A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve

A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve is an oil painting featuring a walking path in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve that I have already painted last year from life in the summer.

I was really intrigued by the different colours and vegetation this season: lighter, brighter greens, little yellow flowers, and the sky peeking through the still quite bare trees.

Painted plein air.

174.
A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve
Oil on board
12 x 8.9 in / 30.5 x 22.5 cm
9th April 2026

A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve painting on the easel outdoors

Floral on the Windowsill

 Floral on the Windowsill is an oil painting featuring a bunch of softly faded flowers on the kitchen windowsill.

I liked the effect on light on different surfaces. Painted alla prima from life.

173.
Floral on the Windowsill
Oil on board
7 x 5 in / 17.7 x 12 cm
30th March 2026

Photo pf the painting next to the real vase of flowers

Arches, Light and Shadows

 Arches, Light and Shadows is an oil painting featuring the "Y Bont Aur” or “The Golden Bridge”, these monumental arches are what remains of the Ynyscedwyn Ironworks in Ystradgynlais.

I’ve always admired them when driving past, so I finally made the trip to see them a few days ago — just before the sun decided to disappear.

It was the cast shadows that really inspired me, creating a striking contrast against the fresh spring grass and echoing the rhythm of those majestic columns.

171.
Arches, Light and Shadows
Oil on board
8.2 x 6.2 in / 20.8 x 15.8 cm
23rd March 2026

Photo of the finished painting on the easel in front of the real arches

Bare Tree in the Spring Afternoon Light

 Bare Tree in the Spring Afternoon Light  is an oil painting done alla prima and from life in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve.

I was drawn to the water stream first and then I saw the tree and it looked to me as a good composition.

I aimed to be as minimal and simplified as possible.

170.
Bare Tree in the Spring Afternoon Light 
Oil on board
8.2 x 6.1 in / 20.7 x 15.5 cm
20th March 2026

Photo taken at the end of the painting session 

Clothesline in the Spring Light

 Clothesline in the Spring Light is an oil painting featuring my clothesline in the garden.

As the weather was good I decided to give it a go as aiming to simplify the scene and depicting the waving clothes.

Painted from life in two different sessions, thanks to two consecutive sunny days.

169.
Clothesline in the Spring Light
Oil on board
9.9 x 9.8 in / 25.2 x 25 cm
19th March 2026

Day 1

Day 2

Tulips in Lampshade Light

 Tulips in Lampshade Light is an oil painting featuring a bunch of tulips in a glass vase next to a blue lamp with the light on.

I loved the idea of using electric light to create nice colour and light effects. Painted alla prima and from life.

168.
Tulips in Lampshade Light
Oil on board
8.3 x 6.1 in / 21 x 15.5 cm
16th March 2026

Photo taken at the end of the painting session

Tulips in the Gloomy Light

 Tulips in the Gloomy Light is painted from life during a dull day. It is the interior of my living room and the subject are actually the tulips in the vase as they bring colour to the scene.

I tried to simplify and say enough. Painted alla prima and from life.  

167.
Tulips in the Gloomy Light
Oil on board
9.8 x 7.9 in / 24.8 x 19.7 cm
14th March 2026

Photo of the finished painting on the easel

Daffodils in the Garden Pot

 Daffodils in the Garden Pot is an oil painting done from life and alla prima.

My focus was capturing the Spring flowers in a simplified way.

166.
Daffodils in the Garden Pot
Oil on board
9.8 x 7.8 in / 25 x 19.8 cm
9th March 2026

Photo of the painting on the easel and its subject

Spring Is Coming

 Spring Is Coming is an oil painting capturing the freedom of some daffodils out in the garden.

I really wanted to capture their bright glow against the shaded cement and bric fence and the foliage.

Painted alla prima and from life.

165.
Spring is Coming
Oil on board
8 x 7.8 in / 20.2 x 19.9
4th March 2026

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Photo taken at the end of the painting session when the light had already moved

Prayer Plant in the Sunshine

 Prayer Plant in the Sunshine is an oil painting featuring the Maranta Leuconeura Erythroneura plant lit by the sunshine coming from the window behind. 

Painted from life.

I loved the glow all around the plant and the table surface.

164.
Prayer Plant in the Sunshine
Oil on board
9.8 x 9.8 in / 25 x 25 cm
1st March 2026

Photo of the finished painting next to the plant

The Country Lane

The Country Lane is an oil painting depicting a lane I discovered a few days ago behind Callwen Church, in the Upper Tawe Valley.

I was drawn to its rural atmosphere and the gentle, meandering course of the little road winding through this peaceful countryside.

143.
The Country Lane
10 x 8 in / 25.5 x 20.5 cm
Oil on panel
19th October 2025

I like it when the colours reflect those found in real life.

Photo at the end of the painting session on location

SUMMER GARDEN

Summer Garden represents the peak of our first year of gardening, when the plants and flowers we planted earlier in the year reveal their full summer beauty.

