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

Sunset From the Harbour

 Sunset From the Harbour is my first large oil painting on canvas.

It depicts the same seascape of the small version but with more freedom and flow.

I really enjoyed painting it, it was a liberating experience in terms of brush and colour marks.

162.
Sunset From the Harbour
Oil on stretched canvas
23.6 x 31.5 in / 60 x 80 cm
19th February 2026

Sea Sunset

 Sea Sunset is an oil painting I painted from previous studies on paper.

It features the sea view I saw when travelling by ferry in the English channel.

 

161.
Sea Sunset
Oil on board
8.3 x 11.9 in / 21 x 30.2 cm
14th February 2026

I liked those sunset colours reflecting both in the sky and the water, it is something you can experience only by being there.

Revisiting the Snowy Path, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve

This is inspired by a plein air study I made in January during a few snowy days.


I wanted to explore more fully the influence of colour, light and atmosphere I experienced on location, with the greater time and comfort that working indoors allows, while still keeping the spontaneity of loose brushstrokes.


160.
Revisiting the Snowy Path, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve
Oil on board
9.76 × 7.87 in / 24.8 × 20 cm
10th February 2026

Hilltop Trees

 Hilltop Trees is an oil painting featuring a view dear to me that I can see from where I live.

After a failed attempt because of the weather conditions, I returned a couple of days left to be welcomed by a lovely sunshine and beautiful cloud formations.

I loved the colours and the light.

159.
Hilltop Trees
Oil on board
6.1 x 8.2 in / 15.5 x 20.7 cm
4th February 2026

Photo of the painting on the easel outdoors

Grazing Sheep Under Cumulus Clouds, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve

 Grazing Sheep Under Cumulus Clouds, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve is an oil painting featuring exactly what the title says.

Started outdoors and finished in the studio. The aim was looking at the view in terms od shapes and colours to describe the scene as little as possible.

158.
Grazing Sheep Under Cumulus Clouds, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve
Oil on board
7.99 x 7.99 in / 20.3 x 20.3 cm
29th January 2026

photo taken on location

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.

Cluster of Rural Houses in the Nole Countryside, Italy

Cluster of Rural Houses in the Nole Countryside, Italy is another oil painting done in Italy by looking out from the kitchen balcony doors. I was intrigued by those countryside houses surrounded by fields and trees. It was a dull day.

156.
Cluster of Rural Houses in the Nole Countryside, Italy
Oil on board
5.98 x 9.76 in / 15.2 x 24.8
23rd January 2026

 It was painted with a limited palette of water mixable oil paint.