Celebrating Valentine in paint!
Celebrating Valentine’s day with a Flamenco Serenade, my vintage toy inspired painting of two dancers in full swing! Discover their story!
Valentine's Day greetings to you all!
Sharing a Flamenco Serenade, another of my vintage toy inspired paintings.
I found this duo at a Sandown Toy Fair and was instantly engaged by their energy.
I studied them in the round and found the pose that, for me, best captured the essence of them - eyes locked, hearts, feet, arms and bodies beating to a unified rhythm - a moment suspended in time!
The power and intensity of the flamenco dance seems to me the perfect analogy for those first passionate steps of love.
Wishing you all a beautiful rest of day, filled with love, music and dance! 🎶❤
Toy Box Treasures
My new exhibition ‘Toy Box Treasures’ at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London is now open. Showcasing artworks celebrating the beauty and nostalgic charm of vintage toys, 8th December to 5th January.
I am pleased to announce that I’ve just installed a new exhibition at The Royal Automobile Club Picture Gallery on Pall Mall.
The show shines a spotlight on the magic, beauty and nostalgic charm of vintage toys, celebrating their weathered, playworn characters.
Growing up surrounded by my father’s dusty collection, I was fascinated by these old die-cast treasures from an early age, and have frequented many toy fairs on the hunt for something special. These toys, with their unique array of flecks and patina have a sculptural, dynamic quality that invites connection. They are miniature but mighty in how they capture the spirit of an age and engage our imaginations.
The exhibition features both oil on canvas artworks, a range of limited edition reproductions of original oils, along with a new collection of digitally paintings, created freehand using a wacom tablet and stylus and printed on high quality art paper.
TOY BOX TREASURES
8TH DECEMBER - 5TH JANUARY
The Picture Gallery, at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London.
For more details or any questions, please send me a message by clicking the button below.
EXHIBITION INSTALLATION SHOTS
BROWSE SLIDESHOW BELOW OF ALL ARTWORKS FEATURED
A Remembrance Day Tribute
My painted tribute of this powerful little vintage toy duo, who captured the essence of Remembrance Day for me.
A painted tribute, inspired by....
a crescent toy military nurse attending to her soldier patient, which I encountered in The Brighton Toy Museum’s wonderful collection.
The weathered nature of these toys gave them such a particular energy and quality. They felt to me both historic and very much alive, conveying, without words, huge pathos and power.
May they say more, than my words ever could, and pay tribute to all those brave souls who fought with their lives.🙏
Goalkeeper Print Giveaway
The grand conclusion of my Goalkeeper print giveaway, launched in celebration of the world cup final. Discover who won their very own framed print of my new painting!
The power of goalkeeping was very much in force at yesterday’s World cup final, adding an extra glow of celebration to my Goalkeeper print giveaway!
I only do a couple of these giveaways a year and couldn’t resist timing this one with the finale of the World Cup!
Today I picked the winner, watch the moment in the video above!
It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Rick Addison on winning his very own framed print of my new Goalkeeper painting!
Thank you again to everyone who participated! I will be sharing lots more exciting opportunities in 2023 so keep an eye out!
Also, a huge round of applause to both the Argentinian and French football teams, who gave us a wonderful final, full of many skilled twists and turns, uniting watchers around the world in the journey they took us on!
If you would like more information about the buying options for my Goalkeeper print, please click the product listing below.
This fine art print is of my original digital oil painting of a vintage toy Goal Keeper. It was painted free hand using a stylus and pressure sensitive tablet on a computer (see videos below).
Each print from this digital painting is an original; professionally printed on beautiful Hahnemühle photo Rag paper, 308 gsm thick, with top grade, light fast, fade-resistant inks.
A great addition to a vintage themed décor scheme or gift for a football enthusiast!
SEE SHORT FILMS BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT BUYING OPTIONS, ART PRINT SPECIFICATIONS AND THE STORY BEHIND THIS ARTWORK
Free UK shipping
For international shipping please contact us for a quote
Goal Keeper Painting Launch
Introducing my new painting, based on a vintage toy goal keeper, the perfect present for this football season! Watch a short video showing the inspiration behind this artwork as well as the creative journey. Now available as a beautiful fine art print and card, find out more about buying options.
Another vintage toy inspired painting. Part of what I love about these toys is how they can, on a miniature scale, evoke an epic energy.
This little Goal Keeper is a case in point. I found him when roaming along the stands at one Sandown Park toy fair and was instantly drawn to him and the dynamic power of his pose.
Probably based on some serious studying of football players in action, this little toy represents an extraordinary process, where life is reduced down to its essentials.
