March is on its way, marking the beginning of my painting season. The first excursion of the year is as always my flight south, towards the sun and warmer climes of Morocco. I can’t wait to see Ali, his family, and our friends and start painting in the deserts and spring valleys of Morocco.

My suitcase is out of the cupboard and filling fast with tubes of paint and sun cream, easels and brushes. A few garments might just fit on top.

The warmth and hospitality of our host in Morocco always makes it so hard to leave. However, the suitcases have barely passed the front door back in London, then it’s off to Hampshire for a family Easter.

In April I change my palette from the rich oranges and cerulean blues of North Africa to fresher colours to capture the Sicilian spring. The Italian season begins with my stay at the Fattoria Mosé where another warm welcome awaits us. 2010 looks to be the busiest ever with courses in Morocco and Sicily fully booked and only a few spaces left on my Tuscany trips.

For those of you who are not able to join me this year in Morocco, here are a few photos to give you a glimpse of what you are missing.

       


   

Representations and Interpretations of Angels by over 20 British and International Artists : Andrew Logan, Jason Atomic, Bettina Schroeder, Julia Warhola, Peter Sylveire, Delphine Lebourgeois, Brett Ewins, Tim Head, Mieko Meguro, Mark Rathmel, Pixi Haselhoff. Graham Hunter, Sarah Tamosius, Dorian Aroyo, Caroline Stanley, Weef, Jenni Francis, John Glynn, Lydia Hoffnungsthal, Olga Brown, Ruslan Kotev, Rebecca Merry, Rosemarie Clunie, Hannah Gibbon.

"It is not because angels are holier than men or devils that makes them angels, but because they do not expect holiness from one another, but from God only."

The show runs from: 10th November – 24th December 2009

     A&D GALLERY
     51 CHILTERN STREET
     LONDON, W1U 6LY

Nearest tube: Baker Street
Gallery opening times: Mon-Sat 10.30am-7.00pm
Tel: 020 7486 0534
Email: info@aanddgallery.com
Web: http://www.AandDgallery.com

As we welcome the new year I would like to look back briefly on another rewarding season. In my annual migration I flew with the birds and my paint box from Morocco at the beginning of March, to my final destination in Scotland, in September, stopping off In Italy and Devon for their customary hospitality and visual splendours. It was a great pleasure share my route with so many of you and enjoy contributing to your creative endeavours.

We had a particularly memorable trip to Morocco last year when generous winter rains had transformed the desert. Fields of acid green herbs and a myriad tiny yellow flowers glowed against the peach pink dunes at Ali’s Nomad Palace, a sight not seen for over twenty years. Incidentally, Ali has built new swimming pool, so now all locations possess a pool except Devon and Scotland where we have, of course, lochs, estuaries and the sea on our doorstep, thus giving everyone a chance to swap their painting water for the sort you swim in!

In a quirky change from the norm, the weather during my UK courses was generally excellent, while the more exotic locations offered unexpected challenges. However, we painters are a resourceful breed and the occasional change of location did nothing to damp our enthusiasm.

Artistically the past year has been more exciting than usual. I was delighted to take part in four shows, at the Rivington Gallery, the Candid Arts Trust, and ‘Representations of Angels’ at the A&D Gallery, all in London, and the ‘Nomad’s Tent’ exhibition at Coombe Farm Gallery in Devon.*

For the grand finale, I’m thrilled to tell you that we have a brand new look for the
www.art-holidays.com website, which is now online.

Whether first-timers or old friends, I look forward to seeing of you in 2010, so that we can continue our adventures in watercolour (and other media!).

Happy New Year!
 

* If you did not receive an invitation to any or all of my shows, I do apologize, but due to shortness of time (and the number of shows) I was only able to send out email invites. Please send me your email address if you would like to be added to my exhibition mailing list.