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Absolutely NOT a David Hockney!

Absolutely not a David Hockney- but my own painting of Northumberland. When I was a 3D Design student at Manchester Poly, I remember one of our metal working tutors telling me that he'd been in the same year as David Hockney at the Royal College of Art. After graduation when everyone was clearing out their studio spaces, David H went from room to room with a bale of his prints offering free copies to fellow graduates. My tutor revealed how he'd  exasperatedly replied, "For goodness sake David- chuck them in the bin like everyone else!" Years later I met the sister of a colleague- who had been in the very same group of Art students at the RCA. Totally unprompted,...

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Three's Company

One day I had a visit to the gallery from a lovely couple, who I recognised as soon as they  entered. But it took me a few moments to place them in my mind and to realise that the reason I knew them was because they'd bought a triptych from me a couple of years ago.    It's one of my own favourite views- a wide sweeping vista from Flotterton, which takes in the pattern of fields sloping down the hillside towards Rothbury on the left; the glittering lakes of Caistron, ploughed fields and distinctive peak of Simonside in the centre section; then the exuberant heather hills of the Simonside hills on the right. Regardless of the weather, season or time of...

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Life Changing Art

“You entirely changed our lives you know.” The words of my customer took me by surprise. She went on to explain that over a year ago she and her husband had bought a copy of my print “Waiting for the Next Leaf to Fall”. At the time I'd explained that the scene I had painted was of autumnal trees behind Harbottle Castle, near a kink in the River Coquet, known as “The Devil's Elbow”. So after leaving the gallery, they had immediately gone to see the place for themselves and enjoyed a wonderful walk. Once home, my print was hung in their sitting room and often when they looked at it, they said to one another “What are we doing...

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The Magic of Northumbria

One bright June I was commissioned to paint a view of Cheviot from Corby Crags- but including Hill Head Farm near Edlingham. This was to be a very special retirement present for the owner of the farm, who was retiring in July after years of being a very popular school secretary.     It's a massive, iconic view and there were a number of logistical problems about capturing a view at the right time of year to show the farmhouse, which is obscured by foliage on the trees in the garden during spring and summer. It was a difficult painting to create- not least because of the scale and complexity of the landscape, but also because it was commissioned and paid...

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