Merlins Crossing the Bar: in the Preview Sale on 5 April

Merlins Crossing the Bar (the featured image above) is the first of several paintings due to be on show at the 2019 Summer Exhibition of the Salcombe Art Club. It is currently on display at Beacon House Gallery and priced at £750.

 

For sale | Preview: Merlins Crossing the BarPreview Evening – 5 April

On 5 April, the day before handing-in day, there will be a Preview Evening at Beacon House Gallery and this painting, and the others will be on sale at a discounted price for those attending the event. More news on that on Monday 1 April. (And no, it won’t be an April Fools’ post.)

The Preview Evening will be an invitation-only event – for those who’ve attended before, have bought one of my paintings, or other more affordable art –  but contact me if you don’t receive an invitation and would like to come.

 

Merlins Crossing the Bar

This is yet another oil inspired by the wonderful Merlin sailors who love to race in our beautiful estuary with all its challenges. The spinnakers are not just difficult to paint but, in reality, need very good sailors to fly these.

I remember that as a skill I once had in Fireballs, many many years ago. Now my sailing days are over, I’m content to capture the joy and the challenge, through my painting.

 

From oil painting to a fine art greetings card

Many of my originals are also available as a fine art greetings card. For this particular composition, part of the image had to be cropped to create the required square shape for the card. If you compare this image with the featured image above, you’ll notice the Merlin with the pink spinnaker didn’t make it onto the card version.

Merlins Crossing the Bar

It still works as an image though, and I’m sure it will be as popular as other cards featuring Merlins.

Merlins Crossing the Bar cropped for card

 

ADVANCE NEWS! Merlin Rocket Week 2-13  July

Last year, I was ‘artist in residence’ during Merlin Rocket week: 8-13 July. It was not a success in that the weather was so hot, too hot, and the paint was drying on my brush before I could get it only a canvas. So, I abandoned painting and spent the week photographing Merlins and enjoying the event.

This year, I am taking part in a Pop-up Sale on Thursday, 11 July. As well as original paintings of Merlins, I will have on sale my full range of fine art greetings cards, and the new affordable art items: wooden placemats and coasters, glass coasters and chopping boards, key rings, fridge magnets, purses, and cushions!

Giclée prints: available to order

Every original painting is professionally photographed so I have the opportunity to use the image for giclée prints, fine art wall plaques, coasters and place mats – and my fine art greetings cards.

 

What is a giclée print?

Giclée is used to describe a fine art digital printing process combining pigment based inks with the highest quality acid free papers to achieve prints of superior archival quality, light fastness and stability.

Using Fine Art papers, the result is very similar to the original. They are more expensive to reproduce than the bulk prints made using traditional lithography and they are priced accordingly, but, it goes without saying, that they aren’t as valuable as original works.

 

Limited edition prints

I have a range of limited edition prints. Five images.

Each print may be purchased as a rolled canvas, as a cellophane wrapped double mounted print, or as a framed mounted print behind glass. 

  • Smaller print prices: £65 rolled (29cm square with a 6cm border), £95 mounted (50cm square) or £195 framed (55cm(h) x 54cm(w)).
  • Larger print prices: £95 rolled (40cm x 51cm with 6cm border), £145 mounted (62cm x 71cm) or £240 framed (67cm x 76cm).

Plus P&P at cost.

Giclée prints of other images

It’s possible to order a giclée print of any of my images, whether the original has been sold or not. The print is supplied as a rolled canvas. Price available on application.

I recommend you visit Tidal Gallery in Kingsbridge and talk to Anna Ventura about available options for mounting and framing, and costs too.

For the SHAF trail, I created this poster with example costs for a single sample image.

So, if you’ve seen an image you like and it has already been sold, don’t despair. You can purchase a high-quality giclée print.

If you’ve seen an image you like and the original is too pricey, don’t despair.  You can purchase a high-quality giclée print!

To order a print, contact me.

SHAF Arts Trail Visitor Comments

As I write this, Anne and I are reflecting on a busy fortnight – the past two weeks – and the SHAF Arts Trail.

