No I'm not talking double dutch, apparently 'Daffadowndillies' is another name for daffodils! I thought it was such a fun sounding name for them that I've used it for the title of my painting this month, I'm also calling it a 'Marmite' painting because I'm not sure if I love it or hate it! I have tried to experiment with this painting, I've gone with my gut instinct and attempted to be bold and adventurous with it. I like certain aspects of it how it's turned out ie the daff

I wasn't sure if this painting was going to work, I was happy with the composition, I had a focal point (cottage) there is a lead in to the focal point (path), a big tree to the left of the painting balanced out with thinner, taller trees on the right, but I felt there was a lot of foliage and the light was a bit flat as it was a dull day but I was hoping the autumnal colours would make up for the lack of sunshine. However, still not sure if I was happy with it I decided to s

'The Witches' Cauldron' is the aptly named title of my painting this month just in time for Halloween. I managed to get away to Wales with my family this half-term holiday and I found a circular walk amongst the holiday cottage information which we decided to do on one of the days it wasn't actually raining! Although the cliff edge did get a little bit close for comfort at times it was well worth it, as the Pembrokeshire coastal scenery was stunning, we followed the winding c

Because of one thing and another it feels like an eternity since I last did a painting, I have finally been able to quite literally dust off my paints and create again, it was heaven and I have missed it. Hence this months painting which I've aptly titled 'Heaven on Earth', it is based on a photograph I took on an early December morning dog walk along Shanklin beach, Isle of Wight last year. I was attracted to paint this picture as I loved the way the sun's rays were poking o

Same reference photo, same board, same paint, same brushes, different outcome... My inspiration this month has come once again from one of my favourite spots on the Island Steephill Cove, Ventnor. These paintings were both created from the same reference photo which I took back on a very cold February afternoon this year, just after taking this photo it began to snow (sadly it didn't come to anything much to my daughter's disappointment!) I was attracted to the dramatic sky (

This painting didn't quite turn out as envisaged, I think some bits have worked out better than others for example the sky and the sea, I'm not so sure about the foreground sand and stream leading in though and I had a bit of a disaster trying to paint the stream see slide 8 it just wasn't working so I wiped it off! I've added some progression photographs as usual and the original reference photo which was my inspiration. #seascape #sunrise #appleysunrise #coastalpainting #c

I always start the year feeling really enthusiastic and optimistic and look forward to new beginnings hence this big, wide painting. Although I haven't finished it yet I have got further with it than I ever thought I would this month as I've found this size canvas (100cm x 50cm) a little overwhelming at times and it has been difficult to focus at the moment especially with homeschooling happening alongside. Other things I have had trouble with has been the lighting, where th

I considered it was about time that I created a painting from my home town of Shanklin where I live on the Isle of Wight. Most people know this view as Dunnose however my husband begs to differ and pointed out to me that the cliff is actually called 'Knock Cliff'. Well anyway I produced this painting and apparently broadly speaking the place-name element os in Dunnose can mean God (Celtic) the place-name element dun in Dunnose can mean fort (Scots Gaelic Irish) so I'm going