Recent commission, a deconsecrated church in Helmsley, North Yorkshire.
St Aidan’s Church, Helmsley
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Category Archives: painting
More Jazz Paintings
Great jazz in LS7. This is Denys Baptiste on saxophone, and Jon Scully on trumpet.
Jazz Paintings
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Detour on the way home from a recent work trip. This is a great spot…
…and we had an ice cream. Just like the Victorians might’ve done.
The Alhambra Gardens
The Alhambra Gardens in Roundhay Park, Leeds. I have drawn here a few times over the last few years, this is my first painting. I’m pleased it has been accepted for an upcoming exhibition, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the park, open 16th July – 4th September 2022. More info here.
Coquet Island, Northumberland
Had a few days away at Amble, on the North-East coast.
Five minutes walk to the sea – how happy can you be?
Rosebed
In my local park, LS7.
View from the M56, Helsby Hill
A painting from memory.
Helsby Hill overlooks Frodsham Marshes and the River Mersey. Welsh hills in the distance.
Stormcloud Over Norfolk Gardens
This afternoon, about 4 o’clock. Walking home, I was hailed and rained on.
Pandemic Landscape
Painted yesterday – with brush, and direct from the tube.
Eastertide
Daffodils
Spring is on the way, thankfully, and the daffodils are blooming.
I painted these ones a couple of weeks ago.
The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, and today is Saint David’s Day.
Saint David is the patron saint of Wales.
Shibden Valley, Looking South
The footpath heading south from Corporal Lane, Queensbury, BD13.
Shibden was formerly spelt Schepedene – the sheep vale.
It’s high up and my brother lives nearby. We joke about how it’s always 10° colder there than in Leeds – even though he’s only 20 miles away…
Snow and No School
Despite the ongoing difficulties, people of various ages have
been out enjoying the snow.
Or in my case, watching people of various ages enjoying the snow…
This was last Friday afternoon, in Chapel Allerton Park, LS7.
And it was a beautiful day.
Still Life with Witch Hazel
New paintings for a new year…
Witch hazel is said to have various healing properties – something
we could all do with right now.
After Mystic Nativity
After ‘Mystic Nativity‘, a painting from 1500 by Sandro Botticelli.
The Mystic Nativity is said to depict the end of the world, even though the main theme is one of peace. Happy Christmas, one and all.
Under Lockdown Skies
This second lockdown is hard.
The longest month in history? – and still 12 days to go.
Foggy November
Yesterday afternoon in Chapel Allerton Park, Leeds, LS7.
Catching a Pike
A fishing memory… from 1972, summer holiday on Lake Windermere.
It bent the rod double – nobody thought I could hold it…
Woke up recently with this in my head.
I asked dad about it, and he sent me the slide below…
We gave the pike to the girls on the next boat,
and they cooked it for their tea.
Top of the Bottom of the Street
I came home and looked up.
I was inspired, despite the present difficulties.
Rainbows – Thank You NHS!
This is on the back road to Otley.
One of the millions of rainbows that have appeared in recent months.
The 8pm clapping finished last week – but we are still thankful –
Thank you NHS and thank you NHS workers.
And thanks to the artists at East Breary Farm too…
Hospital Team – Thank You NHS!
The National Health Service was set up in 1948 to provide medical care free
at point-of-need to all Britons, regardless of wealth.
The instigator of the NHS was Welsh Labour Party MP, Aneurin Bevan, the son of a coal miner. He left school at 13 and worked as a miner during his teens where he became involved in local union politics.
Nye Bevan
Thank you Nye and thank you NHS!
Plague of Locusts
Locusts like damp conditions to lay eggs. Heavier rain than usual has caused a boom in the locust population. The swarms are devastating crops across East Africa and the Middle East, threatening the food supplies and livelihoods of millions of people.
Use of pesticides is the only way of controlling the locust outbreak, but current flight restrictions due to coronavirus are impeding supplies to the region.
Leaving the Co-op
Waxing moon and Venus.
Leaving the Pub
Not the only one leaving.
View from the M56
View from the M56.
Driving by Frodsham marshes,
Stanlow Oil Refinery in the distance.
Australia Burning
Australian bushfires in New South Wales. How long before it’s Wales, UK? When will business giants, fuel companies and world leaders do the right thing?
Spencer Place in the Rain
It’s four in the afternoon, the end of December
I’m painting this now just to make me feel better
North Leeds is cold, but I like where I’m living
There’s music on Francis Street all through the evening…
Burbo Bank, Liverpool Bay
Another view of the offshore wind farm project on the Burbo Flats in Liverpool Bay, at the entrance to the River Mersey. The site was extended in 2017 and there are now a total of 57 turbines.
Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm
Burbo Bank Wind Farm is situated in Liverpool Bay, a few kilometers from the coast. This is the view from Crosby beach – tide half in, half out.
Emley Moor Transmitters
Repairs are currently being undertaken at Emley Moor transmitting station near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and there is a temporary mast alongside the 1971 concrete construction.
This is the tallest freestanding structure in the UK (1,084ft). Also a Grade II listed building.
The antennas broadcast digital radio and TV across the North of England – reaching Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York, and even Manchester, across the Pennines.
It takes 7 minutes in the lift to get to the top – I hope to take that ride one day.
Wind Turbines
Woke up with this in my mind’s eye a couple of weeks ago. Not surprising – turbines are on the increase!
Below is a view from East Leeds, looking West – turbines are part of the landscape, near and far. You can also see the new Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) building in LS9.
Still Life with Tulips
Image
Roundabout A61-A658
A painting from memory, this roundabout is near Pannal, just over the border in North Yorkshire. These roads lead to Harrogate, Knaresborough, Leeds and Otley.
My Street II
Another view from the living room window. This may also be the first and only painting of my Celica. It was consigned to scrapyard the following week.
I Was In the House When the House Burned Down
…I may be old and I may be bent
But I had the money till it all got spent
I had the money till they made me pay
Then I had the sense to be on my way
I had to stay in the underground
I was in the house when the house burned down…
Lidgett Lane Larder
This is Lidgett Lane Larder in Leeds 8, a popular cafe serving home-made and locally sourced food. It is also an Art Gallery! Step inside this month, have a cup of tea and see a small exhibition of my tree pictures. Paintings, prints and cards will be for sale.
Waterloo Lake
Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park, Leeds. These are views from the North end,
as I saw it one cold Sunday afternoon in January.
My Street
View from the living room window.
This is back-to-back housing in Leeds,
where you occupy either the front or the back of the house
(both look pretty much the same)
and have neighbours on 3 sides.
Fire
The fires in my garden were festive, exciting –
Stars and sparks mingling
Woodsmoke a spicy scent, in your hair lingering.
The fires in my fireplace were friendly, inviting –
Warming and mellowing music and wine
The glow in the hearth made your eyes gleam and shine.
But this was a fire that was bitter and frightening
It came uninvited
Rapacious as lightning
Tore through the house, left my life dark and hollow
Its flames soon extinguished
Then long-lasting sorrow.
Weeks of toil, months of mourning, confusion and grieving
And realisation of what is not here –
Then sweep up the ashes and dump what we’re leaving –
We’ll build a new bonfire
The first of the year.
Poem by TW
Sailing Under the Humber Bridge
The Humber Bridge crosses the estuary between Hessle in East Yorkshire and Barton upon Humber in North Lincolnshire.
At the time it was built in 1981, it was the world’s longest single-span suspension bridge (1.4 miles). That record was beaten in the late 1990s but the Humber Bridge remains the longest in the world that can be crossed on foot or by cycle.
The bridge is a beautiful achievement, and I am not the only one to be inspired by it.
Thanks to Skipper Bruce, for giving me the opportunity to see it from this viewpoint!
Isle of Tiree III
The sky meets the sea
on the Isle of Tiree
Isle of Tiree II
The Isle of Tiree is the most westerly island of the Inner Hebrides.
It is relatively small – about twelve miles long and three miles wide
– and very flat.
Isle of Tiree
Sky, sky, sky, sky.
And a bit of flat land.
In the bleak mid-winter
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan ;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone ;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow ;
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago…
From the poem ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Christina Rossetti, published in 1872.
View from the A61
I was driving, so this is a memory of a glimpse of the view from the A61 near Pannal, North Yorkshire.
Still life with Sunflowers
And there is still life.
View from the Drone
Leeds – like I’ve never seen it before!
The trees in the foreground are along the edge of Soldier’s Field, Roundhay Park. On the far right, you might just make out the Parkinson Building.
Painting outdoors again
These paintings are from 3 weeks ago, the first time I painted outdoors this year. I worked alongside artist Michael Daly. He asked me to use his paints, brushes and preparation techniques, which are all different to mine. I’m very happy with the results.
And thanks to David, for his kindness and hospitality in allowing us to splash and daub in his lovely garden.
Roundhay Artists Open Studios
Over 20 artists living in Roundhay invite you in for 2 days this weekend during the annual Roundhay Artists Opens Studios event.
I’m one of three artists who will be showing our work at St Edmund’s Church, Lidgett Park Road, LS8 1JN.
Open: Sunday 30th April 1pm – 5pm
Monday 1st May 11am – 5pm
Wheelchair accessible.
Jo Dunn 