He was without football and flat down on one side when I saw him. I decided to reimagine things in painting him, launching him up into the air, in a grand finale style big save!
Pleased to report he is now available as a greetings card and fine art print.
Click Product links below to view.
This fine art print is of my original digital oil painting of a vintage toy Goal Keeper. It was painted free hand using a stylus and pressure sensitive tablet on a computer (see videos below).
Each print from this digital painting is an original; professionally printed on beautiful Hahnemühle photo Rag paper, 308 gsm thick, with top grade, light fast, fade-resistant inks.
A great addition to a vintage themed décor scheme or gift for a football enthusiast!
SEE SHORT FILMS BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT BUYING OPTIONS, ART PRINT SPECIFICATIONS AND THE STORY BEHIND THIS ARTWORK
Free UK shipping
For international shipping please contact us for a quote
This is a fine art greetings card of my original digital oil painting of a vintage toy goal keeper, painted free hand using a stylus and pressure sensitive tablet on a computer (see videos below).
A great card for football enthusiasts!
SEE SHORT FILMS FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT CARD SPECIFICATIONS
Free UK shipping
For international shipping please contact us for a quote
BUNDLE OFFERS AVAILABLE - SEE BELOW
A Remembrance Day Tribute
Find out the story behind this vintage toy inspired painting and why this isn’t my first attempt at it! Watch a short video showing the painting process.
I first encountered this weathered toy Crescent military nurse & soldier patient at Brighten Toy Museum , painting them early on in my digital painting journey.
I recently returned to paint them afresh, trying to capture their spirit with more nuance, truth and pathos. Today I share the results as a remembrance day tribute.
See below version one, painted Autumn 2020 [left] and version two painted Autumn 2022 [right].
Diving into Lego!
Working on a new, lego-inspired commission for a holiday let property in Windsor. A story telling epic feast of lego! Watch a short video showing the early stages!
I've been working on a new commission this week, diving into a world of Lego!
This is a little glimpse of the early stages, blocking in the main elements with digital paint. Still a long way to go but already getting into the swing of it!
This is one of two artworks that will hang side by side in a beautiful holiday let property in Windsor.
The idea is to celebrate all the local attractions including Thorpe Park, Legoland, Twickenham Rugby and Windsor Castle etc…
AKA a great opportunity to delve into story-telling, weaving together lots of playful elements , including a little bit of Halloween / fright night fun!
For more info about this amazing property check out: www.shortstaylongstay.co.uk
Here’s a brief overview:
📍Conveniently located next to: Windsor, Heathrow, Twickenham
🛌 Sleeps up to 6
🎪 Activities for everyone: Legoland, Thorpe Park, Lapland UK!!
More updates coming soon!
Goodbye Little Acrobat
Waving off this allegorical painting of a vintage toy Acrobat to its new home in Greece. Watch and read the full story!
Yesterday I said goodbye to this little fellow, waving him off to his new life in Greece.
This is a painted allegory called 'The Acrobat' [oil on canvas, 60 x 60cm] which plays with ideas about balance and the creative and destructive energy within us.
The Acrobat hovers above an unlit bonfire of matches, alive with the promise of danger, but also nodding to the inner fire of inspiration. Time is suspended, the spark yet to fall, the meaning open to interpretation.
Many ideas passed through my mind when painting this which I feel were mysteriously woven into this picture, making sense of themselves in a way at once abstract but true.
Hopefully this chap will spark interesting discussions in his new home!
Embracing Grief Through Art
Watch this special discussion I had with Jenetta Barry and Al Cini talking about the power of painting when dealing with painful subjects and emotions. All part of a global line up, celebrating World Jenny’s Day and World Mental Health Day.
This Monday I took part in a special online line-up of artists and performers, celebrating World Jenny's Day and World Mental Health Day.
Creatives from all over the world joined Jenetta Barry and co hosts on USA GLobal TV & Radio over the course of 17 hours showcasing insightful performances and short discussions celebrating mental health wellness.
I shared my experiences of embracing grief through art, looking at two paintings: one of a national treasure, Queen Elizabeth II and the other, inspired by the loss of my father.
This is the 15 minute interview I had with Jenetta & Al Cini describing the journey each painting took me on; explaining how the act of painting helped me find peace with a complex range of emotions.
We also reflected on the value that traumatic and painful experiences have when they build powerful roots to understanding, leading to positive actions which can help others in profound and meaningful ways.
Toy Fair Inspiration
Energised and inspired by another great toy fair at Sandown Park Race Course. Watch a little overview of my visit and discover the insights I learned.
