Wednesday 24 October 2018

Blackheath Art Society Autumn Exhibition 13/10/18 to 02/12/18

On a visit to this exhibition at the Mezzanine Gallery at the Old Royal Naval College, with my daughter yesterday, we took some 'detail' shots of the works … there is some truly stunning work but there is only one way to see the full glory....!
Detail of work by Jonathan Cowell.

Detail of work by Althea Battams.

Detail of work by Ann Hillary

Detail of work by Bet Mishra.

Detail of work by Caroline Mayow.

Detail of work by Cristiana Angelini.

Detail of work by Deirdre Ellis.

Detail of work by Irene Butcher.

Detail of work by Kathy Drake.

Detail of work by Margaret Dinkledein.

Detail of work by Monica Larkin.

Detail of work by Sally Robson.

Selection of porcelain vessels by Sarah Hyde.

Detail of work by Sue Taylor.

Detail of work by Trevor Root.

Old Royal Naval College
Mezzanine Gallery
Old Royal Naval College Cutty Sark Gardens SE10 9NN
13/10/18 - 02/12/18.

For more information please visit the Old Royal Naval College.
And for further info and sneak previews of the fantastic work on show visit the 

Thursday 4 October 2018

Blackheath Art Society Autumn Exhibition 13/10/18 - 2/12/18

The Blackheath Art Society is a local group with an amazing variety of talent and styles. This year the Autumn exhibition will be held in the 'Upstairs Gallery' at The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London from the 13th October to 2nd December 2018. The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm and is a perfect opportunity to buy a unique gift, either to treat yourself (because you are worth it!) or to treat another (because they are worth it!).


Monday 24 September 2018

Exhibition at The Millinery Works 2/10/18 - 4/11/18

It is a pleasure to exhibit in this mixed show once again at this beautiful gallery.

The Millinery Works Gallery,
87 Southgate Road, Islington
London, N1 3JS UK.

To see the works on show and for more info / opening hours please visit The Millinery Works.

Wednesday 12 September 2018

St Pauls from....

I recently came across a photo of this painting showing an eerie St Pauls, which I completed in the 1960's. I recall painting the view from somewhere around the Queenhithe stairs. The area has changed so dramatically now, can anyone identify the building that looks like a church to the left in the foreground?


Keen eyed Richard Dodson nailed it when he sent a link to this site; https://alondoninheritance.com/london-churches/the-lost-wharfs-of-upper-thames-street-and-st-benets-welsh-church/. Scroll down and you will see almost the exact same view and the author having similar difficulty until with patience he works out how the street pattern has changed!

Tuesday 26 June 2018

Greenwich Park

In the sunshine thoughts turn away from the noisy, dusty, streets towards the leafy, green expanse that is our local park. Much appreciated by visitors from afar as a World Heritage Site, it is also the more humble source of continued inspiration for many local artists. Here are a few scenes through the changing seasons...

Royal Observatory Late Summer. Oil on canvas, 355w x 250h. £385.

Royal Observatory - Winter. Oil on canvas, 355w x 250h. £385.

Old Friends. Oil on board, framed 340w x 295h. £385.

East Greenwich Peninsula from One Tree Hill. Watercolour. 



The Millinery Works Summer Exhibitions

This summer I am delighted to be part of the group shows at The Millinery Works in Islington, London. The first show starts 3rd July and runs to 2nd September while the second starts in October. The Millinery Works is a fantastic venue with frequently changing exhibitions and a large showroom of arts and crafts and antique furniture. More details can be found here; https://www.millineryworks.co.uk/pages/future-exhibtions

87 Southgate Road, Islington, London, N1 3JS. 
Opening hours; Tuesday through Saturday 11am - 6pm, Sunday 12 - 5pm. 

Wednesday 2 May 2018

Living in London, 26th April to 24th May.

This exhibition has now started! The exhibition is free and accessible and in the beautiful venue of West Greenwich Library...


Works by Irene Butcher.


Works by Terry Scales.

'Covent Garden Walkabout' by Cristiana Angelini.

Works by Graham Smith.

West Greenwich Library146 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN.
Open - Monday 2pm - 7pm, Tuesday 9am - 5.30pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 9am - 7pm, Friday 2pm - 5.30pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday closed.

