A Break Away From It All !!

 A friend of mine has this beautiful shepherds hut to rent out for holidays... Wonderful views looking over South Shropshire.

''Shepherds Rest''  is situated on a working farm just outside Ludlow.

It is fully fitted out with kitchen, bathroom and shower. 1 double bedroom, wood burning stove etc.

Ass you can see its wonderfully cosy in there..

Its an ideal base to visit Ludlow and surrounding areas and I think it may be available for the Ludlow Food And Drink Festival weekend of May 13th,,,

If you are interested in renting this beautiful holiday home with a difference you can contact my friend Vanessa on the details below..

New ''Painting My Way''

Wishing all my very lovely ,loyal students a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy
 2017.... and thank you so much for all your support over the past 13 years...

There has been a little U-turn in the plans to retire from teaching due to my ill-health ...
 
I am taking time off until May to rest and try and get my medications down to a more reasonable level-which I can only do by resting..and after the huge response from everyone, which was really humbling, I have decided to try and do some private, personal one to one workshops and small groups of up to 4 people..
The small numbers mean no walking for me, so I will be able to sit and teach!

These workshops will take place once or twice a month..from middle of May onwards.. contact me for more details please...

Of course any workshops will be dependant on the state of my health on the date and could be cancelled-- but hopfully that wont happen...

But I have realised I couldn't walk away from what I love doing most in the world--teaching you lovely people how to paint! 

groups of up to 4 people will be £40 each and a one to one will be £50 for the usual 16" x 20" canvas.. bigger canvas will obviously be more..

So if you want to do a particular painting with any friends or family--up to 4 people please have a look at the website http://paintingmyway.co.uk/a1-gallery2.asp?roomID=10286  for the subjects available or if you have any ideas on what you would like to paint please get in touch with me..

Stormy Poppies Workshop Jan 23rd

Its been one of those weeks this week..not had a minute somehow..So sorry to last weeks students for the delay in this write up...Norma and Dave on left have been before and painted Yesterday,, they had quite a  drive from Mold so they came down the day before and stayed overnight..They enjoyed using oils and it was interesting to see how they both tackled the painting.. Cristiana has been once before and painted Mellow Moods, and it was a first time for Caroline and daughter Zara. Both of them couldn't  believe they would be able to create anything worth hanging on the wall-but it didn't take long for them both to see just how easy it was to do..both really got into it and Caroline has already booked up for another workshop with her hubby!  I will never get fed up of watching people lose the fear they have when they walk through the door-- and the results speak for themselves don't they?

Cats In The Trees Workshops Jan 14th

First time for Molly-above-- who was treated to her workshop by her daughter Jenny as a Christmas pressie..she really didn't think she would be able to make much of a job of her painting,,and was very happy with her results at the end..

Jenny also chose the beautiful ,bright , vibrant sunset colours to do her painting...its amazing just how different the pictures can turn out when students all use the same colours. And there is quite a choice of subjects to add on at the end too...

Peter was treated to the workshop also as a Christmas pressie by his friend Angela..they both chose the blues/purples which gives the end result a completely different feel..

Angela has been once before a few years ago..loved her blending of the blues and purples in her background..

Linda came for the first time just a few weeks ago to paint 50 Shades of Green, so a first time with acrylics..

Molly was just great at painting branches--she had the knack very quickly,,,,and she didn't want any cats in her trees--just an owl or two..

Linda added some owls in her trees, a few bunnies under them and bravely put some birds in the sky...

Lovely bold trees from Angela

Peter adding his bunnies! Everyone went away with some varnish in order to protect their painting..they will be amazed at the difference it makes to the painting-brings all the colours out beautifully!

Lovely results everyone..

As it was Valentines Day it was lovely to come home and be able to put our feet up early as there were few brushes to clean with soap and water..

A bottle of fizz rounded off a lovely day....

Mellow Moods Workshop

First time for Joan..she was bought along by her daughter Lucy-who had seen me on Ludlow market years ago ,picked up a leaflet and lost it-and eventually found me via Google! Joan seemed to find every step quite simple and created a beautiful mystical painting..

Lucy also really enjoyed creating her painting-- we are going over to Wolverhampton to do her hen party--that will be lots of fun! We have done a few hen parties and its always a good laugh--and everyone has a lovely memento of the day to keep forever..

Helen was painting her 3rd painting---she tends to go for the subtle effect--which is is fine----that's the beauty of my workshops--you get to use your own initiative and choose exactly how you want your painting to look at the end--so if you want bold or subtle you can do it!

Norma and Dave came along a couple of years ago for the first time and painted "Yesterday" they then sent along some relatives as a surprise after--all enjoyed it very much! This subject is quite different to to that one as we use acrylic and oils..

Dave used the spring time colours to do his painting...its amazing how different they look from the autumn colours..

Martin is getting close to his artist badge now..

Anne is getting to be quite an expert now..she has done quite a few workshops with me...

Jackie will be having her Artist brooch next week when she comes to do the Birches workshop...she bought along her sister Karen for the 2nd time today..

Karen made a great job of her painting,,,there was lots of fun and chatter going on in the class with Hugh who was with us for the first time...and Karen and Jackie were creased most of the day :-)

Hugh with his masterpiece-he had to rush off before the group photos as he had a taxi picking him up..he absolutely loved his day-his son had bought him a gift voucher I had donated to the local British Legion club to raise money in an auction...he def had his own ideas on what he wanted in his painting--no waterfall for him--he wanted a stream... so a stream he had!

Cathy has got all the paints at home but didn't know what to do with them...I'm sure she will be having a go at home now..

well done!

Lovely! Well done!

Lovely results-well done!

See you all again soon!

Reeds In The Breeze--workshop results..

I must apologise about being late doing the blog..life has been so busy of late with one thing and another... Above you can see  7 year old Luke who is our little helper--he often helps Bill set out the brushes,tables etc and helps me fetch the paintings off the van...he is a very determined young man who knows exactly what he wants to put on his canvas...

Martin chose the yellow ochre shades for his painting...this was his 3rd painting...

Anne wanted her painting to be on the subtle side..she is fast becoming quite an expert at beautiful skies....

Jenny was a first timer-she loved the workshop and created a lovely painting with ease..

Debs came along with Jenny for the first time-she was quite a amazed at how easy it was to paint...

Brian has painted before using watercolours but this was a first for him using oils..

2nd time for Veronica, she is making a beautiful job of her painting here..

1st time for Joan who we met at Onslow Park Steam rally earlier this year along with Clare, both followed my step by step instructions to  the letter..

Claire adding dome detail to her distant hills..

Iva adding the bushes/grasses

Claire's very first time..lovely job..

John's 3rd time with me--he is already finding his own style.

Joan was convinced she wouldn't be able to create anything worthy of hanging on the wall...as are most people when they come for the first time,,its always lovely for me to see them gaining confidence with every brush stroke.

7 year old Luke was very bold with his beautiful big poppies...

Wonderful  results from everyone..