Another toy fair visit!! This time I swapped my exhibitor’s hat for a visitor’s, wanting to be in ‘explore mode.’ These toy fairs have a very special energy, not only because of the brilliant mix of toys but also the warmth and passion of the people there.
There is a sort of shared sense of wonder and enthusiasm which sparks all sorts of interesting conversations. I always end up learning so much, discovering another little piece of the toy puzzle, helping me explain what it is about these objects that fire my imagination.
This time round it was appreciating the process, craft and detailed observation of subject that went into creating model figures and the amazing cottage industries of people who would hand paint them before mass machine manufacture took over. These people were often women at their kitchen tables but also, in the instance of Keymen figures, prison inmates.
Big thank you to Barry Potter for another great fair and to @victorianathanson for her excellent company!
Tribute to a Queen
Taking a pause today to pay my respects, through paint, to a great lady, Queen Elizabeth II. Watch a little timelapse showing this tribute work in progress, along with the source of its inspiration.
A small tribute to a great lady!
This painting, still a work in progress, was inspired by a vintage Timpo toy, created in commemoration of the Queen's Coronation.
A moment that marked the beginning of a 70 year reign which ended on the 8th September this year.
Today's funeral marks an historic moment in which we bid farewell to an extraordinary woman, a symbol of our nation, who walked with grace and dignity throughout her life.
RIP Queen Elizabeth II ❤
A New Ride
My love of bicycles is finally finding expression in a new toy inspired painting! Watch the progress so far!
Those of you who know me, also probably know my second hand beast of a bicycle, which I am constantly getting from A to B on.
A big fan of cycles, I have been meaning to pay tribute to one in a painting for a while.
This charismatic diecast acrobat, riding a cycle, again manufactured by Charbens is my first go at the subject! Will report back when I am further along with it!
New Muscles
Building my strength back up and what better way than with this new painting of a Toy Circus Strongman! Watch the progress so far!
Building up new muscles!
In the wake of last week's tech shock - I thought I'd reinforce the visual muscles with a strength inspiring subject!
This diecast toy circus strongman, with his barbells, manufactured by Charbens, seemed like the perfect candidate. A figure I've painted before, but one I have wanted to revisit for sometime.
It's only a beginning but has definitely got my digital paint brush singing again! More updates to follow soon!
Kicking off a new painting!
A new artwork is on the digital easel! Check out a mini timelapse of how I got going on this painting, inspired by a toy die-cast goal keeper.
I'm getting stuck into a series of toy inspired digital oil paintings.
Kicking things off😉with this goal keeper.
I'm using the wonderful Rebelle 5 from @escapemotions which offers an amazing range of traditional mediums and brushes in digital form.
Going for a 'wet on wet' approach with this series, which means working with a more loaded brush vs building up in thinner strokes.
I'll see how things progress and post another update soon!
Off To the Races - A New Work in Progress
Sharing a little glimpse of what is currently on the digital easel! Watch my progress so far with this new toy inspired painting.
A new work in progress!
My inspiration? A Britains diecast toy horse & jockey.
It is the smallest of nods toward this May and another trip I will be making to Barry Potter's Famous Sandown Toy Fair, where I will be showcasing a few new things!
As for this specific Horse & Jockey duo, can anyone guess the history?
Wishing you all a fab Friday!
A Valentine Dance
Sharing the story behind this Flamenco duo and a new Valentine inspired painting series
A Flamenco Serenade, digital oil painting (work in progress)
Valentine Day greetings to you all!
Inspired by the theme of couples and love I have embarked upon a new series of paintings, charting different aspects and timelines of love through the magic of vintage toy characters.
Today I share with you the first of these, A Flamenco Serenade!
I encountered this duo at a Barry Potter toy fair and was instantly engaged by their energy.
I studied them in the round and found the pose that, for me, best captured the essence of them - eyes locked, hearts, feet, arms and bodies beating to a unified rhythm - a moment suspended in time!
The power and intensity of the flamenco dance seems to me the perfect analogy for those first passionate steps of courtship.
Not quite finished but nearly there, this fiery couple will eventually be available as a fine art print and card - so watch this space :)
Wishing you all a beautiful rest of day, filled with love!
A Santa Salute
Sharing my Santa story in honour of Christmas 2021, revealing the inspiration behind my latest painting of a vintage toy Santa!
This week I was told about an interesting ‘Santa age metric’ It goes like this:
Young enough to believe in him
Old enough not to
Until you reach the age of dressing up and becoming him
Wherever you are on this journey I wish you a very Happy Christmas with my own particular twist on the Santa theme.
