Nearly time for the annual Art Show at the St Andrew Blackadder Church in North Berwick High Street. Now in its 17th year this exhibition features the work of around 60 local artists and raises money for the Church Repair Fund and a selection of local charities. During the show tea and coffee along with homebaking is served - even I am baking! (a rare event, if I am honest). Opening hours 10am until 5pm on Good Friday and Sat 20th, and 1pm until 5pm on Easter Sunday. Note that the exhibition is not running on Easter Monday this year, but if you still need an art fix then pop down and see me in my beach hut studio!
All my paintings in the exhibition shown below.

It seems I have been a bit remiss with blog posts, so here are three updates in one. Daylight is of course restricted at this time of year which means that evening working is out of the question! However I have been working on some boats, a slightly different view of North Berwick from the harbour wall - which is destined for the St Andrew Blackadder art show at Easter, and a rather large collage of a spring woodland which if I am being completely honest I am finding rather hard going. Or at least I assume that's why I keep stopping working on it to concentrate on something else!

And what a summer it's been - weeks and weeks of warm sunny weather. I have been at my beach hut studio nearly every day, painting and meeting interesting people. Last week the Fringe by the Sea was in town too, so we were sharing our space with two Spiegeltents, interesting music and the daily tantalisation of wonderful cooking smells drifting over from the food court. I may have succumbed once or twice...
No hut today, or yesterday, as it has been rather damp. I have finally finished this painting 'Paragon & Design' and treated myself to a new tiny paintbrush (having ruined the old one!).
Next stop - the Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show at Bonhams in Edinburgh

I seem to have been a little remiss in updating my blog recently so here are three bits of news all wrapped up in to one easily digested bundle...

1. I was delighted to be voted the winner of the Public Vote in the recent Dalkeith Arts Spring Exhibition held in the Riccio Gallery in Dalkeith, with my painting 'The Meadows in the Snow'.

2.  I am currently exhibiting some of my boat paintings in the lovely Number Four Gallery in scenic St Abbs, as part of their Spring Exhibition. This is a lovely gallery with a very fine mix of work on display and well worth a visit. http://www.numberfourgallery.co.uk/

3. I'm back in my Beach Hut! Yes, beach nut no 5 'Lamb' at North Berwick Harbour is again my home for the summer, providing a space to work and display my artwork. Still a little chilly some days but I'll be there when the weather is reasonable, from about 12.30 onwards.

Got the bit between my teeth the last two or three weeks and have been really quite productive - lots of painting! All boats from North Berwick harbour , and destined for various upcoming shows.

First boat painting finished in what seems like ages! Another view of Tidewatch II which I seem to paint rather often - I do like its shape though. Hoping that people will understand the title...

My new home/summer studio for the months of July and August - maybe into September if the weather is good enough - is hut no 5 down by the Lobster Hatchery at North Berwick harbour. Moved in just over a week ago and it's fair to say the weather has been mixed! Although we've had visitors even on the quieter days and I've got a surprising amount of work done and met some very nice people. I plan to be there most days, from 12 noon onwards. My arty neighbours include Andrina Wright Artist and Ronnie Fulton Ceramics.

​Preparations well in hand for the North Berwick Art Group's Summer Show which starts this weekend. Details in poster below :)

'Yet it was not consumed' - the burning bush. This stone carving and window is on a wall of the Baptist Church at the end of Forth Street, a fine building now in need of some repair. The burning bush has long been used as an emblem of the Church of Scotland (only officially since 1958). After a bit of research, I found this information on the St Andrew Blackadder Church website - "... 1843, when the Free Church of Scotland seceded from the Church of Scotland over the issue of the appointment of parish ministers by the system of Patronage. Shortly after that, a subscription was raised and a new building constructed at the junction of Forth Street and Shore Street (now Victoria Road). The new church was named Blackadder Church after John Blackadder and is now used by the North Berwick Baptist Church."

October was mainly taken up with pen and ink drawing, and the result of all this effort is a colouring book which features fifteen new drawings of iconic North Berwick buildings and views. It is printed on heavyweight recycled paper and is now for sale in Why Not? in North Berwick High Street, and you can also find it in Dirleton Gallery in the lovely village of Dirleton. Both establishments also carry some of my paintings and prints.