Just south of York lies the pretty village of Stillingfleet and at its heart is Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, a beautiful, natural garden owned and run by Vanessa and John Cook.
I exhibited during September, having visited the gardens throughout the year to record it with sketches and paintings. The exhibition consisted mainly of my graphite and watercolour works on paper, and will also include works from my recent Rhinogydd series.
FEBRUARY
My first visit was on a freezing cold February day. Lynne (Roebuck) and I managed about four hours before losing feeling in our feet, but managed to get a feel for the place. Donald, the Bengal cat kept us company, as did the very stylish bantams. The guineafowl proved elusive and kept running off as soon as I got my sketch pad out, but I remain determined to get the little devils before the year’s out!
Witch Hazel. I love the ragged forms and bright shots of yellow on bare stems
Snowdrops. The gardens were filled with different types of snowdrops, forming carpets of white under the trees
Snowdrops and aconites under the trees in the Woodland Walk
Crocuses in the lawn of The Avenue. Bright purples next to bare trees
Chickens with attitude! This little lady kept me company for most of my visit
Funky chicken. The Silkie bantams rocked this do!
I really love chickens! Their shapes are never quite as you image them to be
Eating worms
Winter grasses and seed heads. This might become a more abstract piece
All I managed to catch of the guineafowl! Acrylic and graphite on paper
Guineafowl feather (detail)
JUNE
After being ‘rained off’ for most of the spring, I returned on a hot day in June. Ironically, after such a wet spring, the ground was now bone-dry, but the flowers were out in abundance. The guineafowl could be heard, taunting me, from the other side of the fence. I didn’t try and draw them this time – I’m still determined to get them before I’m done though!
The Front Garden in the hot June sun
Hot red and purples
Blue eryngiums
Ornamental hogweed
JULY
I went back to draw the gorgeous white eryngiums. It was a bit cooler this time, so I could sit in the Pear Tree garden without burning (it’s a sun-trap). I love the graphic shapes or eryngium flowers, and the negative spaces they create against the darker backdrop. They are almost luminous.
Black and white graphite study
White eryngiums
Back again on an overcast, humid day and the midges were biting, but the garden was as beautiful as ever. Particularly drawn to the fat, red cherries on the ivy-clad wall by the house and the fragrant sweet peas with their wild tendrils.
I still want to paint the huge thistles, but I’m aware that I’m naturally drawn to drawing spiky or dead things(!), so I forced myself to paint softer subjects this time.
Ripe red cherries on the ivy wall of the Wattle Garden
Fragrant sweet peas
Summer borders in The Avenue
Then a busy period of framing. My frame delivery was smashed by the courier, so I was framing later than I’d normally be comfortable with. Big thanks to Braithwaites for coming to the rescue with my frames! My friend, Lynne, showed me how to do archival framing of paper works, so these are hinge mounted and sealed.
The first five framed!
All ready to pack…
…and here they are, all framed and ready to hang…
Ornamental Hogweed. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Guinea Fowl Feathers. Original acrylic and graphite on acrylic paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Foxgloves, Bracken, Rushes and Thorns. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (300 x 400 mm in frame)
Eryngiums. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Eryngiums. Original graphite drawing on acid-free Bockingford paper (300 x 300 mm in frame)
Cherries. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (300 x 400 mm in frame)
Blue Eryngiums. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (300 x 400 mm in frame)
Under the Rowan Tree. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
In the Front Garden. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (500 x 400 mm in frame)
The Avenue. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Sweet Peas. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Royal Fern. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Peas. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Mallow. Original graphite and watercolour on acid-free Bockingford paper (400 x 500 mm in frame)
Guinea Fowl Feathers. 600 x 600 mm acrylic on deep canvas
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