Wednesday 28 February 2018

Blackheath Art Society Exhibition 1st March to 3rd April...Update...

Apologies to visitors, due to the snow this exhibition has been postponed and is now due to start 9th March - 3 April. Further updates on Blackheath Art Society Facebook.

Monday 26 February 2018

Five artists present - 'Living in London', 24th April - 26th May.

Five artists explore the City and it's people (oil paintings, drawings and prints...)

Who - Cristiana Angelini, Irene Butcher, Peter Tingey and Graham Smith.

Where - West Greenwich Library146 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN.

When - 24th April to 26th May, 2018.

Open - Monday 2pm - 7pm, Tuesday 9am - 5.30pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 9am - 7pm, Friday 2pm - 5.30pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday closed.

About my works in this show...
I've always considered myself a landscape painter and was quite surprised to find so many portraits in my earlier folders. My father was an inspiring model his features presented all the toil and experience which seemed so pronounced in those that worked on the Thames. A powerful contrast to the fresh faced local youth.



Drawing a portrait requires the greatest concentration from the artist. There is no artful ambiguity. It is either right or very wrong. Astonishing then to learn that in previous centuries portrait painters were somewhat despised by their serious contemporaries who referred to them as Phizz-mongers!

Jessica - framed print 313 x 391mm - £45, Terry Scales.

Jack Baxter in Surdoc Magazine.

Night Out at the Barley Mow - NFS, Cristiana Angelini.


Saturday 17 February 2018

Blackheath Art Society Exhibition 1st March to 3rd April...

Blackheath Art Society will be returning to the Halls for our spring exhibition. The exhibition is free, please come and have a drink at the bar and browse the exhibition at your leisure. Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath, London SE3 9RG. Open Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm and one hour before performances. A vibrant variety of talent awaits you!

Birdsong 592 x 695mm (including frame). Watercolour - £250.

For a preview of more work on show please visit The Blackheath Art Society Facebook site.

Monday 8 January 2018

John Minton exhibition


I was extremely lucky to be taught by John Minton, one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. I will be writing a later blogpost about John Minton but wanted to advertise an exhibition currently on until 27th January at One New Street Gallery in Herne Bay.

The gallery is run by Terry Sole and Helen Wilde and is open Friday and Saturday from 10am till 5pm. It is easy to find as it is just off the High Street by Casa Mia Restaurant. For more information call 07516756592.

The gallery says;

'It’s a must for illustrators as Minton taught and his short life was filled with commercial commissions. The show itself is a non selling one but the Catalogue, postcards and some prints are for sale. Martin Salisbury's splendid book 'The Snail that climbed the Eiffel Tower and other works by John Minton, published by Mainstone Press is now out and worth having.' 

This is a great opportunity to see some of John Minton's work; his rich flowing lines, both lyrical and romantic, he was a huge influence on a generation of artists and a sad loss to those who loved him and his work.


Saturday 6 January 2018

U.S.S.R Baltika

In my 85th year I often come across random sketches I made while working in Surrey Docks in the 1950's.The sketch below is one I made of a Russian sailor from the ship U.S.S.R. Baltika in 1958.


Of the many large passenger / cargo ships that traded in Surrey Docks this vessel in particular stood out. Apart from general cargo, she transported groups of Soviet Diplomats and other officials. From prow to stern she was painted a gleaming white which emphasized her great height equalling that of the Cunard liner which moored on the opposite quay.

I was quite surprised to see women on deck doing most of the manual work, something which would not happen on other global shipping lines. Sometimes friction would occur between the ship's officers and the dockers loading cargo. As was usually the case the dockers used their big hooks to make handling heavy bags easier. The officers objected most strongly to this practise, as quite rightly, they could see the hooks would make holes in the bags. The dockers tended to ignore these remonstrations or wait until the officers left and then carry on as before.

On the quay a small group of Russian officials waited to board ship. They did not look too happy at the prospect of returning to their home ports. With most ships, dockers and crew members usually exchanged a few friendly words and in the ships from Rotterdam it was the custom to buy Dutch and German beer from the crew but no similar contacts could be made with the Russians for this was 1958 and the cold war was at it's height.

When the Baltika sailed out of the dock, she left in grand style playing loud, martial music with all her lights blazing brightly. Everyone stopped to watch for she was an unforgettable sight.