The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness has certainly taken hold recently. September in the studio started with summer roses and ended with autumn food.
Spetchley Park Gardens
Our pending move from Worcester marked the end of three and a half glorious years at Spetchley Park Gardens. I am hugely grateful to Spetchley Gardens particularly Henry Berkeley, the owner, Sarah Bird as well as the gardeners and visitors for all their support and encouragement in my work during that time. Spetchley has been a special place and a constant source of inspiration for me. I will still visit and I hope have exhibitions there, so I am not losing touch completely. My successor is Steve Allen of Creations from the Cotswold Studio, who will bring a completely different take on the beauty of Spetchley.
New Paintings
Rose Bowl, oil painting on framed circular canvas framed in a natural wood frame. Framed size 17.5 inches/44cm diameter. For sale. Price £475
I am drawn to how a circular shape changes perspectives and the dynamics of a painting. This is my first actual tondo painting on a circular canvas. The painting began with some stunning David Austin roses from the Ombersley Flower Farm. This pastel kaleidoscope of colour is framed in its own wooden frame and is ready to hang. The frame is unpainted wood which can be varnished or painted a colour to suit a collector.
Mousse au Chocolat et Orange, oil painting on fine linen canvas, (12×16 inches/30x40cm). Framed in a black frame with a gold liner. Price £450 now sold
I now move into a new collection of work on some of my favourite foods. The list is long so it could be a large collection. The first is one of my favourite desserts. The painting began with the purchase of this fluted Royal Worcester cup. The painting celebrates this decadent dessert and is a playful take on the raw ingredients, reflective surfaces and dancing shapes.
Fig harvest, oil painting on board. 9×12 inches/23x30cm. Framed in a white wood frame. Price £350
I love painting figs and their subtle colours. This still life uses a limited palette of purples and greens and is part of a series of autumn fruit paintings.
Exhibition
October 3rd-16th at Sixteen Gallery Montpellier, Cheltenham. Postcard exhibition. The gallery asked its artists to produce a postcard sized (on panel) piece of artwork to display in the gallery during the Cheltenham Literary Festival. There will be several hundred of these works on display and viewers can guess the artist. All are priced £50 with £5 going to local charities. I think it will be obvious which is mine and it is signed on the back. Do go and support this fun event if you are in the area.
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With best wishes,
Nicola