Black Irises

My black irises have been magnificent enough for me to get my paints out. I will be teaching students these drawing and painting skills as part of the Flora and Fauna mixed media summer school run in conjunction with Horsley Printmakers ( www.horsleyprintmakers.co.uk). The course runs from Thurs 11th - Sunday 14th August.

Overlap

Us Overlap artists are having a preview/ open evening on Monday 23rd May for an exhibition we have at Shepherds Dene near Riding Mill. It is not only a chance for you to meet the artists but also a rare chance to peek inside this beautiful Arts and Crafts house which is now a retreat centre. Details below.

Ben Nicholson

I have been researching Ben Nicholson's work in preparation for a still life course I am teaching in July ( its also fully booked I'm afraid). Here are my mixed media/ print making responses to his work.

Textile Collage

The Textile Collage workshop that I will be running at Horsley on June 25th is now fully booked and with a waiting list for places. If you were desperate to take part or if this date didn't suit you then don't worry I will be running other courses in the Autumn. Leave your email/ contact details in the comments box and I will get in touch with you when the dates are finalised.

Summer Breeze

Its good to be able to have the studio window open..........

Dyeing

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

Yesterday I went to THE GARDEN OF COSMIC SPECULATION at Portrack House in Scotland. This interesting garden was designed by Maggie Keswick and her husband Charles Jencks and is open once a year to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres. The garden is sculpted and controlled with earth mounds, lakes, bridges and architecture but I am not sure I really liked it much. I am more of a cottage garden sort of girl......

The natural landscape seems to be much more interesting and it was a joy to revisit a favourite coastal walk from Rockcliffe along to Portling and back.