New Staveley pics!

When I visited Cumbria at the weekend I was very pleased to find that my two Staveley paintings had sold on the opening night of the 'Small' exhibition at Staveley's Mill Yard Studios. So while there is an interest in Staveley paintings I thought I would make full use of my visit and attempt a couple of new paintings. I stood out in the cold and managed to dodge the sleet showers just long enough to draw these two December scenes.

This one is entitled 'St Margarets Church Tower' for obvious reasons...

And this one was drawn just as the sun was going down and the high street became busy with hikers heading down off the hills so it is titled 'Homeward bound, December dusk Staveley'...

Exhibition of original illustrations at Earthy foods

I am very excited to have had the opportunity to put up a small exhibition of original illustrations from my book 'I love/hate my Campervan' on the staircase at Earthy foods on Ratcliffe terrace in Edinburgh. The pen and watercolour illustrations are all for sale starting from just £75. They will hopefully help promote the book which is for sale in the Earthy shop along with my coasters and xmas cards and loads of wonderful organic produce and quirky hand-made products by local crafters and confectioners. Pop along for a look and don't forget to taste some of the scrumptious food they have on offer in their cafe...

I will also be taking part in the Earthy Christmas craft fair at their Portbello shop next weekend which will no doubt be crammed with wonderful gift ideas and treats...visit the earthy website here...

Coming up in December...

I am lucky enough to have been asked again this year to exhibit in Stavely Mill Yard Studios annual 'Small' exhibition. The preview is this Thursday December 1st 6-8pm. So if you are in Cumbria please do pop along...

1-23 December 2011 and 4-15 January 2012, Wedn

esdays-Sundays 11-4pm Twelve contemporary artists present recent work, much of it specially made for this show, including painting, collage, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Once again, they've been selected because they are interested in stretching boundaries in ideas and practice. Some have international reputations, others are "emerging" artists, all make exciting and interesting work. As well as the main exhibition, the artists have been invited to follow a great tradition of creating one-off "Christmas cards" - original, beautiful, ironical, maybe satirical. Mounted and framed, these very collectable artists' originals are also for sale. SMALL beautiful and affordable...now in its 5th year this exhibition is a must for those who seek out contemporary art of real quality, for themselves or for those they love.

Also opening this Thursday is the Merriment Makers Christmas fair which I am proud to be a part of again after the huge success it was last year. So if you are in Edinburgh this coming weekend you would be a fool to miss this event where there will be plenty of wonderful Christmas pressie ideas to be had as well as warming mulled wine I hear tell...

Xmas cards

I have been reasonably organised for a change this year and now have two new Christmas card designs that have hit the shelves this festive season...

The cards are available from most of the usual stockists listed on my website here.

Book update

After a busy couple of weeks donning my sales woman cap my book 'I love/hate my Campervan' is now available to buy from the following places in Edinburgh:

Earthy Foods

The Edinburgh Bookshop

Marchmont Gallery

Di Rollo Gallery

...and thanks to my Cumbrian agent (mum!) it is also now stocked in the following places in the Kendal area:

Henry Robert's Bookshop, Kendal

Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry, Kendal

Staveley Mill Yard Studios

Gatefoot Gallery, Staveley

Hopefully there will be more places to come soon too so watch this space...

Finished at last!

After over a years worth of hard work my book 'I love/hate my Campervan' is finished at last!

It is a 32 page A5 paperback with a perfect bind, printed and bound by Ivanhoe printers in Musselburgh and published by Big Draw Books. Here is a little taster...

This is the blurb from the back of the book:

This book illustrates everything that is wonderful and equally frustrating about owning a campervan. Sophie invites you to sit down with her for a roadside cuppa and enjoy the adventures she recounts of her time as the proud owner of her VW T25 Gus . From burst fuel injector pipes to broken skylights there was never a dull moments travel in Gus. If you are a fellow campervan enthusiast then some of these stories may well strike a chord with you. If you are a wannabe campervan owner then you will be warned.

The book is now available to buy on Amazon here and at Marchmont Gallery too along with some original illustrations from the book. You can also buy it direct from me, just send me an email.

