Just came across this drawing from 2007 when Gloucester, the City where I lived at the time, was more than knee deep in water. None of this was drinking water, that was cut off. No water came from the taps but Biblical amounts came from the sky. June 2007 was we were told at the time, a once in 100 year event, when it rained, then it rained even more, then it turned on a pump in the sky and it deluged down on us. “Toys r Us” the huge local toyshop since washed away financially, opened it’s doors at … Continue reading One inch away from evacuation…

I’ve had a plot, an allotment, for a while now and this year it’s had the benefit of a lot of neglect from me. Leaving it well alone has allowed a group of pink poppies to take over an area where I’d planted shallots. They look brilliant so thought I’d share this one with you. If I’d tried to grow them I’ve no doubt they would not have been as successful as they have been. That’s Comfrey with the blue flower in the background. Someone told me once that it can be a bit of a thug invader, which it … Continue reading Plot poppy

Pubs are disappearing at a rate of knots, and that comes as no surprise really when one things of the sea change in attitudes to drinking and even smoking. In the ‘good old days’ pubs kept pies in glass cases and never seemed to have any sell by date. There was probably so much salt in them that they may well have been preserved for years. In years to come someone will dig out the site of an old pub and will find a glass case complete with pork pie. It will be examined and dissected by future archeologists and … Continue reading Still life?

Continue reading Which one?

I keep pretty busy and I look busier than I am. It’s a few years since I had to earn a living from drawing related activity. So the temptation these days is to create my own self imposed work load and recently that has been light. Every now and again I get enthusiastic about an idea. I had one about haircuts of all things and did loads of drawings of the male haircut. I’m not sure quite why now, but it was fun to do. Names was another ‘thing’ and I have quite a lot of drawings in the desk, … Continue reading Am I in a creative rut or just bone idle?

My good friend and fine printmaker Rosalind, lives on Spetses and has made some wonderful prints of olive trees, so I m a little reticent about putting my own out there. The competition is a little on the hot side. No matter, here they my trees. I can’t remember now if these were from Crete or Spetses, Crete I think on a walking holiday. These trees are probably many years old and make a natural subject for almost any artist. Given that the light in these areas is bright and crisp it’s no wonder. Spetses is one of those Greek … Continue reading Olive Trees: I’m reticent about this.