LARRY the English Springer Spaniel looking magnificent and very ‘at home’ in this muddy backdrop!

I loved doing this portrait and leaving much of the tonal ground and its texture untouched. It’s always a treat to be able to paint a landscape around a portrait…a reminder of a time and a place as well as a much loved pet.

I’ve just finished teaching a 2 part online course for @ardingtoncrafts where we’ve been exploring the importance of creating and maintaining strong Notan designs in our paintings.

12” x 12” oil on board

12” x 12” oil on board

8” x 8” oil on board

Limited palette of muted tones - maintaining pre-planned values (Notan). Notan is the study of ‘light/dark harmony’.

A post Christmas warm-up painting from a chilly St Ives. We’ve collected many a shell on this beach - and it’s great for sea glass too!

‘Mother Nature’ never fails to impress me…this flower was perfection.

The second the two beautiful Feline bookends painted as Christmas gifts. A ginger female is a rare thing!

One of two Feline bookends painted as Christmas gifts.

I was really trying to keep Leia’s youthful, fluffy and puppy-like appearance in this portrait. it was fun to get the odd Hydrangea in too!

So Pretty - Lyla the Cockapoo is as cute and innocent looking as a Teddy Bear here! Painted for friend and fellow Artist ‘Ed Nash’.

What a trio these guys are! I struggled to fit all three dogs on such a small board and still work loosely but I’m really happy with the finished piece.

Sometimes it’s more about the body shape than the facial features. I love this dreamy pose and I wanted to make the sofa look like Bailey was asleep on a soft cloud :)

It’s all about the legs here! A lovely composition to fill the rectangle.

Remembering a much loved loyal companion.

Gotta love them! What characters this pair are - out for a woodland walk!

Experimenting with incorporating a line drawing border with a close up of the flowers themselves.

I love the way the body is slumped in this relaxed pose showing off those beautiful big paws. It’s a great angle to get a shot from if you want more than just the face in the picture.