I work mainly in watercolour, acrylic ink and acrylic paint, although I also use charcoal, pastels and oil paint. Sometimes a particular subject takes you in a new direction which calls for a different medium. I use a heavyweight 640gsm watercolour paper that reduces the tendency for the watercolour paper to warp when flooded with watercolour washes. The one thing you learn is that watercolour often does its own thing and the combination of paper surface, application of washes of paint and the use of different brushes all lead to an original work. No matter how hard I try it is virtually impossible to duplicate a painting exactly, but I hope you agree that ultimately this is the thing that makes watercolour special.
Acrylic is also full of surprises and comes in a variety of forms from inks, spray paint, the more traditional tubes and pen format. It can be vibrant, rich and full of texture or as thin as watercolour, it is truly versatile. Past examples of finished work can be viewed on my Gallery of Previous Works Page. If you have an idea or a plan for a painting do get in touch. I am happy to offer suggestions and there is no harm in asking. The following works are my most recent, but I add to them all the time, so if you spotted something and it has disappeared then do get in touch
Thanks for looking!!
The Garden
click to view in shop
This painting is inspired by the garden, painted on canvas board, and finished with a black solid wood chunky frame.
Foxgloves, blossom, agapanthus, tulips, hollyhocks, alliums, irises, honeysuckle, honesty.
The overall size including the frame is 28 inches x 28 inches.
Tulips
click to view in shop
Painted on canvas board, and finished with a white solid wood chunky frame.
Pink tulips, highlighted with gold acrylic which changes in different lights.
The Giant’s Causeway,
NORTH ANTRIM COAST
HOLYWOOD
click to view in shop
The overall size is 13.5 x 10.5 inches including a solid wooden natural off white frame, with inner pure white slip.
The Jetty is a striking focal point. Viewed from Seafront Road the viewing platform and jetty add a little manmade interest to the coastal scene.
Ballycastle Beach looking to Fairhead,
NORTH ANTRIM COAST
(available to purchase and view from No.6 Queen Street, Coleraine)
The overall size is 13.5 x 10.5 inches including a solid wooden natural off white frame, with inner pure white slip.
The Antrim Coast Road has many beautiful vantage points. This view is hard to beat, it shows the Fairhead Headland from Ballycastle Beach.
The Crown Bar
GREAT VICTORIA ST, BELFAST
The overall size including the frame is 16.75 x 21 inches
This watercolour painting of the famous Crown Bar in Great Victoria Street is painted on heavyweight 640gsm watercolour paper.
The painting is triple mounted in a textured conservation board with a stay white core. The black gallery style frame completes the painting.
Again the use of colour is meant to evoke the feeling of a building very much alive and kicking.
BELFAST PANORAMIC
Both paintings are on my shop page
The overall size is 15 x 31 inches including a dark grey box frame
The overall size is 13.5 x 29.5 inches including a dark grey box frame
The above original watercolour paintings are painted on 640gsm watercolour paper. The paintings are framed in a dark solid wooden 3.5cm deep box frame.
Featuring both the crane and Titanic Building, this is an iconic view of Belfast.
SECTIONAL INK AND WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS
These are all very different and lend themselves to all sorts of subject matter. The freedom to roam outside the usual confines of the mount adds a little extra to the artwork; with a depth of image or the addition of personalised text, the extras included can be varied and added without interrupting the main image. The combinations are endless. Please check out my Shop Page for the pieces currently for sale. I can also undertake commissions, so do message me if you have any questions.
Botanic Gardens, Belfast 32 x 32cms (SOLD)
Victoria Street, Belfast 32 x 32cms (SOLD)
SMALL ORIGINAL PAINTINGS
Ink and watercolour originals with accents of gold metallic watercolour
Please view my Sum-Up Shop for details of the smaller paintings currently for sale. As they change frequently this is the most convenient way for me to offer these little scenes and landmarks for sale. These do make perfect little gifts and can be posted easily, so worth a look from time to time. Do ask if you would like one specially created. They are all individual and impossible to recreate identically but I can do something similar if you see something you like but it has sold.
click to view current pieces available in the Shop Page or my Sum-Up Shop can be visited for recent additions, including my range of smaller artworks and prints