In this alla prima oil painting, I wanted to capture what I think is the nicest part of the garden (for now), thanks to the slightly curved stone steps that lead from the patio to the lawn.

The corner they form with the short back wall is the perfect spot for this terracotta-coloured pot. Its delicate, slightly pinkish flowers are pretty little bursts of colour that bring joy to the viewer.

The cast shadows and the brightly sunlit parts of the wall added that extra touch of interest and gave me the inspiration to capture the scene as quickly as possible.

146.
Summer Garden
29.7 x 21 cm / 11.7 x 8.3 in
Oil on wooden panel
31st August 2025

Here are a few photos taken at the end of the painting session.

A monochrome photo of the painting

Photo taken at the end of the painting session.

The triad

 The triad is a still life featuring three objects I love: a blue vase, an onyx jar, and a small shining bottle.

101
The triad

8 x 8.7 in / 20.3 x 22 cm

Oil on panel
14th August 2025

I was inspired by the different kind of material and their relation with the light.

The finished painting on the easel

Woodland footpath

Woodland Footpath is an oil painting completed within a limited timeframe of two hours — and in full sunlight.

100.
Woodland footpath
7.9 x 9.8 in / 20 x 25  cm
oil on panel
12th August 2025

It features a hidden footpath descending to Penrhos that I discovered by chance.
I like the meandering line winding around the gentle slope where a lonely tree stood.

The scene is in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, Ystradgynlais.

Edge of the Woods

Edge of the Woods is a painting particularly dear to me, as it captures an idyllic vision of the Welsh countryside, with trees lining a gently descending slope.

99.
Edge of the woods
6.5 x 9.4 in / 16.4 x 24  cm
oil on panel
11th August 2025

I painted it while it was raining, and I loved the peace and tranquillity of the place. It’s located in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve and depicts the countryside between the woodland and Penrhos.

It was completed in a single painting session.

Hydrangea and goblin

Hydrangea and Goblin is a still life I chose to paint because of the flower itself.

This hydrangea ended up in a vase only because it had been damaged by bad weather in the garden. It’s actually the first flower of this kind we've had — and I’ve always wanted to paint hydrangeas, so this felt like the perfect opportunity.

97.
Hydrangea and goblin
16.6 x 24.5 cm / 6.5 x 9.6 in
oil on panel
7th August 2025

I carefully arranged the composition by placing the two subjects on my living room windowsill.

I particularly liked how the light reflected on the various surfaces, as well as the outdoor background.

Photo taken at an early stage of the painting.
In background: The Lioness by Graeme Sims.

Walking path

Walking path is an oil painting created on an overcast day, when the light was flat and diffused.

I was exploring open land in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, and this is the scene I chose to paint.

96.
Walking path

5.9 x 10.9 in / 15 x 27.7 cm
oil on panel

6th August 2025

This walking path crosses a beautiful stretch of farmland, and many people enjoy strolling there. The two figures I added in the painting are actually a couple who live on the same road as I do.

Picture taken at the end of the painting session.

I liked the idea of using an elongated panel for this landscape — it felt like a fitting format to reflect the path's gentle flow through the scenery.

Summer afternoon bird bath

When there is a striking interplay between light and shadow, I cannot help but be drawn to it.

This is exactly what I felt when I saw the sun’s rays casting shadows on the white wall and across the patio floor.

95.
Summer afternoon bird bath
10.5 x 11 in / 26.6 x 27.9 cm
oil on panel
5th August 2025

This is an alla prima painting, which means it was completed in a single session — something I am currently striving for.

To capture the subject with freshness and immediacy, I aim to finish each piece in just one sitting. This approach helps me avoid becoming overly concerned with details.

Photo taken at the end of the painting session

This oil painting is on a hardboard panel that I cut myself, as part of an effort to repurpose materials already available in my studio. That’s why the edges aren’t perfectly straight.

Home

Home is an interior oil painting I created from direct observation while standing in my living room and looking towards the kitchen.

I was drawn to the contrast between light and dark created by the wall and door dividing the two spaces, with the French windows at the back revealing the garden outside—the source of the light and colour.

94.
Home
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
1st August 2025

It took two painting sessions to complete this piece, but it was worth it.

Photo taken at an early painting stage.

I enjoy combining nature with interior scenes, as it brings a sense of liveliness, naturalness, and happiness to the work.

Sunflowers

Now that our sunflowers are in bloom, I really wanted to capture their beauty with a close-up of two of them.

92.
Sunflowers
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
26th July 2025

It was a bit of a challenge painting them from a low angle, looking up, with the bright sunlight hitting both my panel and palette. To cope with this difficulty, I painted the entire time while holding an open umbrella in my left hand. It was also a windy day, so painting wasn’t exactly easy — but I loved it and enjoyed being fully in the moment.

Here is a photo taken on location during the painting session.

Photo taken in situ during the painting session.