British Landscape Paintings & Prints

My last update here was full of debates about my artistic plans for 2020.

A series of landscapes featuring the Yorkshire Wolds was to be my raison d'etre this year.

Following a creative path in a storm

Storms Dennis, Ciara and Jorge kept me inside during late January, February and the beginning of March.

Then, when a hint of Spring seemed around the corner, the Virus followed by Lockdown nipped all creative buds like a frost.

I'd snatched just a few spontaneous outdoor sketching trips up to that point.

In Lockdown, life became about the next 'essential' trip to shop for myself and others. I'm sure many of you were the same.

Shopping weekly previously, mum and me plotted to stretch it 10 days or longer between trips.

A criminal sketch

Sketching in the hills had swiftly become an outlawed adventure. Who'd have thought, eh?

Of course, a landscape artist locked away from the landscape is like an addict without their hit.

Oh, the deep relief now 'days‑out to enjoy outdoor space' are no longer a criminal activity.

Interrupted inspiration

Preparing to paint my landscape oil paintings entails several steps. There's the Exploring stage; then what I call the Getting‑to‑know stage and last, the Study stage. Once completed, the work on the final painting in the studio begins.

In truth, there's no hard and fast. The stages can merge seamlessly and overlap. You're not always able to say you've finished one and begun the next.

Abstract art doesn't need these stages. The preparation is only necessary if you want your painting to look like something real.

The important thing is to have collected enough reference material. Only then are you in with a chance of really capturing the location once back in the studio.

Photographs play a very minor role in my painting process.

I'd hardly got beyond the Explore stage when Lockdown happened. So of course, I wondered if I should abandon 'The Wolds' until next year. A different mission might be more do‑able.

Artists can't help themselves

Lock an artist up with paints and brushes, and you deserve everything you get. Even if there are more serious things to do, an artist can't help themselves.

So regardless of any ruminations, I waded‑in on three paintings. Two new landscapes and another I'd become unhappy with last year.

Only one was of the Wolds, and I was deeply uncomfortable with how to progress it. Fortunately, it's…

All change, full paint ahead

I expected it to be the end of June before we'd be out on probation.

The prospect of hunkering down in a hedgerow with sketchbook and paints fills me with absolute joy. I know, I'm strange – I'm an artist.

So though this period has meant I'm well and truly behind and lost my momentum, I'm going to set-to painting a Wolds series.

I sincerely hope you've been OK through this and continue to be so. Stay careful, stay well.

From the single blade of grass and the magical, mysterious thing we call a cloud, to the epic and breathtaking vista, it all still fascinates this kid.

It's why I make British landscape paintings and art prints now.

Naturally, Yorkshire subjects dominate my collection at this time. I'm ever hopeful of being able to paint further afield, though. I've already got many sketches of 'foreign' parts elsewhere in the UK waiting for paint or lino.