflect on such a great creative year...and it's all down to you!

I'd like to thank all students who have attended my art courses, workshops and art holidays, all directors and staff at the chosen centres of excellence where I have taught this year (with re bookings for next) for their superb support this year, and thanks to all Facebook and Twitter followers for all your support too!

In celebration of a really memorable year I'd like to thank all the art clubs and art societies for the demonstration and workshop bookings and have been delighted to have inspired you all.

Thanks too to the wonderful gallery owners who have supported, promoted and exhibited my work and had faith in me throughout 2016 - I'm delighted to have made some great sales for you! Roll on 2016 for our continued exhibitions!

No least a big thanks to all at 'Team Canson' (Canson - the great paper company from France) who brought me into their fold early 2015 and made me one of their only two UK Canson Ambassadors - a real honour! 2016 with Canson is going to be another cracker!

Nitram Charcoal from Canada have been absolutely brilliant this year too with with my charcoal drawings using their superb top quality charcoal helping me to receive such great public admiration at 'Art World' in Frankfurt at the beginning of 2015 on their amazing stand. 2016 will start with a bang with yet more of my Nitram Charcoal drawings heading for Frankfurt with Nitram and then to Texas with the company later in the year - exciting times ahead!

2015 was a great year working with all staff at 'The Artist' magazine with all the different almost monthly articles written for this great magazine helping to inspire an even bigger audience to the joys of creative painting techniques - especially with mixed media!

if I've missed anyone out I do apologise. Such a superb and eventful 2015 it's hard to take it all in!

All all the very best for Christmas and I look forward to inspiring you all and having fun painting with you all again in the coming New year and sharing lots of new and exciting creative things with you!

Have a good one!

Featured painting
Approaching Pennine Sleet
Acrylic on board
51 x 51cm (20 x 20 inches)

Something to brighten the grey days of Winter

Here's adding some much needed colour to the grey Winters days we have been having of late...

Stage two of my 'Flowing waters, River Nidd - Yorkshire' mixed media painting.
Canson Moulin du Roy 300gsm (140lb) not 100% cotton watercolour paper
22 x 15 inches

Stage one of my 'Flowing waters, River Nidd - Yorkshire' mixed media painting.
Canson Moulin du Roy 300gsm (140lb) not 100% cotton watercolour paper
22 x 15 inches

Finished and final painting soon to come!

A personal angle for Anglesey

Earlier this year in April we went to Angelsey in North Wales for the very first time. What a thrill! 

Fantastic painting opportunities everywhere in a diverse and magnificent landscape.

Whilst there we visited Oriel Ynys Môn gallery at  Llangefni to stand in awe in front of one of my art hero's work - Sir John “Kyffin” Williams, (KBE, RA) which was as expected, jaw dropping!

Staying in a beautiful cottage at Church Bay the sea was just a stones throw away and needless to say, the brushes, paint and fabulous Canson watercolour and pastel papers came with me to paint down at the beach and in different locations around this beautiful island.

Here's just one of those paintings recently photographed.

Watch out Anglesey here we come...ASAP!

Featured painting
Atlantic tide rushes in, Church Bay, Anglesey
Watercolour, Gouache and Unison Pastel on Canson Moulin du Roy 'not' 300 gsm (140lb) 100% rag content watercolour paper
15 x 22 inches (38 x 56 cm)

To learn more about Oriel Ynys Môn gallery at  Llangefni visit www.kyffinwilliams.info/eng/index.html

A time to reflect...

...about all great art holidays, workshops, mini-breaks  at all the different venues I've been teaching at this year. 

It has been an absolute joy to teach you all and I'm looking forward to doing so again throughout 2016 to include Spain!

The painting featured is one I created as a demo for my students between group and one to one teaching sessions outdoors this year in Autumn at Rydal Hall near Ambleside. Just one of our wonderful art holidays in The Lake District in 2015!

Created on Canson Mi-Tientes 'Touch' 350gsm Pastel Paper (Light Blue) the colour of the paper has been used to help with the gently moving waters and the beautiful reflections in Rydal Water close to Rydal Hall itself - a popular destination for art students from all over the country.

For all 2016 art courses and art holidays visit the art holidays section of my brand new website www.rdcreative.co.uk

See you next year!

Featured painting
'Autumn reflections - Rydal Water, Cumbria'
Pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes 'Touch' 350gsm Pastel Paper (Light Blue)
50 x 60 cm

New today...

a recent work to come from the studio...

...the studio at Cober Hill that is!

During our moorland theme expressive mixed media art week when teaching I created this for all the students to show how soft and hard pastels (different brands) can be used with fixative to create a multi-layered expressive painting.

Using the very unique and responsive surface texture of Canson Mi-Teintes 'Touch' 350gsm pastel paper this was an absolute joy to put together for everyone during the evening demo.

The following day everyone was itching to have a go...and have a go they did! Fantastic pastels were created by all eleven students. 

Another great painting day had by all at Cober Hill!

For new art courses at Cober Hill for 2016 please visit the 'art holidays' section of my brand new website www.rdcreative.co.uk

For further information about Cober Hill please visit www.coberhill.co.uk


Featured painting
'The remains of the day - Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire'
Pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes 'Touch' 350gsm pastel paper
50 x 65 cm

Pennine Partners paint with passion!

Peter Brook Exhibition now on at Harrison Lord Gallery in Brighouse!
(Featuring yours truly)
Saturday 21 November until 24 December 

A massive highlight of my career so far to be showing along someone so great and with an award winning gallery too! 

To say ‘I’m chuffed’ is quite an understatement!

Sadly Peter has passed away but his legacy as an ambassador of the north, and indeed the Pennines lives on through his amazing paintings. 

Highly sought after and collected, Peters work adorns many a fine art collection. 

I have won over the years (nationally and internationally) numerous awards for my work but I still know I have a long way to go yet to climb the dizzy heights Peter got to, so my prices in the exhibition reflect that. But hey, watch this space...things are really happening!

For further information about the show contact:

Harrison Lord Gallery

5 Bradford Rd, 

Brighouse 

HD6 1RW

01484 722462

gallery@harrisonlord.co.uk

www.harrisonlord.co.uk