Bella The Blue Merle Collie.

  We went off to West Wales to the Presceli Mountains today to visit old friends, intending to go for a bracing walk in the beautiful rugged countryside. Then the gales and rains came in torrents, so we stayed in, eating lovely home-cooked food and sharing delighful conversation. I had itchy fingers and really wantedContinue reading “Bella The Blue Merle Collie.”

Gone A Bit Grosz At The Hospital

I’m using some of the time I’m doing hospital and nursing home visits to catch  up with some sketching. It’s been stressful seeing people I care about so frail and ill, but there’s usually an upside to every situation if you look for it. One good thing is that it gives me a chance toContinue reading “Gone A Bit Grosz At The Hospital”

Watching From Waterstone’s.

  It’s been a funny old week, all the routines disrupted by the holiday and fitting in daily visits to elderly relatives in hospital and nursing home so today I fancied a bit of peace and quiet. My quiet place is Waterstone’s cafe in the bookshop in the old cinema in the city centre. IContinue reading “Watching From Waterstone’s.”

Xmas Day At The High Dependency Unit

An elderly relative went into hospital for heart surgery a few days ago and after a night in Intensive Care, he was transferred to the High Dependency Unit for intensive nursing. He’s doing well and will hopefully be transferred to a general ward in a couple of days but we’ve been back and fro visitingContinue reading “Xmas Day At The High Dependency Unit”

Wherever I Lay My Hat

  I try to sketch every day – don’t always succeed unfortunately but carrying a sketchbook and a packet of drawing pens in my bag helps to motivate me. I think it’s important to just get on with it and not worry too much about what it is you’re drawing. It may not be theContinue reading “Wherever I Lay My Hat”

A Load Of Mangy Scribblings.

When I was in Art College, back in the days of the dinosaurs 😉 we were told to keep a sketchbook and to put something in it everyday. What fascinated me at the time was the diversity of sketchbook styles and approaches amongst my fellow students. Some put as much effort into their sketchbook asContinue reading “A Load Of Mangy Scribblings.”

A Ghost In Charcoal.

Just came back from another Xmas curry. What is it about Xmas and curry houses? I’m going to be barrel-shaped at the end of the holidays at this rate 🙂 I’ve been clearing out my studio because I’m moving to a new, bigger studio over the road and I’m finding loads of work I’d forgottenContinue reading “A Ghost In Charcoal.”

The Big Apple Crumbled!

Some people think that The Big Apple is a nickname for New York City but we in Swansea know that it’s the name of a tiny little green concrete kiosk on the cliff above the sea in the Welsh fishing village of Mumbles. It was one of a hundred or so specially built in theContinue reading “The Big Apple Crumbled!”

Sheep Staring At Me!

  Someone asked me today what ‘continuous line drawing’ is. I use the technique a lot. What you do is draw with a good quality pen or pencil, one that gives a nice flowing line, and you try not to: a) lift your pen off the surface of the paper and b) look at yourContinue reading “Sheep Staring At Me!”

More Left Handed Shenanigans

I’m busy clearing out my studio at the moment to move to a new, bigger studio across the road and I’m using the opportunity to sort through and catalogue my work and also to be ruthless and bin stuff that doesn’t come up to scratch. I found this study and it’s more of the leftContinue reading “More Left Handed Shenanigans”