​Back in the Studio, feeling a bit worse for wear, following a weekend in Wales.  A flying visit for my brother's 40th Birthday.  Here's a painting I did for him, 'Orion Over Dwyryd Estuary'.  A little reminder of our childhood home, taking in the viewpoint we used to walk the dog  late at night, just so we could have a sneaky cigarette. 
The Dwyryd Estuary is situated in Snowdonia, right next to Portmeirion, which you cant make out in this picture, hidden by trees in the middle ground.  We used to live just above 'The Village'.
​Anyhow, back in the studio, 2 day hangover finally cleared.  Much work to be done...

I won't be in the Gallery tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday, as I'm off to Wales for the weekend.
I'll be back at my 59 Lime Street Studio Gallery from Tuesday. Thanks

I came across a brief time lapse I made, skimming through my third commission sketchbooks, and I thought I would share it.  It's crudely done, but I'm hoping to document all my sketchbooks over the coming months, which I'll share on my website.
​I always talk about how crucial sketchbooks are to my working practice, helping to refine an idea.  From a rough thumbnail sketch to a refined commission biro drawing.  The first thumbnail sketches aid the ideas process, problem solving, working out basic compositions.  If I'm working on a commission for someone, I'll take the sketches a stage further, mainly to give a clearer impression to the client of the proposed ideas, more than I could achieve with a basic thumbnail sketch.  The biro drawing also help me work out the tonal balance of the image, before I commit to the finalised painting.