A drop in arts workshop creating a homage to Monet's garden in cardboard, paint and origami. You could make your own miniature Monet's garden in a paper plate or design and print your own pond dwelling creature, using lino or foam for relief printing. A very creative weekend was had by many. Here are some photos to show a glimpse of what went on...
I thoroughly enjoy teaching some of the Young Northlighters classes (age 9 -15) and when we were asked if the group would decorate one of the trees in the Hebden Bridge Tree Trail,as part of the Arts Festival, the kids were keen and myself and Katch Skinner decided we would do the project with them together.
So the first job was to go and look at the tree we had been allocated:
So Spirals Shop in Hebden Bridge invited me to be part of a group exhibition entitled Summer Days. I decided I would do some new work responding to the brief and wanted to create a series of prints based on migrating species in the UK. My series is called Summer Visitors.
'Swifts. Summer Visitors'
Generally I prefer Bridges to Walls but I couldn't refuse when the National Trust at Hardcastle Crags asked me if I would decorate a wall in their cafe with my artwork. The reason for this is to advertise the fact that their shop at Gibson Mill will soon be selling a range of my products. They will be selling my woodpecker, owl, squirrel and fox ranges as well as my Hardcastle Crags collection. So here's part of the finished wall:
Sometimes I can't believe I live in this beautiful valley. Hardcastle Crags is just a mile upstream. These last few weeks I have been working there, installing what we could call a 'Wildlife Wall', in the cafe at Gibson Mill. So some of my days have been surrounded by carpets upon carpets of bluebells, dappled sun, soft breezes and rushing water, dipper flashes, woodpecker sightings and birdsong galore. Here are some photos so you might understand a bit....
I've had some great design jobs this last year. I have very much enjoyed working with HebTroCo on their branding and related designs. They make trousers. Happy Anniversary to them and congratulations on creating a very successful trouser company in a year!
As part of Design Manchester and in a building next to the wonderful #manchesterprintfair at the weekend, was a fantastic display of old sample papers and leaflets showing design ideas and colour combinations from GF Smith and a few other paper and printing companies. GF Smith set up in 1885 in Hull and I think Calson in 1886 in the US, so there was a fair few design nuggets from over the years. Here is a few pics for anyone who hasn't been put off yet by the geekiness of this post! Enjoy!
I have been playing around photographing my collections or ranges. Had fun in my studio finding objects that complimented each one.
Meet Foxy:
Great Spotted Woodpecker:
Night Owl:
Wild Boar and the Forest Floor:
I so loved being in The Alhambra earlier in the year...
...and at the wild Spanish desert sea.
What's to love about Barcelona? In short, so much...
Arty Barcelona:
Foody Barcelona:
La Gente de Barcelona:
En Las Calles: