Competing Artist

On Landscape Artist of the Year 2026
4th February 8pm

Mid-June saw me in the Lake District taking part in Heat 4 of Series 11 of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year at Crow Park Keswick Cumbria, with new judge Eva Langret, host Stephen Mangan and experts Tai Shan Schierenberg and Kathleen Soriano.

It was a long hot day, but I had the best time and one which I shall never forget. The judges were all really kind and so supportive, as were the amazing crew, who made us all feel so nurtured in the process.

I absolutely loved the experience of taking part and I really enjoyed painting all day en plein air in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District.

Such an experience to paint with people of all abilities, some professionals, some amateurs and some art students and to spend the whole day with the film crew and judges mingling with all the artists, filming and discussing.

I got so much from the day in terms of enjoyment and a great confidence boost, which I hope will encourage more of you artists out there to go for it!

The new series starts on Wednesday 14th January at 8pm on Sky Arts, Freeview Channel 36 and Now TV, with my episode on 4th February, but more than that I cannot reveal. Not even the painting!

In the meantime have a read about what's been going on by clicking the link below:

Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2026.

Pastel Society Exhibition

Excited as ever to share with you that two of my paintings, Apples on the Path and Before the Next Shower, have been selected for the Pastel Society 127th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries 21st January until 7th February 2026.

It is my 5th consecutive year and as ever the whole show exhibits energy, colour and a celebration of technique.

For more details on my paintings please see my Current Curated page.

All the selected works are available to view and purchase on the Mall Galleries website.

Pastel Demonstration

Experimental, Pastels into Paint

This was one of the demonstrations at my recent exhibition. A fun session illustrating the versatility of pastel as a medium, using it with alcohol to form paint, for a way of creating expressive and lively paintings.

The demonstration was loose and expressive and completely unlike pastel work, so quite interesting for people to watch, whilst showing people a start to finish piece of work.

Sue Owen kindly took photos of the demonstration, which accurately show the stages of the painting.

1. Having put pastel on the paper I then brushed alcohol all over it to make the paper quite wet and then manipulated the paper, moving it around to get the drips happening in different directions.

2. When that was dry, I started putting dry pastel over the top and building the layers of pastel colours.

3. When I had completed the dry pastel stage, the final stage was where I crumbled some pastels into a little container, which I then mixed with isopropyl alcohol. This turned into an opaque paint, which I then used quite wet, just dripping and splashing more colour onto the painting.

4. The finished "splashy" piece.

5. A pencil and a colour sketch and my test piece in preparation for the demonstration, with the piece on the easel I actually did during the demonstration.

These demonstrations were so well received, I plan to do more on Thursday mornings starting in February. No need to book, just turn up, grab a coffee and a cake in the café if you like and come along. Best way to find out when they are on is to sign up to my newsletter.

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