Packaging up some exclusive designs for a new Scottish Gallery.

For several months now I have been working on some exclusive designs for a new gallery opening in Kintyre, Argyll, Scotland called Coastal Design and at last its all done, packed and ready to travel to the other end of the country. The gallery will be opening next month and they have commissioned a landscape design from me, in various sizes and colour ways depicting Campbell Town Loch and Davaar Island. The different colour ways reflect the ever changing light and I hope I have captured something of the atmosphere of the coastline there. The panels are made using traditional leading techniques, I have acid etched grasses and rocks into the glass and most of the glass used is recycled and reclaimed waste glass

Lots of other goodies have been packaged up for the gallery too, including; large leaves in autumn colours, boat mobiles, beach huts and hearts so they have a mixture of my leaded and copper foiled pieces…..its a long way to go, I have my fingers crossed they will arrive safely!

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Fanfare please…..my new studio unvailed!

Bless my folks (there they are sitting down) who have spent the last fortnight either buiding me an extension to my existing workshop (Dad) or running around after my kids so I could catch up on some work (Mum). Both of whom did an amazing job. My Dad’s ability to make something out of nothing (a door and window from the recycling centre, some bits of wood, floorboards and sheet plastic) is a real skill. Our childhood’s were peppered with Dad’s various sheds, extensions to our house and other random building projects and when I ran out of space in the first one he built me he was happy to come and do the same again. Thank you Dad, I think you will agree he has done a fab job, as you can see we even let him have a day off for the Royal Wedding!

The extra space means I have a dedicated drawing area (looking out of the window onto our garden) a leading and cutting area, my light box is now usable cos its not covered in other work any more and I have a lot more storage. Due to the clear roof I have loads of natural light and it is a wonderful workspace, thanks so much Dad…now where was that list of things for you to do next time you visit???

Empty paint pot appeal!

Its the time of year when I start panicking about what to make for the TRAIL (Teignmouth Recycled ART In Landscape), which runs over the summer holidays from Shaldon to Dawlish. The exhibition is wonderfully inclusive, with submissions from local schools (pictured Sid the Seagull by Hazeldown School) and community groups to well known local artists and even international exhibits.

This year I am making a piece for which I need around 30 empty paint pots (or if its white or black paint they can still have paint in, I can use it on the sculpture)…keeping my idea under wraps for now so as to keep you all guessing what I am going to make (I bet you cant!). So if you are local and have some hanging about PLEASE contact me and I will

take them off your hands!

I was luck enough to win TRAIL last year with my boat sculpture and unfortunately I am the last winner to receive a prize as we have lost our funding this year, which is a shame. But the exhibition will go ahead anyway, thanks in so small part to the hard work and dedication of organiser, Liz Lockyear! Providing a wonderful free activity to get locals and holiday makers thinking about art and the environment in a fun way. Please come and have a look if you are in the area in the summer holidays.

The exhibition also uses the TAAG gallery for the indoor part of the exhibition, where the work changes from fun on the seafront to more serious art and some amazing pieces are available for sale, from small items of jewellery to large sculptures. It it not too late to submit a sculpture proposal to TRAIL, its a very friendly exhibition and you don’t have to be a professional artist to join in. Just click on the link to find out more

Fishy sky lights

I have just got back from installing 2 sky light panels to a wonderful apartment over looking the sea in Sidmouth

. My client’s dislike of their dull velux windows in the kitchen of their open plan living area

led them to contact me. The apartment is a large, light modern

building and I took inspiration for the designs from the artwork and pottery around the home. I did a range of designs, from beach huts reflecting some paintings in the lounge to fish inspired by some fabulous pottery.

I have used a very limited pallet of colours in the panel, but there are 10 different types of glass used in the panel in total as I have used a wide range of textures and translucencies. Some of the glass is almost opaque and uses lovely hand drawn yellow/orange and light blue glass and some has quite a deep textured pattern (glass makers call this a hammered surface) the range of textures will make wonderful coloured reflections on the floor and walls. Each fish has an eye made of white/black flashed glass which I have etched with an etching pen and acid etching creme which I have then stuck to the surface of the glass with glass adhesive to give an extra sense of depth and a playful touch.  The panels are fixed to the inside of velux windows with special stained glass fixing clips especially designed for this job and the windows have really lifted and brightened the space without overwhelming the room. Special thanks to my Dad (as usual), who very kindly fitted them for me!