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.
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| 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.
Sky and Land is a landscape painting created on a portrait-oriented panel.
What drew me in was the striking relationship between the vast, cloudy sky and the land beneath it.
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| 98. Sky and land 9.8 x 5.1 in / 25 x 13 cm oil on panel 9th August 2025 |
This view is from my garden, looking between two rows of Welsh cottages in Ystradgynlais.
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| Photo of the painting during the painting process. |
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.
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| 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.
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| Photo taken at an early stage of the painting. In background: The Lioness by Graeme Sims. |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
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| 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.
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| 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 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.
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| 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.
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| 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 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.
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| 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:
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| Photo taken during the painting session in Ystradfawr nature reserve. |
Now that our sunflowers are in bloom, I really wanted to capture their beauty with a close-up of two of them.
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| 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.
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| Photo taken in situ during the painting session. |
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