 

Highest footfall to date

This is my fourth year as an exhibitor for the SHAF Arts Trail and I was delighted to welcome more than 100 people.

It was great to see friends from the Kingsbridge Walk  & Talk group, the Modbury Art Club and the Kingsbridge and District Camera Club (KDCC), and many others who had visited us in previous years and came back for more.

I had 37 original paintings on display, plus examples of the new affordable art range:

  • fine art wall plaques
  • table mats and coasters

plus my fine art greetings cards.

 

Visitor comments

We ask everyone to sign the Visitor’s sheet and it’s heart-warming now to read their comments. Here’s a selection.

  • Absolutely beautiful artwork
  • Amazing!
  • Beautiful
  • Brilliant
  • Entranced
  • Fab
  • Fascinating exhibition and stories
  • Great paintings – fantastic views
  • Interesting and fun
  • Lovely venue for display – very good
  • Spendid display and such a warm welcome
  • Stunning paintings and hospitality
  • Superb!
  • The best yet!
  • Very inspiring – the light is fantastic – very talented
  • Very talented in several mediums
  • We love it! Very impressive
  • Wonderful range of paintings
  • Wow!

 

(I am now blushing!)

 

Michael Hill | Visitor commentsGuest exhibitor at Beacon House Gallery

I shared my gallery space with my tutor Michael Hill and he had 26 original paintings on show, plus a few items in the browser.

I am sure the higher footfall this year is down to him.

So, thank you to Michael for joining me this year.

And, I’m also delighted that Michael will be joining me again next year.

 

Missed the Arts Trail?

If you didn’t find time to come in the past fortnight but would like to view my work, the Beacon House Gallery is not open to the public again until the same time next year, but you may contact me to arrange a private viewing at a time to suit us both.

SHAF Arts Trail: Half-term week

It’s half-term week and Salcombe is full of visitors. We look forward to seeing many of them on the SHAF Arts Trail.

 

michael hill | SHAF Half-term weekGuest artist: Michael Hill

I have attended Michael Hill’s classes at Salcombe Art Club for the past decade or so. I learn something new in every session and look forward to the critiques he gives before we pack up for the day.

His paintings have a magical air to them; dark and yet illuminating. And they are beautifully framed.

There were 26 of Michael’s original paintings on show at the start of the SHAF Arts Trail. There are now 25 and a lady is delighted with her birthday gift.

 

Affordable Art

My new wall placques, coasters and place mats are proving very popular.

They make ideal Christmas gifts.Place mats and coasters | SHAF Half-term week

 

There are all available in designs of your choice.

 

WHEN CAN YOU VISIT BEACON HOUSE GALLERY?

Beacon House Gallery will be open all of the half-term week until 28 October for visitors 10am-5pm each day. (Tuesday: CLOSED)

You don’t need to book ahead. Just turn up and you will be made very welcome.

 

WHERE IS BEACON HOUSE GALLERY?

Beacon House Gallery is within my home – the hall, stairs and landing, no less. It’s not normally open to the public, except by prior arrangement.

 

DIRECTIONS TO BEACON HOUSE

As you approach Salcombe, there will be yellow posters with arrows pointing the way to Beacon House.

We have wheelchair access and plenty of parking space available on our private drive.

Alternatively, you could park in the park’n’walk at the top of Bonfire Hill and walk down. There might also be parking spaces in Bonfire Hill alongside the allotments.

Please do not park on the shared drive.

We look forward to your visit!

NEW! Affordable Art

My fine art greeting cards are what I call ‘affordable art’.

Now, I have added to the affordable art range: fine art wall plaques, coasters and placemats. See them under ‘MY WORK’.

affordable art

 

Bring affordable art into your homeaffordable art

Ideal as gifts, or for holiday homes.

Come and see them during the SHAF Arts Trail: on until 28 October.

Every day:10am – 5pm apart from Tuesday.

 

Order in time for Christmas!

To order: you choose the design(s) from any our ‘square’ range.

Delivery approximately 14 days.

For more information, click here for fine art wall plaques and here for coasters and placemats.