Sunday 21 June 2015

Grab yourself a copy...and a cuppa!



Latest copy of 'The Artist' is out now! This one is a real Summer sizzler and I'm delighted to be featured once again! Fantastic!

The paintings in the article by the way are in my Leeds gallery at 'The Headrow Gallery, Alwoodley, Leeds. 

A great gallery and friendly welcoming family business owned by Maxwell Roberts who will be delighted to meet you. 

Why not pop in taking your magazine with you!

To find out more about Headrow Gallery please visit http://www.headrowgallery.co.uk/

Headrow Gallery
588 Harrogate Road
Alwoodley
Leeds 
LS17 8DP
West Yorkshire
United Kingdom

+44 (0)113 2694244

info@headrowgallery.co.uk

Saturday 20 June 2015

A moment to reflect about Rydal Hall in The Lake District

The prestigious Hall and majestic Gardens at Rydal Hall - wonderful to relax in whatever time of day



I feel pretty blessed to be honest to be sharing my art skills with so many enthusiastic art students since starting popular residential art holidays in the heart of The Lake District at Rydal Hall which have gone from strength to strength. 

Each time things just get better! My most recent week teaching outdoor and studio art techniques in the fantastic natural woodland within the grounds of this magnificent hall and around the lakeshore of Rydal Water (close to Rydal Hall) from a tutors point of view, was quite superb! 



I was greeted with a genuine smile everyday from all the friendly staff at the hall and also from my enthusiastic students too who were an absolute joy to teach. They had travelled all the way from inverness to be with me and I felt very honoured by that.

The dramatic landscape of Cumbria has always been creatively inspirational to artists and writers alike (you've only got to think of famous names fromThe Lake District such as Ruskin and Wordsworth - who's last family home Rydal Mount is right opposite Rydal Hall) to see what a great corner of England this really is - a positive garden of Eden in fact so it's no wonder my students produced such great work...and enjoyed themselves immensely doing so too!



It wasn't all 'work'! We took time out on several occasions during my evening demonstrations to go and see a lovely exhibition of contemporary 'Lakeland artists work' in the Old Barn Gallery on site close to Rydal Hall with quality craft, sculpture and paintings on show which captured the imagination of my students once more with several of them buying beautiful and unique items which caught their eye. Artists supporting artists and working in co-operation at Rydal Hall - Fantastic!

As expected, The Lake District was up to its usual tricks of changeable weather but by keeping the fun, exciting art experience flexible for everyone by mixing studio days on damp days and outdoor painting on more dryer days, using Rydal Hall as our base with its wonderful calming effect, the spirituality of The Lake District was a fantastic experience for everyone. 

We even managed to have a really great short walk around part of the shoreline of Grasmere whilst other members of the group headed into the village itself for a spot of sightseeing and to visit the famous Heaton Cooper Art studio for another enjoyable and rewarding 'arty' experience. 


I'm looking forward to coming back to be amongst friends again at Rydal Hall in from 12 - 16 October and making new friends too on another successful art holiday later in the year.



I look forward to seeing you all then helping everyone have some more fun and creative adventures with your painting!

For further details about the exciting mixed media painting holiday in October '15 at Rydal Hall visit
http://rdcreative.co.uk/art_holidays/mixed_media_expressive_pastel_and_watercolour_autumn_art_break_rydal_hall

For further details about Rydal Hall visit 
http://www.rydalhall.org
Rydal Hall, Rydal, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9LX.

All at 6's and 7's...and 8's!

Apologies...I've let things slip haven't I! I've not been letting you know about recent editions of 'The Artist' magazine featuring my focus on colours with everything that is going on within my ' whirling dervish' art world at the moment!

So, here is your catch up on colours  from my series of colours within 'The Artist' magazine with number 6 (Cadmium Yellow), number 7 (Viridian Green) and the most recent publication with number 8 ' Velvet Purple' published in 'Summer issue 15 of 'The Artist' magazine out now.









































Within Summer Issue 15 it's great to see other of my articles featured also - 'Summer's challenge' were I explain how to simplify things in a creative way to deal with all that complex detail the summer often presents us with, especially when painting outdoors, which I often love to do!

'The Artist' is a great magazine and this month, once again in so many different ways, the 66 well designed, interesting and exciting pages  are packed full of other great features, arty facts, art news...and so, so much more! 

Once again 'The Artist' team have pulled out the stops to give you all the very best of what is a truly a great 'art hub' with all this current creative information.

I'm really proud to regularly contribute to this outstanding magazine!

Enjoy your latest copy...and your colours too!







































'The Artist' magazine is available from all leading Newsagents or directly online from
http://www.painters-online.co.uk/magazines.htm

On track for a great exhibition at ‘The Station’ - October '15!


Meet the 'All Creations Great and Small' exhibition team
Left to right, Helen Patterson, Jo Garlick (with her latest addition of an all creation both great and at this stage...small), and Stef Ottevanger. (I'm taking the photo!).

Following our successes with our exhibition ‘All Creations Great and Small’ with our contemporary paintings and sculpture in April ‘15 at North York Moors Visitors Centre at Danby near Whitby, we are all busying ourselves getting a brand new collection together again for our future show starting 31 October at 'The station' Gallery in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

A great exhibition space with so much light and space! Great coffee and cakes too!

The bright and airy mezzanine exhibition space (for our exhibition) with cafe and cinema at 'The Station' in Richmond, North Yorkshire










We are all excited about bringing a spectacular brand new exhibition of our work together again in the second and final show of ‘All Creations Great and Small’ of our work this year at the beautiful, modern, light and airy exhibition space at ‘The Station Gallery’ for our 2 week show!

This time we will be focusing on lots of different painting and sculpture subjects with our continued and successful landscape and wildlife theme from all of Yorkshire! 

Each of our creative styles are very unique yet at the same time compliment each other in a very spacial way too. Judging from everyones positive response from our exhibition at Danby earlier in the year our exhibition at ‘The Station’ gallery will be even better! 

There is an open invite as a special ‘meet the artists day’ on our exhibition opening on Saturday 31 October so you and your family and friends can meet us, have a chat, enjoy the exhibition and indulge yourselves with the fabulous cake, coffee (and more besides) at ‘The Station Cafe’ within the same exhibition space. The bright and airy cafe is, in itself, well worth a visit.

At 'The Station' there is even a cinema but the best show in town from Saturday 31 October until 12 November will be our exhibition of course! We absolutely guarantee it so do come along, you'll not regret it!


'All Creations Great and Small'
31 October - 11 November 2015





The Station Gallery
Station Yard 
Richmond 
North Yorkshire 
DL10 4LD


For further information please visit ww.richmondstation.com
or call 'The Station' on 01748 828259

We look forward to welcoming you all soon and being part of our exciting exhibition very soon!

Thursday 18 June 2015

A Creative Summer sizzler in Ilkley this August!

I've been invited to join 'The Ilkley Art Show' at the prestigious Kings Hall and Winter Gardens in Ilkley, North Yorkshire this year to do a workshop with pastels and demonstrate too. Fantastic!

'Moorland colours'
Pastel workshop with award winning Yorkshire artist Robert Dutton

Saturday 15 August 1pm-3pm
£16.90 only pp!!
Class number restricted to 16. (Bookings being taken already!!)

Included: Canson Mi-Tientes 'Touch' 350gsm pastel paper (half sheet), Pip Seymour pastels (select colours from the full range), your high quality photographic reference to choose from to work from on the workshop on loan from Robert (for the duration of the workshop) Roberts award winning tuition teaching lots of different pastel techniques to help you develop further as artists in a fun packed workshop with a superb learning experience!

Drawing boards, masking tape, fixative and so on all provided. 
More experienced pastelists may also bring their own pastels to use as well if they wish.

Contact: The Ilkley Art shop on 01943 609031 to book your place or to discuss further details of this superb offer.




Robert Dutton
Glowing evening light over Ilkley Moor 
Pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes ‘Touch 350gsm pastel paper 
18.5 x 12  inches (47 x 30cm).
Demonstration painting for a local art group in Leeds


The Canson connection
As a UK Canson Ambassador my workshop on Saturday 15 august (1pm to 3.30pm) 'Moorland colours' is sponsored by Canson (the internationally renown paper company producing innovative fine art papers) so this gives you a fabulous opportunity to try out their brand new and popular Canson Mi-Teintes 'Touch' pastel paper which is absolutely great to work on.