This painting was based on a Santa I picked up on eBay. He wasn’t your characteristic round bellied type but rather, something a little more agile and – one might imagine - capable of hopping down and up a chimney!
The name of Santa carries with it many associations, for me the magic and sense of wonder he represents always makes me smile along with my childhood memories of letters drifting up chimneys and mince pies and brandies left out by the fireplace on Christmas eve, disappearing by morning!
Now a little older, the idea of Santa has definitely evolved. Less about the material and more about that deep rooted sense of giving and receiving in its simplest forms, of the love we bear to one another.
It is on that note that I hope your Christmas is a safe, warm and smiling one!
Celebrating World Elephant Day
A little dive into the world of Elephants in celebration of World Elephant Day (19th August). Using my painted allegory ‘A Little Help’ to ask a few questions. Read on to discover what I found out.
Another animal day of celebration paying tribute to the Elephant, this time with one of my toy paintings called 'A little Help' (oil on canvas 60 x 60 cm).
The painting itself was an allegorical play on ideas like 'the elephant in the room' and 'whistle-blowing' and I think it fitting to offer it up today as a way of asking the question:
How are elephants getting on in our world?
This is what I've discovered so far
🐘Elephant facts
They are the world's largest land animal, have a super thick skin (2.5cm in most places), a voracious appetite, an extraordinarily agile trunk, and are very keen walkers, so much so that they are up and walking within 20 minutes of being born.
🐘Problems
They are also under massive threat with an estimated 415,000 wild elephants left in the world (around 90% less in number than a century ago).
These dangers include poaching to supply ivory trade demand, loss of habitat and an increasing strain on human-elephant relations with migratory routes now shared with agricultural developments, human settlements and infrastructural constructions.
🐘Solutions
Building awareness, changing perceptions and reducing commercial demand for ivory, helping local rangers enforce measures to protect existing elephant populations and promoting local education whilst exploring the application of new technologies to improve human-elephant interactions.
Highly recommend checking out
WWF website for more info🤓
New Year Greetings
Today I am bidding farewell to 2020, Colombian style, with a new digital painting. I am also saying a big hello to 2021 and celebrating some inspiring teachers who have helped me take a stronger step forward into the new year!
THE world traveller, digital painting
GOODBYE TO 2020
The above was my little toy inspired farewell to 2020, which gives a nod to the Colombian new year tradition where you take an empty suitcase around the block at midnight to ensure the following year is one filled with travel!
Whether it is travel in the more literal sense or something altogether more abstract, I hope 2021 is a year that takes us all on some joyful adventures!
THE WEIGHTLIFTER, oil on canvas board, 30 X 30 CM
HELLO 2021
In greetings to 2021, I wanted to celebrate the idea of strength. To introduce the theme I give you my oil on canvas painting of The Weightlifter or as I like to call it Balls of Steels!
However more specifically I’d like to mention 3 inspiring yoga/Pilates teachers who practice strength in both mind and body and have taught me so much in the last year, enriching my understanding of the body and how to sustainably improve my strength and wellbeing.
All of them offer wonderful zoom classes which I wholeheartedly recommend not only for what they will teach you but also the spirit of their guidance, each with their own style, humility and humour. A big thank you to Al (@ajsyogi) Roxy (@roxcoreflex_yoga) and Anna (@annatras) for all that you do!
Click the pictures below to take you to each teacher’s Instagram page
Lasso the Moon
Today I am celebrating one of my favourite Christmas films and how it inspired my latest digital painting. I also walk you through how this painting was made in a special in depth video about my digital painting process.
Today I am celebrating one of my favourite Christmas films It’s A Wonderful Life directed by Frank Capra, with James Stewart starring as George Bailey and Donna Reed as Mary.
All credit to my bro who treated me to my first viewing of this many Christmases ago at the London BFI. Since then, it has become a bit of a family tradition to watch every year.
It is the movie that planted the delightful notion of 'lassoing the moon' in my head and all the associations it carries for reaching for one’s dreams.
I have been itching to make a painting about this for a long time and this year, as of literally this week, I have just finished my first attempt at it. The film triggered the idea, but I should also mention the little diecast cowboy toy, from my father’s collection, which was my reference point.
I welcome you to take a little tour of my digital painting, accompanied by the dialogue between George Bailey and Mary, without which it might not have come about. I hope you enjoy!
I have also put together a special in depth video below which walks you through how I painted this piece. It will hopefully give you a clearer understanding of my digital painting process.
I am however also interested to know your thoughts and hear your questions about this, so do let me know, in the comments below, if you have any.