Robin, who should be asleep, is shuffling around under the desk. He keeps turning off the computer. But when the twins have slept these past couple of weeks, this is what I have been playing with:

I have a second scene painted and intend to play with cutting it over Christmas. But this is the colour prototype of the first design. There’s a whiskey glass with a tea light inside. Now I just need to find a man who can make it for me!

This one is of Albert Street in Hebden Bridge, with the old Zion chapel behind. The second I will post soon. I have begun a third, which will be of trees strung with lights. This is making these dark evenings less gloomy!

I’m so enjoying the colours of the trees the last few weeks. They’re incredible! Though I know a gusty weekend will strip the trees bare and leave the landscape monochrome til spring. I’ve been taking the new paintings out to capture the colours. I was sat by the river yesterday with some hot chocolate, some pencils, and no children!

Also, with the help of my lovely friend Hannah Nunn at Radiance, I’ve been working on a new idea. The one on the left is a prototype, the one the right is a Birthday card. The finished ones will be full colour, like my paintings, but lanterns, cut so the light twinkles out of the windows and doors.

Also, after patiently waiting for about a year now The Harrison Lord Gallery will be restocking my prints, just as soon as I can muster them a collection. Tomorrow is saved entirely for stitching prints for Steven Lord!

With a date in mind – all be it a long way off – I have started some new work while the sun is shining and the leaves are turning.

I’ve started two of the views from the other side of the valley, down accross Market street with, what Hattie and I call, the Madeline houses (like the houses in the children’s book) and the stepped terrace up Heptonstall road. Read the rest of this entry »

I know this has taken me a long time because on the first of the sketching trips to Whitby Hattie was potty training (August Bank holiday weekend with the portable potty. It was very stressful) and she started Reception last week! Anyway – here it is…

This is a commission for a lovely person who just loves Whitby.

Phil and Sue at The Calder Gallery have been making me cups of tea and cuddling my twins lots over the last 9 months and as I’m gradually returning to work we’ve been discussing a solo exhibition. September 2012 gives me a nice long time! But I must start now.

Though there’s not been much painting recently, there has been lots of sketch book work .

I have the remains of a huge mill chimney in my back garden and it has been full of nesting birds this summer.

I feel a bit of a bird theme coming on – for two paintings at least.

The last seven months have flown by and have been mostly wonderful. Now the twins can sit up and eat proper food and much of the time I marvel at my suddenly vast family!

Back in September I started a commission for a lady who wanted me to paint her garden, with the best bits from all the seasons. I have been painting it in hour and two hour slots in the evenings or when the twins have had a nap. This week  I have finally finished it!

Since exchanging half of my brain for these very beautiful babies, I am very proud to have managed to put together enough work to take part in the Saltaire Arts Trail that takes place this weekend. I set up my small display this morning at 10, Edward Street. A small and perfectly formed house only two streets away from Salts Mill itself. My large Rock Nook Mill painting is hanging, and there is a large selection of prints. There are many houses displaying the works of artists and makers, and a makers fair at the Victoria Hall. It should be a lovely weekend. I hope to bring all my family to explore on Monday afternoon. Salts Mill at least is vast enough to accommodate the babies in their huge pram!

This is what I’ve been working on for the last 9 months!  Daisy and Robin arrived at the beginning of December.

I think it’s my best work, and i’m afraid won’t be for sale. They’ll be keeping me busy so I wont be painting for a while; though I’m collecting ideas all the time and hope to have an exhibition of new work in 2012

I’ve just finished this!

It’s of the Priory Gardens in Dunster, Somerset back in June this year. Hattie and I went to Dunster Beach for our holidays.

I’m sending this one, along with Elland Bridge and 3 Songbird prints to The Old Chapel Gallery in Pembridge for their group exhibition entitled h.Art

Posts are coming less frequently these days because we are desperately trying to make ready our new house (in the centre of Hebden Bridge now) for not one but two new Lycett Originals! Well – Pope originals. They are due in mid December.

Apparently everyone will be wearing hot pink for the FEVA Arts festival in Knaresborough! On Tuesday I delivered two new pieces, The Viaduct and The Moorings to Art in the Mill. The preview for their Ten on Top exhibition previews tonight (August 12th 2010) and Elaine, the gallery owner, was baking pink buns ready when I saw her on Tuesday.

Both images were taken from photographs and sketches I did on the day of the open gardens in Knaresborough earlier in the summer.

The FEVA festival runs for ten days, and there are all sorts of fantastic things going on. But I think the exhibition will continue for a month. It’s a lovely gallery!