Pip at the post!
You'll have the chance to work with some really great soft pastels into the bargain too with hand made pastels made by Pip Seymour (from Yorkshire) who sends his products all over the world.

Picture perfect ...or as near as it can be anyway!
Your reference to create your colourful expressive pastel from of Ilkley Moor I've taken myself with a quality camera and printed them as A4 for you to loan on the day so all you need do is turn up, have a fab time, learn loads of art techniques from me and go home with a superb and memorable experience and a great painting too!

Who can come?
You don't have to be brilliant at pastels either to come. This may be your first experience with pastels or you may be an enthusiastic artist with a desire to try out new materials and techniques. Whatever your experience, this fab workshop caters for you all!


The Venue
'The Ilkley art show'
The Kings Hall/Winter Gardens
Station Road
Ilkley
West Yorkshire

LS29 8HA
www.ilkleyartshow.co.uk




Book your place!
So, here's that number again and who to call to book your place:
The Ilkley Art shop on 01943 609031


I look forward to teaching you all some great pastel techniques very soon. 
It will be a great afternoon exploring those moorland colours -  I can guarantee it!



Teamwork works wonders at 'Patchings' 2015!




What a fantastic experience for all involved 'Patchings Art, Craft and Photography Festival' proved to be at Calverton near Nottingham this year!

Each year 'the big event' gets even better and what made this year's very special to me was to be working with Canson (for whom I am a UK Ambassador) and 'The Artist' magazine (for whom I regularly contribute articles to) who together organised some fabulous workshops for budding art students to work with me learning lots of exciting creative art techniques.

The theme of both popular morning and afternoon workshops on Saturday 6 June was 'expressive seascapes' with mixed media (watercolour and pastel on the superb Canson Moulin du Roy 'rough' and 'not' beautifully crafted watercolour paper) and with the tent packed and buzzing with energy each time it was fabulous to create great results for everyone each time on these amazing Canson watercolour papers.

Here is what one delighted student (Christine Cave) I had the privilege to teach on the morning workshop had to say:

"If anyone is given the opportunity to take part in one of Robert Dutton's workshops then please take it. I spent the afternoon at Patching's Festival last week with Robert, and other keen amateur artists, learning techniques and skills taught by a fantastic artist and a very funny man.

Robert kept us entertained, taught us so many wonderful things and was generous with his knowledge. The time passed so quickly and left me wanting more.

Robert's kindness and desire to share his passion comes across in everything he does. 

His understanding of composition, perspective, colour and materials is fascinating. Robert has the ability to produce beautiful paintings every time, and enables his students to believe in themselves and their ability.


Thank you Robert!"

Christine Cave
Head Teacher


A real honour and fantastic comments to know that Christine is a teacher herself!

The following day was just as exciting! as the clock struck 1pm, 'all miked up' and with the film crew at the ready in the 'big marquee' it was a real honour to give a mixed media demonstration as a 'fast and loose' way of working with watercolour, pastel, acrylic ink, graphite (you name it I pretty much used it) for 1 hour teaching and demonstrating and entertaining the audience explaining every move and media choice in detail and at the same time showing how to paint 'Malham Cove' (from the heart of The Yorkshire Dales) with lots of free flowing paint and...plenty of expression!

Working on a full sheet of Canson Moulin du Roy 300gsm (140lb) watercolour paper - one of the best papers in the world which I absolutely love judging by everyones reaction at the end my audience enjoyed the painting process too being right there with me for every mark I made, every step of the way! A fantastic experience for everyone! 

I'm so looking forward to the next event - it will be as equally awesome, I  can guarantee it!

Wednesday 17 June 2015

Ready, steady...gone!


Lovely to hear that two of my paintings recently delivered to Harrison Lord Art gallery in Brighouse, Kirklees, West Yorkshire have now gone to good homes!



