This page is a store-room for all my sketches and works on paper. All are either drawn/painted ‘en plein air’ or from a live model. Some go on to be framed and sold as works on paper and others are used purely for reference.
Mediums vary depending on the subject and how much I can carry (or remember) to take with me!
(Pictured above: Working plein air high above the Dwyryd Estuary near Harlech, North Wales)
Acrylic and graphite study. 30 minutes
Acrylic and graphite study. 20 minutes
Graphite line study. 5 minutes
This and below… Repeated studies of the same subject, approached in a variety of different ways to explore line, form, simplification and exaggeration.
Sketching at Spurn Point
Spurn Point. Watercolour and graphite
Spurn Point. Charcoal and chalk
Spurn Point wind turbines. Charcoal and chalk
Spurn Point. Charcoal and chalk
Shadows from the dune grasses dance on my sketchbook
20-minute study in charcoal
2-minute study in pastel
20-minute study in pastel and chalk
20-minute study in pastel and chalk
20-minute study in pastel and chalk
20 minute pastel study
15 minute pastel study
15 minute pastel study
10 minute graphite study
10 minute graphite study
Line study for painting
Black pastel study
Charcoal and chalk study
Graphic study
Charcoal and chalk on brown sugar paper
10-minute study in charcoal
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
5-minute studies in water soluble graphite
Littondale. Graphite and watercolour
40-minute acrylic study on canvas
30-minute charcoal study. Early evening light cast deep shadows and golden light
40-minute charcoal study. Proportions a bit out, but nice chair!
5-minute studies in charcoal
Study in charcoal
Study in charcoal
Study in charcoal
Study in charcoal
Study in charcoal
Study in charcoal
Study in charcoal
Study in charcoal
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
Study, cropped. I like this crop. The body is like a landscape
40-minute study in charcoal and chalk
40-minute study in charcoal and chalk
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
40-minute study in charcoal and chalk
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
St Mary’s Lighthouse, near Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Black charcoal pencil and chalk
St Mary’s Lighthouse, near Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Notes and scribbles. Black charcoal pencil and chalk
St Mary’s Lighthouse, near Whitley Bay, Northumberland. From the dunes. Black charcoal pencil and chalk
St Mary’s Lighthouse, near Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Graphite and watercolour
Life study in charcoal, concentrating on line and shape
Life study in charcoal, concentrating on line and shape
10-minute study in graphite
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
20-minute study in charcoal and chalk
5-minute graphite study
20-minute studies in graphite
5-minute studies in graphite
20-minute studies in graphite
Sennen Cove. Early morning – quick acrylic sketch looking out to Cape Cornwall
Sennen Cove. Morning colours
Sennen Cove. Early evening reflections on the beach
Sennen Cove. Early evening reflections. Looking towards the Lookout and Longships Lighthouse. Those lilac skies…
Sennen Cove. Early evening reflections on the beach
Sennen Cove. Drawing on the beach
View towards Sennen Cove village from the back, looking towards Longships Lighthouse and the Lookout
Sennen Cove. Quick sea colours study – early morning.
Sennen Cove. Colours at noon
Sennen Cove. Bright noon on the beach and the scene is tinged with lilac.
Sennen Cove. Looking towards Cape Cornwall from the beach at noon
Sennen Cove. View towards Lands End from the cliff tops
Sennen Cove. Sunrise
Sea colours at Nanjizal
Sea study – currents
Rain over the Isles of Scilly
Sennen Cove. Optimistically called ‘Morning Sea Mists’, this day turned out to be a total white-out. Definitely fog!
Nanjizal
Cliff-top plant studies
Sennen Cove. Looking down to the beach – early morning
Sennen Cove. Gorse and heather on the cliff tops. The colours are bright and surprising
Golden light – sunrise over the Sennen Cove hills
Enys Dodnan – a distinctive rock formation between Lands End and Nanjizal. Longships Lighthouse in the distance
Sennen Cove. Study from the cliff-tops, looking towards Longships Lighthouse
Sennen Cove. Cliff-top flowers – sea thrift, sea campions, coltsfoot, heather and plantain were dominant.
Sennen Cove. Churning sea over rocks
Arfer the seagull flew off before I could finish painting him!
Quick 5-minute study in graphite. Love this pose!
Heather moor and wire fence at Black Hambleton. Acrylic and graphite on paper
Hawnby Hill. Acrylic, gouache and graphite on paper
Heather moor and stones at Black Hambleton. Acrylic, gouache and graphite on paper
Moorland track. Acrylic and graphite on paper
Easterside Hill. Acrylic, gouache and graphite on paper
Half-hour study in charcoal and chalk. A1
Quick, 5-minute foot study
30-minute study
Chalk and charcoal study. 10 minutes.
