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

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.

Countryside walk

 I've just finished this oil painting, based on a photo reference I took in 2016.

82.
Countryside walk
7.8 × 11.8 in / 19.8 × 29.9 cm
oil on board
16th May 2025

I decided to call it Countryside Walk because that was the moment when I saw this beautiful natural composition. As often happens when I walk with my dog in nature, I’m easily drawn to the beautiful play of clouds in the sky and the shadows cast on the ground.

For me, movement, freedom, and fresh air are the essence of nature – elements I tried to capture in this painting.

Below, you can see some close-up details of the brushstrokes I used to convey this feeling:

the clouds in the sky

the trees trees on the right

the distant trees

the grass in the field

I began this painting in January 2025, then set it aside for a while. Here is how it looked at the beginning of the process – just the main blocks of colour:

Stage 1

And here is a more recent stage:

Final stages of this painting