Title: Snows Imminent
Media: Mixed black and white media on paper
Size: 24 x 22 inches
SOLD

Title: Pennine light
Media: Pastel 
Size: 12 x 18.5 inches 
SOLD

A great pro-active gallery in the heart of Brighouse, Harrison Lord have been running a very successful fine art business more many years under the directorship of Steven Harrison Lord.

The friendly team behind the Harrison Lord Gallery name all bring very special skills to the business to make the gallery such a respected and exciting business in the local area and much further afield too. 

The art gallery was founded in 1979 by brothers Jim & Steven Harrison-Lord and Gordon Taylor, springing from the family photography business which was founded by Bill Harrison-Lord in 1966.

With plenty of clients in London and America the gallery really does have a great sphere of influence. I'm delighted to contribute a little to their successes with the sales of the following paintings created deep in the Pennines with pastel and brush!

For further information about Harrison Lord Gallery and my exhibited art at the gallery please visit

5 Bradford Road,
Brighouse,
West Yorkshire,
HD6 1RW

T: 01484 722462

E: gallery@harrisonlord.co.uk

Final week!


Its been a great week so far with lots of attention and focus to a new collection of paintings recently delivered to 'The Headrow Gallery' in Alwoodley, Leeds which is great news.

Maxwell Roberts (the entrepreneurial gallery owner) knows a good thing or two when he sees it and as such I am really honoured to have been selected to have my work featured in the gallery once more to capitalise on our successes we had together at the start of the year also.

The new landscape collection of my work on display in the 'window to watch' features expressive contemporary paintings from around the region to include the north York Moors, the famous Ilkley Moor and Rombalds Moor in North Yorkshire , Pennine drawings, the East Coast and of course one of my favourite Dales - Swaledale (the painting in the white frame in the middle of the photo above created with mixed media...and lots of expression!

You'd not think you could get all of that 'landscape' into one window could you! Well, as you can see, with a really superb professional display by Max you can see he has! So much of Yorkshire in one window- amazing!

An even bigger surprise is the affordable prices of this award winning work with special terms for purchase which Maxwell will be happy to discuss with you.

The collection won't be hear for much longer though - the final week for this work to be seen altogether so, as they say in the advertising game 'this really is an opportunity not to be missed' to have an original of mine from some personal favourites at a great price from a superb gallery!


For further details about the gallery and the painting please contact:
Headrow Gallery
588 Harrogate Road
Alwoodley
Leeds 
LS17 8DP
West Yorkshire
United Kingdom

+44 (0)113 2694244
info@headrowgallery.co.uk


Fantastic news! My students are winning awards!

























Ros Gascoigne
'Seaspray'
Acrylic mixed media
27 x 27 inches (68.5 x 68.5cm)
Alpha Art shop Award at Patchings Art, Craft and photography Festival 2015 (Leisure Painter category).

Patchings Art, craft and Photography Festival 2015 at Claverton near Nottingham has been another great success for all who joined in, came to see the shows, demonstrations and share time with professional artists and enthusiasts alike.

Being there myself supported by 'The Artist' magazine and 'Canson' papers teaching seascape mixed media in two popular workshops on Saturday 6 June and also demonstrating for Canson (being one of their 2 chosen Ambassadors for the UK) in the main marquee was fantastic!

As added extra it was superb to get to know that one of my students Ros Gascoigne (also a member of the Harrogate and Nidderdale Art Club) had won a very special award with her expressive and impressionistic painting 'Seaspray' in the 'Leisure painter' category at Patchings this year! 

Needless to say we were both thrilled by the news! This is the second year on the running that my students and other artists who have attended my workshops have won awards at this prestigious art festival and I'm absolutely delighted about that!

Here is what Ros has to say:
"As one of your students thought I would let you know I got a painting accepted into the Leisure category of the Artist magazine competition at Patchings.  I was amazed! 
I definitely used some of the techniques you taught me!! It's mixed media.

Thanks a lot Robert!"

Here is Ros's superb painting and award and a link to the other award winners too at Patchings this year. Brilliant!

Anyone interested to join me for art courses, UK art holidays and exciting painting holidays in Spain for 2016 visit http://rdcreative.co.uk/art_holidays

Together we will create great successes for you and have lots of fun in the process!
Sharing and caring is what it's all about!

