About my fundraising
You can buy the original of any of these watercolours (unframed). The reserve price is £50 per painting. Just make me an offer!
The paintings of Portmeirion were produced to illustrate That Strange Necessity: Visions of Portmeirion, published by Signal Books. The book costs £14.99 and I will be glad to supply you with a copy. The book features seven walks around the village of Portmeirion and, besides my illustrations, has delightful poems written by my friend Sir Christopher Ball (he writes under the name of John Elinger).
Alternatively, you can commission me to do a watercolour of your house, or a favourite view, or a portrait of a member of your family. Whatever you pay goes to charity. My painting is an enjoyable hobby – I’m an amateur, not a professional who needs to earn an income from painting. This results in a win-win-win:
1 Money is raised for good causes.
2 You get a painting you will hopefully enjoy (and that, after I’m dead, will undoubtedly increase in value!).
3 I am blissfully happy producing watercolours.
My watercolours
I love painting watercolours, not so much for the outcome, more for the process. When I’m painting I enjoy a feeling of ‘flow’ – where I am so engrossed that nothing can intrude (except meal times – the kitchen table is often my studio!).
Mostly I paint landscapes and portraits – always in watercolour. I always start with an idea in my head of what the painting should look like. This is a pity because the finished painting very rarely matches my ‘vision’. Sometimes I paint outside, on my little canvas stool, but more often I do sketches and take photographs to use as a reference. When painting portraits, I have never yet had the courage to ask anyone to sit for me. My portraits are a purely clandestine activity. I’d hate to inconvenience the sitter, especially if things didn’t work out and I had to throw the painting away! (If I’m not happy with a painting, I always tear it up.)
I’m not particularly keen on drawing. For me drawing is just a necessary step to get through as quickly as possible so that I can start painting. Getting watercolours to do what I want them to do is what really intrigues me. They are prone to misbehaving and too much fiddling makes them muddy and dull. As the painting develops, I frequently prop it up on the dresser and stand back to take a long hard look. Sometimes I leave the room and return suddenly to catch the painting unawares and see it, for a few seconds, with fresh pair of eyes!
I have no idea how I decide that a painting is finished. When, somehow, I decide, I pin the painting on a notice board in the kitchen and live with it for a few weeks. Subsequently, I might make some small adjustments – but this is rare.
So, for me painting is essentially a selfish activity, but I can’t deny that if you like the finished article (and say so!) I’m pleased (very pleased actually!).
If you see a painting you particularly like, you can have the original – not mounted or framed. Just send me an email making me an offer (all the money goes to charity) and I will let you know if it is still available.
