Saffron Walden Open Studios 2014

Once again I took part in the Saffron Walden Open Studios over two weekends that were a bit damp round the edges but warmed by occasional sunshine. Several intrepid explorers joined me at The Spinney, Adverse Camber in the Tanglewood, and spent time in this enchanting other-wordly place, nestled in the green heart of the Essex countryside....

I showed new work including my Secret Garden series, the Ashagal logo and album cover artwork, plus new fairytale-esque artwork...

...some new and old favourites...

...ideas...

...and work in progress...

...plus a bit of fun...

Secret Garden

One of my favourite childhood stories is 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett. As many of you will remember, it tells the story of an orphaned girl who, together with her guardian's ill son, find and tend a garden hidden behind a locked door.

I love the idea of those first moments of discovery, with the child peering through the keyhole seeing a miniature, keyhole-shaped garden in need of a little care... 

My first painting ~ Discovery ~ is the neglected and overgrown garden as first discovered, beautiful in it's own way but sorrowful too...

Thereby follows the changes wrought by the children throughout the seasons as it flourishes...

 Spring...

 Summer...

 Autumn...

...and ending with a magical winter.


Each painting or print is mounted within a keyhole shaped window.

Mayor's Appeal Art Exhibition 2013

Last weekend I had a stall at the Saffron Walden Arts Trust's Mayor's Appeal Art Exhibition...

It was a wonderful event with a variety of artists exhibiting their work and many demonstrating techniques throughout the day. You can see pictures of the other stalls on the Trust's Facebook page here.

These photos are from the Preview evening with the Mayor giving a speech to open the exhibition...

I exhibited some new paintings, including 'Moon Balloon'…

…and others to be revealed soon, although you might be able to spot them in these photos...

I love a good Christmas tree, this is my Toadstool Yule Tree, which I could have sold several times over.

Received some wonderful feedback, doubled my sales on last year and had a great time meeting all the visitors. It was a great atmosphere, very busy and I'm looking forward to next years already!

The Little Witch Down Memory Lane

If You Go Down to the Woods...

I love the extraordinary colours in the wood....

...oranges and greens

...yellows...

...blues...

...browns and reds...

...pinks...

...golds and purples...

...golds...

and delicate whites.