The past few days saw the first of the three Norfolk Open Studios weekends, and my studio was open along with three others in Dersingham. There were plenty of visitors too, but there’s still time if you haven’t managed to call in yet.

I’ve got about ten new paintings on show, plus some old favourites and lots of sketchbooks etc. to look at. I sold loads of cards and prints over the weekend, so I’m busy topping those up too! One of the paintings that seems to be particularly popular is this view over the Wash, from Chalk Pit Road above the village of Ingoldisthorpe. A magical viewpoint really – I could sit there for hours just watching the changing light.

Do call in to the studio if you are in the area. I will be open 10am – 5pm on the next two weekends, 1st – 2nd and 8th – 9th June. The address is on my Contact page – look forward to seeing you!

The east Anglian artist Edward Seago was one of the most popular painters in the mid part of the 20th Century and his work is still widely collected today. Seago worked in both oils and watercolour, but it’s his watercolour paintings that I find most exciting. He had the knack of taking the most simple of subjects, a tree in a field or a couple of boats on the beach, and with what seemed to be just a few brushstrokes produced an amazing rendition of the scene.

Of course, just because it looks very simple doesn’t mean to say that it’s simple to follow those techniques yourself! To emulate Seago’s style requires a degree of skill, in arranging the composition, drawing, and in handling the watercolour brush. But, these skills can be learnt, by studying his paintings and of course by practice.

On the 18th and 19th May 2013 I will be running a weekend workshop at West Norfolk Arts Centre, Castle Rising, Near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Entitled Let the Brush Tell the Story, we’ll look closely at Edward Seago’s working methods and learn how to apply at least some of them to our own paintings. It should be fun and you’re bound to come away with an increased awareness of what it takes to make a successful watercolour painting.

Alongside this post you can see my own humble effort at painting a scene that Seago returned to on many occasions, a Norfolk fishing village with a few boats drawn up on the foreshore. Note that the eye is drawn in to the cottages by their being light and dark shapes against the sky. See also how limited the number of colours is, just Ultramarine Blue, Raw Sienna and Light Red.

I hope you might like to join me for a chance to let your own brush tell the story! To book contact the Arts Centre on 01553 631689 or get more information at westnorfolkarts.co.uk

A very Happy New Year to all my blog-followers! I’m sorry not to have posted anything lately, but we have been away enjoying the sunshine in Madeira. Watch for one or two Madeira mountain paintings in due course.

Looking forward to 2013 I will be commencing my final term of weekly watercolour courses at West Norfolk Arts Centre in a couple of weeks, but beyond that I will still be doing plenty of teaching. Weekends and other workshops, plus there will be more opportunities for small groups to join me here at the studio in Dersingham.

Speaking of the studio, the Christmas Open Studio that I held in early December was very successful, and thanks to all those who visited. Here’s a photo of one of the paintings that was sold. It’s a small work in watercolour and Indian ink, only about 6ins x 8ins and shows the ruins of St James church Bawsey, near King’s Lynn. An iconic West Norfolk landmark.