10-minute study
3-minute studies
30-minute study. Chalk and charcoal
10-minute study
10-minute study
10-minute study
3-minute studies
Ripening cherries on the ivy wall. Graphite and watercolour
Summer border in the Avenue. Graphite and watercolour
Sketching at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Sweet peas. Graphite and watercolour
2-minute study
2-minute studies
2-minute study
20-minute study
Two minute study in graphite
Two minute studies in graphite
Eryngium studies at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
White eryngiums. Colour study at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
White eryngiums. Black and white study of shape and contrast at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Crab shell, mussel and seaweed study
Blue eryngiums at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Hot red and purples at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Ornamental Hogweed at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens on a hot day in June
View from Llandecwyn Church, over the estuary and Ynys Gifftan
View from Llandecwyn Church, over the estuary and Ynys Gifftan
Trout! Acrylic on paper
View from Ynys Gifftan, towards the estuary bridge
View from Ynys Gifftan, towards Portmeirion
View towards Llyn Peninsula from Llanfair beach
Acrylic colour study for commission of Cadir Idris range from Tal y Llyn
Panoramic study for commission of Cadir Idris range from Tal y Llyn
Wet weather study for commission of Cadir Idris range from Tal y Llyn
Ynys Gifftan colours (and beetle!)
Foxgloves, reeds, bracken and thorns
The lake with foxgloves
The lake with foxgloves
View from the bedroom window. Composition and line study
Welsh weather! Acrylic on paper
Hot weather haze
Oak tree
Panoramic view from above Llandecwyn, looking over to Ynys Gifftan, Llyn Peninsula and Snowden range
Storm. Acrylic on paper
View towards Llan Ffestiniog
View towards Llan Ffestiniog after rain
View towards Llan Ffestiniog
Misty view over estuary towards Portmeirion and Ynys Gifftan
Misty view over estuary towards Portmeirion
View from Ynys Gifftan, towards Portmeirion
Oilseed rape and pilons. Acrylic on canvas board
Reclined. Charcoal study
Crawling. Charcoal study
Charcoal on paper
Graphite study
5-minute graphite studies
Reading. Charcoal study
Stretching. 5-minute graphite study
Standing. 5-minute graphite study
Striding. 5-minute graphite study
8 minute charcoal study
Bantam with attitude at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens – I love the shape of chickens!
Bantam head study at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Funky chicken (Silkie) at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Eating worms at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Chicken shapes at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Snowdrops at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Witch Hazel at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Winter grasses and seed heads at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Snowdrop Walk at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Crocuses in the lawn at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens
Rae, charcoal
Near Vixen Tor, digital sketch on tablet
Vixen Tor, Dartmoor
Vixen Tor, Dartmoor
Near Vixen Tor, Dartmoor
Near Vixen Tor, Dartmoor
Vale Down, Dartmoor. Digital sketch on tablet
Vale Down, Dartmoor. Digital sketch on tablet
Vale Down, Dartmoor. Digital sketch on tablet
Vale Down, Dartmoor. Digital sketch on tablet
Stephen portrait in water soluble graphite
Squatting. Graphite
Reclined. Graphite
Graphite and chalk on pulpboard
Donderdag life drawing. Water soluble graphite and water colour
Donderdag life drawing. Water soluble graphite
Donderdag life drawing. Water soluble graphite
Donderdag life drawing. Water soluble graphite
2-minute studies in graphite
Cold and windy Widemouth Bay
Widemouth rocks
Taking human for a walk! Widemouth Bay
Walking into the wind. Widemouth Bay
10-minute sketch. Dr Sketchy’s ‘Strictly’ night
10-minute graphite study
10-minute graphite study
10-minute graphite study
10-minute graphite study
Graphite and acrylic on paper
Experiments with quick mark-making. Graphite and acrylic on paper
10-minute graphite study
1-hour acrylic study on paper
5-minute graphite study
5-minute graphite study
3 minute graphite study
Dr Sketchy’s Stephen King night! Twins from The Shining
Dr Sketchy’s Stephen King night! Pennywise from IT
Dr Sketchy’s Stephen King night! Carrie
Dr Sketchy’s Stephen King night! Carrie
Dr Sketchy’s Stephen King night! Dracula from Salem’s Lot
Dr Sketchy’s Stephen King night! The twins from The Shining
Breakers. On the beach looking towards Cape Cornwall. More sketches from this sketching trip can be seen here, on the blog page.
