I’m very proud of my home-grown sunflowers which are still flowering and look spectacular in the September sun, don’t try saying that without your teeth in. I was less pleased with the dahlia ( singular ) bulb that I had bought early in the season, at some expense. But then yesterday, there it was in all its glory. Not a mark on it. It obviously likes to bloom in private. Hope you like it too and that it cheers your Monday like it cheered my Sunday.           Continue reading September sun and the secret dahlia…

I’m a big fan of both and a keen Guardian reader, especially the Saturday version. Off to the Supermarket to get my copy and don’t quite know where to look. So I ask a helpful young man. I thought I said “Can you tell me where to find the newspapers please” and he just responds with the word: “Beetroot?” Now I know I’ve had a cold, a stinker, and my wife tells me I mumble, but how did I make newspaper sound like beetroot? Perhaps if I eat more beetroot I’ll see off the cold and my speech will improve. I asked the … Continue reading Newspapers or beetroot?

Joe and Jolien with Eleanor, after the ceremony and before the napkin waving!   Massive enthusiasm to party and a big appetite is a good start. That’s my handsome boy on the left looking ultra cool in his wedding suit. His beautiful bride and his sister complete the picture. So there we were in Leuven for the big event and discovering the Belgium is crammed full of cars and bikes. Some of these bikes can carry a small load, some a very large one. The cars are generally looking for somewhere to park when not filling the massive road going … Continue reading What to take to a Belgian Wedding…

I’m going to be doing a series of these for Cotswold Life magazine, which will be fun. This is the first. I’m sure you will know similar breeds in your area, but this particular one is very prevalent around the Kingsholm area of Gloucester and will soon be arriving in large numbers after their summer break.   For those of an interested nature here’s the rough version: Continue reading First of a new series…

This was the last of my exhibition drawings to sell as the event ended yesterday. I much enjoyed the week and hearing people chortling here and there was the icing on the cake. Having exhibitions is new to me and I’m hoping to take this one: The British Character, on to other venues. Hopefully next year and hopefully in another part of the country. Big thanks to all the people who visited, bought, or just looked and laughed. To see how the week went then take a look at these links: Last day of the show. Cartoons with a musical … Continue reading There it was, gone!

It’s been a good week, with over 300 people coming to my show over the week. Might even hit 400 if the small child on a scooter whizzing around the front of the building does not mow down the potentials. Just signed two business cards for a small child who asked me by saying: ” Have you got a pencil?” “Why no” said I ” but I have a pen, would you like me to do a little drawing for you?” “No? ” said she. “Just sign the card”. The price of celebrity. Boom boom!     Continue reading Last day of the show.

My chum Robin and his fellow songsters: The Gloucester Diamonds ( Their Facebook Page ) came along yesterday to entertain the visitors to my exhibition and a few random passers by, here in Cheltenham. This is just a short clip of the rendition and I was not the only one to thoroughly enjoy it. An apt song about John Bull for my show about the British Character. Two more days to go before I wrap it all up and pack it away. I’m looking now for other venues for it, perhaps somewhere up north would be good. Wigan would be a favourite as … Continue reading Cartoons with a musical accompaniment…

It rains a lot in the UK, and in my experience normally on a Bank Holiday or any Sunday when someone has planned an event. I found when I was half way through my drawings for the exhibition that I seemed to be drawing a lot of rain. Pont did a lot of rain too: That’s me talking about cartoons on the radio! I have drawn sunshine too and when it does shine there are few places to compare with Great Britain.   Today the sun has come out and I’m on the last few days of the exhibition, which as … Continue reading The view from the victoria sponge

You meet some funny people in an art gallery. Especially if you are exhibiting and looking after the place which is my present function. It’s like opening a shop in many ways. No one comes for ages then there are loads of people and then none again. Such was today and in came this chap who told me he’s been a picture restorer. He was naturally curious about how I work, so I told him, for those wanting to know more here then go here: Three stages of artwork, is it ever finished? No. He then proceeds to tell me all … Continue reading “I invented a dot”.

Thanks to all those who have come to my show so far. A bus party from Frinton on Sea boosted the figures but not the sales, but were lovely people and good material for more drawings. How they found me here is beyond me, but they did. Perhaps I’m now on the tourist map like Bourton on the Water or the Severn Bore. I’d hate to be a bore! I have another day ahead of me feeling like a shopkeeper as people wander in randomly or like and old friend of mine yesterday who heard me on the radio, and … Continue reading A quick tour of the exhibition.