Friday 5 June 2015

In out, in out then...shake it all about!


It's all go at the mo!

Having just finished 2 successful popular residential art weeks at Rydal Hall teaching mixed media landscape techniques for 2 full classes with a weekend at home between, I'm off again tomorrow to 'Patchings Art, Craft and Photography' Festival 2015 at Calverton near Nottingham for two more days of exciting teaching and demonstrating for 'Canson' papers and 'The Artist' magazine!

What an honour! This year Canson have booked the main marquee at this prestigious event which seats well over 200 people for myself and fellow artist and UK Canson Ambassador Les Darlow for demonstrations celebrating the creative possibilities of these great French papers on Sunday 7 June.

My own demonstration will be using different black and white mixed media for a landscape subject on a large scale! This will be in direct contrast to the previous days full workshops using watercolour and pastel on the fantastic and responsive Moulin du Roy' 300gsm (140lb) high quality 100% rag content watercolour paper for morning and afternoon workshops on Saturday 6 June workshops!

I'm really looking forward to that - It's going to be fun teaching everyone just how fab the Canson papers are! It's going to be a fantastic and rewarding weekend for all!


'Gannet over the ocean'

Seascape mixed media using watercolour, gouache and pastel 
17 x 24 inches
On show at the Patchings, Art, craft and Photography Festival until Sunday 7 June '15


'Incoming storm' 

Mixed black and white media on Moulin du Roy 300gsm (140lb) 'Rough' 100% rag content watercolour paper. 
19 x 23 inches
On show at the Patchings, Art, craft and Photography Festival until Sunday 7 June '15








For more information about Canson papers visit http://en.canson.com/canson%C2%AE-brand/fine-art-range


For more information about 'Patchings Art, Craft and Photography' Festival 2015 visit http://www.patchingsartcentre.co.uk/patchingsfestival/patchings_festival.php

How great thou' art!

Nairn Art group with me on the steps of the main terrace gardens at Rydal Hall.
A great group of keen artists who made their way all the way down from Inverness in Scotland to be with me at Rydal Hall! I'm so honoured!

What a fabulous fortnight we have just had painting mixed media on two full back to back art weeks at Rydal Hall near Ambleside in Cumbria.

Teaching 12 students in two full classes each week has been so much fun and an absolute joy for all of us. Superb to see that everyone who joined both full board residential art weeks learnt lots of different creative painting techniques in superb Lakeland surroundings.


Mixing outdoor and indoor painting experiences in the local landscape close to Rydal Hall and in the magnificent grounds themselves, peaceful woodlands and well tended gardens was really exciting for everyone.

The 'all new' Rydal Hall (under the new direction of hotel Manager and Reverend Jonothon Green) is for Rydal Hall to maintain its history as a relaxing religious retreat whilst opening the doors to lots of other guests but without the strong 'bible thumping' message. 

In our care, the only thing that was thumping was the hearts and minds of everyone on each art week who learnt so much in such a short space of time in beautiful surroundings in a really great friendly place which left a really great lasting impression.

With lots of students travelling far and wide to come and join me on all the art holidays I'm very honoured, especially since enquiries and bookings are happening right now for next year's courses which are filling quickly which is fantastic!

The 3 new art holidays at Rydal Hall planned for 2016 receiving lot of attention already are:
Watercolour and Pastel mixed media - Lakeland Scenery
18 - 26 April 2016 

Watercolour and Pastel mixed media - Moving water, colourful flowers of Rydal Hall 
6 - 10 June 2016 

Watercolour and Pastel mixed media -  Lakeland Autumn colours
17 - 21 October 2016

Great value indeed for full board staying in such high standard accommodation in wonderful luxurious surroundings in in one of Lakeland's much loved historical halls for:
Residential price £340, (Full board)
non residential £180. (Full board)

For all enquiries and art holiday bookings at Rydal Hall contact:
Rydal Hall on 015394 32050
or email mail@rydalhall.org 

Rydal Hall, Rydal, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9LX.

Time flies so it won't be long really until I teach you all again. I'm looking forward to it already!