Hydrangeas and Nasturtiums

 Despite the heat and the drought, this summer has brought a triumph of flowers in the garden, and I just can’t get enough of them.

What I particularly love here is the texture of the bricks we used for this flower bed. They’re so irregular and beautifully variegated, and when the sunlight falls on them, they’re a joy to look at.

Of course, the flowers are the main attraction, especially the hydrangeas. After starting out such a pure white, they gradually become dusted with delicate shades of pink – a transformation that’s hard to describe in words. In this painting, though, they hadn’t yet begun that change.

194.
Hydrangeas and Nasturtiums
12 × 9 in / 30.5 × 22.5 cm
Oil on board
21st July 2026

Penny Lane roses

 Penny lane roses was the attempt to capture the sunlight on these beautiful roses in the garden.

192.
Penny Lane roses 
8.9 x 10.8 in / 22.5 x 27.5 cm
oil on board
14th July 2026

Daisies in the garden

 Daisies in the garden is happy and sunny and I loved the contrast of colours and textures.

the painting on the easel in situ

189.
Daisies in the garden
10.2 x 8.9 in / 26 x 22.7 cm
oil on board
27th June 2026

Roses in the garden

Roses in the garden is the beginning of my study of roses. 

Painted all prima and in a rush to avoid the hot sun reaching me.

I like the immediacy and the hues.

187.
Roses in the garden
10 x 7.1 in / 24 x 18 cm
Oil on board
25th June 2026

painting on the easel on location during the heatwave

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

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

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

Prayer Plant on a Dull Day

 Prayer Plant on a Dull Day is an oil painting featuring my dear plant, a Maranta Leuconeura Erythroneura — was given to us as a thank-you present from our neighbours.

Thanks to this painting I discovered its characteristic: during the day the leaves lie open and flat, quietly catching the light. At night they fold upwards, as if in prayer for evening vespers — which is how it earned its common name: the Prayer Plant.

I painted this from life on a dull day when very little light was coming through the window, so I focused as much as possible on colour and texture to suggest movement and depth.

163.
Prayer Plant on a Dull Day
Oil on board
10 x 10.7 in / 25.5 x 27.1 cm
27th February 2026

Photo taken at the end of the painting session

Cup of Tea

 Cup of Tea is an oil painting I made in Italy and it was great fun.

I loved the play of colours and the sunshine from the window making colours warm and vibrant.

157.
Cup of Tea
Oil on board
5.79 x 7.83 in / 14.7 x 19.9 cm
25th January 2026

Also for this one I used a limited palette of water mixable oil paint and it was painted alla prima and from life.

Photo of the painting on the easel next to the real cup of tea.