Christmas Shopping

A grey day yesterday spent Christmas shopping in Bolton, made memorable by this Peregrine Falcon chasing the town centre Feral Pigeons.

Water Rail

Water Rail. Pencil and Ink Wash. 105mm x 155mm.

The last drawing of my set of 13 illustrations for the 2007 Huddersfield Birdwatchers Club Report. Based on a sketch I did over 20 years ago.

Littondale

Littondale Barn. Linocut and Watercolour. 150mm x 210m. Artists Proof.

A typical dales barn. This one in Littondale is situated beside the road just down the dale from the village of Litton. For three summers I lived in the dale whilst working for the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union studying Peregrine Falcons. This was an important time artistically, falling as it did straight after I left college. Surrounded by an abundance of subject matter and away from the sometimes distracting creative influences of art college I was free to begin developing and exploring my own 'style' and way of working. It was around this time that I began to draw and sketch directly with pen and ink, although I had been advised to use a pen whilst at college. At that time with the arrogance of youth I had ignored the advice, something I now regret as it was probably the best advice I was given. Had I taken heed whilst at college my work would probably have developed much faster. So to Barry Raynor thank you, I did eventually listen, I just wish I had done so sooner.

Black Redstart

Male Black Redstart. Pencil and Ink Wash.

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Lesser Black Backed Gull preening. Pencil and Ink Wash. 110mm x 110mm