Hole of Horcum. Graphite and watercolour
Hole of Horcum. Graphite and watercolour
Hole of Horcum. Graphite and watercolour
Hole of Horcum. Graphite and watercolour
Hole of Horcum. Graphite and watercolour
Dr Sketchy’s – Salty Sea Dogs and Watery Wenches. Parrot girl
Dr Sketchy’s – Salty Sea Dogs and Watery Wenches. Mermaid burlesque
Dr Sketchy’s – Salty Sea Dogs and Watery Wenches. Pirate in fishnets
Dr Sketchy’s – Salty Sea Dogs and Watery Wenches. Captain Jack
Colourful army boot planters at RHS Harlow Carr
Peas in the veggie garden, RHS Harlow Carr
Under the Rhodos, RHS Harlow Carr
Allium and globe artichoke, RHS Harlow Carr
Allium and buds in the veggie garden, RHS Harlow Carr
Penmon Lighthouse, Anglesey. Composition sketch
Penmon Lighthouse, Anglesey. Detail sketch
Dunstanburgh Castle from Low Newton, Northumberland
We shall have a fishy… Digital sketch on tablet
Mackerel. Digital sketch on tablet
Mackerel. Digital sketch on tablet
Sleeping Beauty. Graphite on paper
It’s boring being a model! Graphite on paper
Oil, thinner and soluble graphite on paper
Tree and oilseed rape, Barton le Willows
Pilon, Barton le Willows
Barton le Willows. Digital sketch on tablet
‘Vogue’ at Dr Sketchy’s
‘Vogue’. 1970s
‘Vogue’. 1950s
Male nude. Digital drawing on tablet. Playing with colour.
Female nude. Graphite and water on paper
Graphite and water on paper
Standing nude. Graphite
Male nude seated. Graphite
Male nude stretching. Graphite
Male nude tension pose. Graphite
Mucky graphite and water on paper
Dolls and Molls. Quick scribbles at Dr Sketchy’s, York
Dolls and Molls. Quick scribbles at Dr Sketchy’s, York
Dartmoor winter colours. Digital sketch on tablet
Graphite and water
Detail
Graphite and water
Detail of 20 minute graphite sketch
20 minute graphite sketch
20 minute soft graphite sketch (on curly paper hence blurriness of photo!)
St Mary’s Lighthouse, Whitley Bay. Digital sketch on tablet
25 minute study in water soluble graphite
5 minute sketches in water soluble graphite
5 minute sketch in water soluble graphite
Thornwick Bay. Bright autumn day.
Looking towards the Cuillins. Acrylic
Spindrift, Sennen Cove. Ink, masking fluid and sand on paper
Distinctive rock and churning water, Sennen Cove. Graphite and watercolour
Coast Guard Lookout, Sennen Cove. Graphite
Cliffs and churning water, Sennen Cove. Graphite and watercolour
Morning sea mists, Cape Cornwall from Sennen Cove. Watercolour on paper
Colour study on a cloudy day, Cape Cornwall from Sennen Cove. Acrylic on paper
Towards Cape Cornwall. Graphite
Towards Lands End. Graphite and watercolour
Colour study, Sennen Cove
Dales stream. Ink, cling film, pastel
Wharfedale. Acrylic sketch
Swaledale. Acrylic
Playing with marks and textures. Oil, thinner, collage
Scottish sea storm. Acrylic
Rhinogs, Wales. Oil pastel
Dad watches…
Garden colours. Oil pastel
Rhinog mountains, Wales. Oil pastel
Scottish rock and lichen study
Burlesque dancers and steam punks
Study for Raeven: Steam Punk painting
Study for Raeven: Steam Punk painting
Ink and stick sketch
Light on face study
Charcoal sketch. A1
Graphite sketch. A1
Water soluble graphite sketch. A1
Large acrylic sketch on lining paper
Rhinogs. Oil pastel
Rhinogs. Graphite
Rhinogs. Oil pastel
Dad’s gone fishing
Pebbles and lines in chalk, Thornwick Bay, Flamborough
Chalk cliffs, Thornwick Bay, Flamborough
Chalk cliffs, Thornwick Bay, Flamborough
Chalk cliffs, Thornwick Bay, Flamborough
Thornwick Bay cliffs. Water soluble graphite
Thornwick Bay cliffs. Digital sketch
Thornwick Bay rockpool. Digital sketch
Chalk Beach. Digital sketch
Mussel. Digital sketch
Dartmoor sunshine
Dartmoor evening
Mountains behind Dad’s lake. Hen Gapel. Watercolour
Flooded Fields. Plein air. Oils on canvas
Loch na Keal. Plein air. Acrylic on canvas