Some recent commissions

I was commissioned to do this portrait of her mums house by Susan...

...and her friend Jan's quirky cottage too taking in a number of different views...

I thought they turned out rather well and it was nice to have a break from drawing doggies!

Work in progress...

I have been working on this particular project for the best part of a year now and just don't seem to be able to get it finished as more urgent commissions have taken over. However this week I have been busily working away on illustrations that eventually they will lead to my next book entitled 'I love/hate my VW T25'. Here are a couple of illustrations I have so far completed. Watch this space for news of the finished article in the (hopefully) not too distant future...

More dogs!

I have finished the last portraits for 'Just Dogs', 19 dogs in 2 weeks, phew! below are the lovely Sam and Daisy and handsome Tiber

A pair of characters!

I have been over run with dog portrait commissions lately. This characterful pair are Cora and Bramble...

Successful dog drawing day!

I had a very enjoyable and successful day drawing doggies at 'Just Dogs' in Stockbridge, Edinburgh yesterday. We had a real eclectic mix of dogs, all of them were so full of personality I can't wait to get started on the final portraits! Here are a couple of quick sketches I did of Henry on the day...

Many thanks to Gemma and Jenny and all of the dogs and owners who came along on the day to support the event. So far we have raised a fantastic £150 to donate to 'Many tears' doggie rescue charity :)

Doggie drawing day at Just dogs

I am very excited to have been asked to do a day drawing dogs at 'Just Dogs' in Stockbridge. I will be there on Sunday August 7th from 11am until 5pm drawing customers dogs. You can book an appointment for you and your dog through Gemma and her lovely colleagues at 'Just Dogs' or drop in a photo with them if you cannot bring your dog on the day.

All the details can be found at the 'Just Dogs' website here:

http://www.justdogsshop.co.uk/news/306_pup-portrait-day-sun-7th-aug-at-just-dogs-hq

It should be a great day!

Edinburgh Mapped exhibition

I currently have a couple of drawings in this fabulous exhibition curated by Nicola Brooks. The exhibition has exciting work by lots of established and up and coming Edinburgh artists and the deli makes some super tasty nosh...

Haddington and more dogs

Skye and Harris again, at the moment I am unfortunately only able to capture them on paper when they are sleeping as they rest of the time they are just never still for more than a second!

This is a drawing I did of Haddington High Street a couple of weeks ago, another possibility for a greetings card I think...

Harris and Skye

I had to get around to drawing the two new additions to our little family at some point so here they are in an usually restful pose after lots and lots of playing! Skye is the little lady on the left and Harris is the chubby boy on the right.

Latest commission

Here is my latest pet portrait commission for Roz down in London, this is her dad's lovely doggy Buster. I wish my dogs were as calm as this...!

Drawing on the East Lothian coast

During the last couple of weeks I have been spending some time exploring the East Lothian coastline with it's pretty little towns and rugged beaches. I will make some of the resulting paintings into cards and possibly also prints to approach new galleries with in the East Lothian area.

Dunbar High Street

Dunbar beach, looking towards Bass Rock in the distance

North Berwick beach and Bass Rock again

Kitesurfing on Longniddry beach, looking back towards Edinburgh

Port Seton harbour, windy day

Edinburgh Commission

I have just finished this commission for a couple who saw my work at one of my exhibitions last year. They wanted a view of Edinburgh from Arthur's seat, I am very pleased with the result...

Drawing in Fife

A couple of weeks ago I headed to Fife to do some paintings of the beautiful coastline there. Here are the results, I hope to make them into greetings cards to sell across the bridge...

Boating on the Firth of Forth, Dalgety bay

Burntisland beach

Burntisland park

Looking back to Edinburgh from Hawcraig

Travel illustrations from South America!

I haven't posted in a very long time so here is a little taster of some of the drawings from my sketchbooks during my recent trip to South America. I will be posting more on my website shortly...

Cafe bar in El Calafate, Argentina

El Chalten, Argentina

Bariloche, lakes district Argentina

Cuzco main square, Peru

San Telmo, Cuzco, Peru