Trees and sunlight

Trees and Sunlight is an oil painting that was started on location and completed in the studio.

It depicts a group of trees bordering a field in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, captured in the afternoon when the sun was shining brightly on their foliage and the surrounding grass.

This strong backlighting created an atmospheric glow behind the trees in the foreground. As I was painting contre-jour, I found it difficult to see my panel clearly, so I worked en plein air as much as possible before finishing the piece in the studio, relying on my visual memory.

I particularly enjoyed the warm sunshine and loved capturing the light as it touched the still-green leaves and grass.

142.
Trees and sunlight
8 x 10 in / 20.5 x 25.5 cm
Oil on panel
13th October 2025

Photo taken on location.

Shed in green

 Sheed in green is a small study of the end part of my garden where the shed sits next to a lovely collection of flowers and pots.

102
Shed in green
4.6 x 6.6 in / 11.7 x 16.7 cm
oil on panel
15th August 2025

When the late afternoon offers you an interesting light.

Painting on the easel in front of the subject

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.

Not far away

Not far away is an alla prima plein air oil painting inspired by the Welsh landscape near where I live.

I set out intending to reach a field I often admire from my studio window. However, it turned out to be fenced farmland, and I should have asked permission to enter. Since the surrounding area was equally full of beautiful views, I decided to stop at a spot along the cycling and walking path, where I could take in a different view—one I can only just make out from my house.

93.
Not far away
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
26th July 2025

I'm always on the lookout for an intriguing landscape, and this was a perfect example. The play of various distances created a natural sipario beneath a magnificent sky.

This photo was taken during the early stages of the painting session at Ystradfawr Nature Reserve:

Photo taken during the painting session in Ystradfawr nature reserve.

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.

The blue lamp corner

The Blue Lamp Corner is an oil painting created using a limited palette. It depicts a corner of my living room where we keep documents, diaries, and various bits and bobs.

The main attraction, for me, was the old blue lamp, which I particularly love for its shape and colour.

91.
The blue lamp corner
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
24th July 2025

Below, you can see a monochrome photo of the painting. I like to take these at various stages of the process—this one was taken at the final stage and shows the tonal values in the image.

I have a particular fascination with monochrome paintings and photographs; I believe they add a personal character to the subject and a greater sense of directness.

Here, you can also see the painting photographed both at an early stage of the process and once it was completed.

Early painting stage

Finished painting

This painting was completed in a working session.

Tuning with nature

Tuning with nature is a landscape I painted two days ago en plein air at Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, looking towards Clydach.

Using softer and more natural tones, I aimed to capture a moment in time - conveying the energy of the wind and the vibrancy of moving grass and foliage.

I loved painting it and being there, in direct connection with the elements — especially as it rained, too.

89.
Tuning with nature
oil on panel
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
14th July 2025

Nature is so powerful — it lifts our spirits every time we truly pay attention.

More details of brushstrokes can be seen in this Instagram post

The picture below was taken at the end of the painting session.

The painting is available and can be fund in the shop of my website.

Stones and trees

Stones and trees is a plein air painting created within the grounds of Saint Cynog’s Church in Ystradgynlais.

It’s a subject I’ve always found fascinating here in the UK, where ancient graveyards steeped in history are part of everyday life.

Centuries-old trees provide generous shade, cooling hot summer days with a display of dappled lights on the ground, leading a peaceful atmosphere to the antique gravestones and meandering paths.

88.
Stones and trees
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
oil on board
12th July 2025

In this painting, my inspiration came from the combination of old stones and old trees—elements that, with their age and solidity, maintain their presence in our modern time. I painted it during a heatwave, so this spot, cooler and tranquil, felt especially inviting.

I mainly used small to medium brushes, and below are some details from the painting:

detail - gravestone 

detail - gravestones

detail - trees and foliage

I really enjoyed painting in this location, particularly because, as a churchyard, it remains actively connected to people’s everyday lives.

Photo taken during the painting session

Hosta in turquoise

This is a painting inspired by the beautiful turquoise colour of the ceramic pot.

It was painted in the alla prima style, and I needed two umbrellas to keep the sun off the panel and palette.

87.
Hosta in turquoise
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
oil on board
9rd July 2025

Photo taken during the painting session

A simple and minimal plant, which I find very beautiful and elegant.

Summer garden

Summer garden is an oil painting completed in two sessions. It features a part of my garden I particularly like.

86.
Summer garden
10 x 8 in / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
oil on board
3rd July 2025

The inspiration came from the summer colours of terracotta pots and the lush green of large nasturtium leaves. Combined with the contrast between the stone in foreground (the steps and the door dog) and the wood in background (the fence), it created the perfect subject for my painting.

Here you can see the first three stages of the painting process:

stage 1

stage 2

stage 3

This time, I also used a palette knife for some areas of the painting, which I enjoyed.

Here are some details:

Brushstrokes

Brushstrokes

Brushstrokes

Brushstrokes

palette knife used in the sky and roofs

I’m quite happy with this painting. I like the summery feeling it captures and the energy of a summer afternoon.

You can purchase it on my website. If you’d like to leave a comment or ask a question, I’ll be more than happy to respond.

Home from the back garden

Home from the back garden is an oil on canvas panel, completed yesterday evening during my second painting session.

85.
Home from the back garden
9.5 x 7.1 in / 24 x 18 cm
oil on canvas panel
19th June 2025

 

The subject was chosen to simplify the multitude of colours, shapes, and textures typically found in a garden and on the exterior of a house. I aimed to capture the scene in the late summer evening, when the sun is preparing to set—making the available time to paint both short and more challenging.

photo taken at the end of the first painting session

photo taken at the end of the second painting session

My objective is to be minimal and essential. I enjoy engaging the viewer—inviting them to actively interact with the painting by identifying elements and details that I have only suggested.

Let me know what you think.

The artist's studio

 When the weather isn’t suitable for painting outdoors, I turn my attention indoors. Here is my interior painting of the artist Graeme Sims at work in his studio, painted on 13th June 2025.

84.
The artist's studio
8 x 10 in / 20.32 x 25.40 cm
oil on board
13th June 2025

I’m really pleased with this painting, as my aim was to construct the image using brushstrokes placed with precision in both position and shape. Simplification and minimalism were my main objectives.

Below are some close-ups of the brushwork:

This painting posed an exciting challenge for me: a figure in a colourful interior illuminated by three sources of light—the window on the right-hand side, the ceiling light, and the green lamp on the desk.

If you are interested to purchase this artwork, it's available in my  online shop.