Devizes, Wiltshire

A few years ago we lived in Devizes, Wiltshire - a market town with some interesting old buildings.  The Kennet and Avon canal runs through it - a pleasant feature.  There's also the well-known Wadworth's Brewery - which still uses lovely horse-drawn drays for deliveries to local pubs!  

I'd returned to producing pen and ink drawings at the time - and was lucky enough to be able to sell my work in the town's Visitor Centre and antique shops.  Looking back at them now it's obvious, from the neat and tightly detailed drawings, that my heart really wasn't in it.

We subsequently moved out to one of the surrounding villages.  We sometimes still use Devizes' shops - the town centre, being fairly well protected, looks much the same.  Alas the outskirts are going the same way as many other places and expanding rapidly.  Vast swathes of surrounding countryside are disappearing beneath concrete to build sprawling housing estates.  The downsides of these so-called 'developments' are obvious - but on the plus side it does bring new people with fresh ideas into the town - which can only be a good thing.

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Crammer Pond and the Green, Devizes - pen on watercolour paper

St. John's Street, Devizes - pen on watercolour paper

Loe Bar, Cornwall

Just outside Porthleven is Loe Bar - a bank of sand and shingle which separates the freshwater lake Loe Pool in the Cober Valley from the sea. Many centuries ago boats were able to travel from the coast up the river Cober as far as Helston.  Over the years the tides and storms have deposited more shingle on the bank enlarging the bar and forming the lake behind it - completely cutting off Helston from the sea. 

It can be a treacherous place at times - storms with massive waves are frequent, and the shingle bank can be slippery.  Swimming here is definitely not advisable!  Seems hard to believe from these pictures though - it was a mild, bright October morning and, with the exception a couple of people walking their dogs, I had the beach to myself.

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Walking towards Porthleven - acrylic on canvas

Waves over Loe Bar - acrylic on canvas

The Old Customs House - Porthleven, Cornwall

A few years ago we were living in Helston, Cornwall. I'd been successfully exhibiting and selling my paintings in The Old Customs House in nearby Porthleven.

I'd known the area around the Lizard since the age of 7 - having spent many happy summers on Trevitho Farm in Mullion.  Before living in Helston much of my work was fairly precise, detailed line drawings and soft watercolours - but Cornwall's dramatic coastline and unique light demanded a different approach and I began experimenting with acrylic paints.  

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The Institute, Cliff Road, Porthleven - acrylic on panel

Dusk at Polurrian Cove, Mullion - acrylic on panel

Acrebury

My first commission from the mid 1990s.  A series of pen and watercolour pencil drawings depicting Acrebury - the eponymous fictional village in BBC Wiltshire's daily radio drama serial.  

Its creator, Gerry (who wrote, produced AND performed all the parts himself!) gave me descriptions of his imaginary locations  - which I had to interpret visually.  

The results were finally produced as a series of framed prints, cards, mugs and even a wrapper for bars of soap (play on words - Acrebury soap for Wiltshire . . .!).  They were presented to listeners as competition prizes when the series celebrated its 1000th episode.

Two things strike me about it now: firstly how detailed my work was in those days - and secondly - what a long time ago it all was!

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Acrebury Green Farm

St. Mary the Virgin Church

Village Stores and Tearoom

Boar's Head Inn