In 2013 I became interested in the life and work of the musician Kevin Ayers, (b. 16th August 1944, d. 18th February 2013). From his early recordings with The Wilde Flowers and Soft Machine in the 1960s up to and including his last album, The Unfairground (2007), Kevin’s unique basso profundo voice and poetic lyrics [...]
La Vieille Ecurie is a charming “Chambre des Hotes”, with a lively bar and restaurant. It is situated in the village of La Vachette in the Vallee de la Claree, near Briancon. In 2014 the current owners, Katie and Richard Fiander, commissioned me to make a winter watercolour painting of their establishment. “Something similar to [...]
In 2005, Mme Laurent, the owner of Hotel Plein Sud, commissioned me to make a large watercolour painting of the outdoor swimming pool and terrace area. The brief was to include some interesting details in the foreground, such as a table set for lunch, as well as the legendary Piste Luc Alphand in the distance. [...]
A springtime watercolour made from direct observation while standing on my balcony. I tried to keep the painting as spontaneous as possible and only sketched in the simplest of details in pencil. I worked quickly to capture the blossom on the cherry tree before it disappeared.
One of the views from the terrasse in my back garden, hence the slightly elevated position. The metal roofs with or without snow-stoppers are characteristic of the Briancon area. This painting was made completely from direct observation in three sessions. It was mid-afternoon towards the end of the summer. No photographs were needed and therefore [...]
This watercolour sketch was influenced by one of Claude Monet’s best loved snow scenes ‘La Pie’ or ‘The Magpie’. My painting was developed from a series of photographs and quick sketches which I made in Le Monetier-les-Bains on February 3rd 2015. I remember the day very well as the conditions were perfect for photography. A [...]
This is my first attempt to capture the ski terrain of Serre Chevalier. For technical reasons (coldness mostly) it’s difficult to work from direct observation outdoors in the winter. So photographs were the reference for this watercolour sketch of my daughter at Serre Ratier. You can see the ski lifts as well as the bars [...]
I started this watercolour in 2010 before the 15th century chapel was restored. I liked the red roses climbing up the trellis, the water trough and carved heads on the window ledge. The Chapelle Saint Jean Baptiste is a very impressive church for a small alpine village. The painting was slightly problematic from the beginning [...]
How lucky was I to find this wonderful house on wash day?! It is situated in the older part of Chantemerle, as you walk from the Eglise Saint Jacques down to the Guisane river. Alpine winters are so sunny that there’s no need for a tumble dryer and people just hang their sheets over the [...]
A real slice of Serre Chevalier history here. The idea came to me in October 2003 when the first snows of winter arrived early, turning the trees into sugar sculptures. A number of local characters found their way into this painting, notably Rick Lomas with skis (!) and also Gary the dog. The blonde lady [...]