Summertime Art and the living is easy…or a mad dash to get things organised and see it all!!!

The first two trails of 2023 have been and gone.

First time I”ve exhibited at Lovely Libby’s, a beautiful homewares and clothing store in the heart of Rayleigh. My work nestled beautifully amongst the gorgeous objects and dresses. But best of all, was on view in the cafe serving delicious cakes and drinks. Perfect setting for some of my confectionery paintings and florals.

Of course none of this could have happened without the fabulous organisation of Klaire.

She does all of this without funding and just because she loves to showcase the work of local artists. It’s these people that communities never realise their value and all that they do behind the scenes. Thank you so much.

Paintings exhibited in Lovely Libby’s as part of Rayleigh Art Trail

Oh and this year we are able to show our work in The Mill Arts and Culture Centre. Great to have work alongside talented fellow artists

The next event on the calendar for me was Brentwood Art Trail. A mammoth trail, with over 60 artists in three different towns, Brentwood, Shenfield & Ingatestone.

This trail is so beautifully organised by the lovely Villene Hyam. She wrangles the venues and artists and matches them. She then organises guided tours and workshops over the three weeks.

This year I was lucky enough to be given my dream venue, Liquorice in Sheffield. After meeting with my host and proprietor of this wonderful delicatessen and wine and beer shop, it was clear that I needed to create a painting that would do justice to the prime location and size of the window.

Therefore I ordered a deep edge canvas which unfortunately did not fit in the car! We have a Volvo estate, so I think you can see that the canvas is an epic size.

Work began and had to be quick as I only had a couple of weeks to complete it.

I was inspired by the work of an artist that had previously exhibited at the same venue, Alison Cooke @alisoncollage

Her work focuses on similar themes, flowers and weeds. She uses continuous loose outline and blocks of colour, often bold and bright.

Knowing that this would more than likely work for me to, I used the idea of “Weeds are Flowers too” and began to research Red Clover, working in bold colour and overlap.

As part of the trail I was given the opportunity to talk about my work to the guided walking tour of Sheffield. Was such a privilege and I really enjoyed engaging with the interested tour group. Not often I get to talk at length about my work and rational behind it. Thanks Villene.

I am lucky enough to have more paintings on display at this amazing venue, in the window and in the beer room in the back of the store. Therefore I have been able to show work that was included in my recent “Origins” exhibition at the Forum Southend

Next trail is Burnham Art Trail, a week long event with live painting on the Quay

A different venue each time I have exhibited. This time I will be at the venue at the beginning or the end of the trail depending on how you look at it.

There is also work from all of the artists involved in the museum which holds a unique collection of artefacts from the area. Well worth a mooch

They do a fabulous little postcard auction as part of the trail to help raise funds for the following year’s event.

Here’s my work on the trail

But it doesn’t end there! More interesting things to come….a few more exhibitions, work at The Rayleigh Windmill, part of the open evening where I did my artist in residence work, Old Leigh Artist Market and many more!!!