"Mark Harris - (Artist in Focus No.8) "

                       I spent a couple of days in Dorset last week, staying in an apartment
                       attached to the studio/gallery of artist Mark Harris in the village of
                       Briantspuddle. As I was doing some more drawing and photographs
                       of the Jurassic coast this was an ideal base to explore this part of
                                                                         Dorset.

                                                                   

Mark's studio/gallery

His landscape paintings of the surrounding countryside

and coast depict the area in a unique way.

Working in acrylic and mixed media including ink defines his style.

The nearby coast of Lulworth cove and Durdle Door

will provide me with inspiration for my own work. 

" The Route to Timanfaya"

                                   A new painting of the volcanic landscape on the island of
                                      Lanzarote. The national park covers an area of 542 sq.
                                    kilometres and despite its covering of lava and ash from
                                  volcanic activity between 1730 and 1736 there is a strong
                                                               presence of plant life.   


                                                               
                                                               

"The Route to Timanfaya"-  Acrylic on canvas   20" x 20" 

"Roger Backwell - 1947 - 2010 (Artist in Focus No.7)"

                                  I'm using the occasion of today, the 9th. of June, on what
                                 would have been my brother's 72nd. birthday, to celebrate
                                               a much loved and respected artist.
                                             
                                                                 

Roger in his studio in Spain

Following a career in advertising and illustration, Roger moved to

Spain with his wife Sue and various dogs to pursue a career as a 

painter.

He exhibited widely with a group of painters,photographers

and sculptors from Scandanavia , England , Spain and the U.S.

who all had found a new life in the area around the hill village

of Competa.

Paintings drying in the sun

" Scenes from a Greek Island"

                                      Two new paintings inspired by a recent visit to Rodos.

                                               "Aegean Harbour" - Acrylic on canvas  16" x 16"

                                                                          

       

"Grape vines Pefkos" -Acrylic on canvas   12" x 12"

" Fishing with Nik"

                       

I'm looking down across Kavos bay at the sun glinting off the 

turquoise water that today is flat and still after two days of breezy

conditions that gave a slight swell to the sea.

The boat anchored off the beach belongs to Nik or "Captain Nikolas".

He's lived in the town of Pefkos for all of his sixty two years and makes 

regular fishing trips from Kavos .

"Captain Nikolas"

I'm glad of the calm conditions as today I'm going with Nik on a 

three hour trip around the coast to Lindos and back.

Baiting the lines

By mid-day, with the temperature rising to 30C, I'm

grateful for the shade of the boat as we throw the baited

lines into the crystal clear water off Navaronne beach.

Within seconds we're catching small fish called "Skaros".

Nik deftly removes the hooks and despatches the fish into a bucket,

he'll fry them in ouzo for a light snack this evening.

Heading back

By early afternoon we're back at Kavos beach and I have 

a swim to cool off and eat my sandwich before returning to

my apartment.

    

"Spring Garden"

                                A new painting referenced from sketches made in the gardens
                               at Combe Grove country house hotel near Bath England.

                                                                     

                                             
                              " Spring Garden - Combe Grove"- Acrylic on canvas 16"x 16"

"44AD Artspace and gallery video"

        As an associate artist at 44AD gallery in Bath, England, I'd like to share
       with you this corporate video. Made by a group of media students from
       South Gloucester Stroud college in the U.K. it gives a flavour of what
       the gallery and artist's studios are about.

       Although my studio isn't based here, I've come to know several of the
       artist "residents" and participate in regular exhibitions.
      
       Acknowledgements to the students who produced the film listed in the
       credits.