A day off work today, partially spent in finishing off the locomotive portrait I’ve had on the go for the last couple of weeks. This is Ramsbottom’s London & North Western “Problem” Class, No 127 “Peel” seen later its life, though not yet fully rebuilt by Mr Webb (built 1862, scrapped 1905).
My latst railway portrait. This one is inspired by one of Ivo Peters’ photographs and show ex-GWR Castle, Hall and County classes awaiting their next turn of duty with a Standard 2mt tank in the distance – “Somewhere in England in the late 1950s”, or to be precise, Ivo’s original photograph was taken at Bristol Bath Road shed on the 16th of August 1959, though I’ve tried to capture more spirit than precise detail.
I’ve been moved to paint this by the present situation in the Ukraine. Who knows whether this building still stands, but it’s St Andrew’s church in Kyiv, a building which fairly embodies the national colours of a country which is in all our thoughts at the moment.
For something different – a painting of an early pillar box – the early Victorian hexagonal ‘Penrose’ type. An enjoyable exercise in realistic art.
“A Lady in Waiting” Time for another Locomotive portrait, I decided. Thiis one was done digitally again, but finished in a mixed media style – pencil, chalk and watercolour wash. This depicts one of the Great Western Railway’s Dean SIngles No. 3035, “Beaufort” waiting on shed in all splendour of her late Victorian livery.
“Golden Days – Leaving Cornwall” My latest painting, the Royal Albert Bridge in the 1890s. A combination of Railway and Landscape art. A change from my usual locomotive portraits – but railway art none the less. An express leaving Cornwall in the 1890s.
My latest digital painting. Wrightwick Manor, Near Wolverhampton, England. Built in Tudor Revival style late in the 19th century by the industrialist and paint Magnate, Theodore Mander. Donated to the National Trust by his son Geoffrey in 1937 when the house was less than 50 years old, it now houses a renowned collection of Pre-Raphaelite art.
Greater Albion Art and Design 