There has been so much happening recently I can hardly keep up with my blogs! The next big event is my exhibition at Bourton House Gardens in Gloucestershire. It is four years since my last solo show so I am really excited to be back there, celebrating the launch of my new book ‘Watercolour Workshop’ There will be a lot of paintings on display! When I put a book together many of the images are kept back until after publication so many of the images from ‘Watercolour Workshop’ will be for sale at the exhibition as well as other interpretations. In size they range from full sheets of watercolour paper to little tinies and as always some are framed and others in mounts only. There are also other surprise surfaces and experiments. Subject wise there are plenty of trees and woodlands, watery scenes, wildflower meadows, country walls, beehives birds and butterflies. There are flowers, sheep and lots of other rustic interpretations with tangles, textures and a little bit of magic!
Spring Hawthorn(from ‘Watercolour Workshop)
I have had a new range of greeting cards printed and also some new giclee prints ( The prints will also go online next year)
I have just received my first copy of ‘John Blockley – A Retrospective’ so you will be able to see that on display at the exhibition two months in advance of publication! I should get early copies in June and will be taking orders at the exhibition ( as well as online) . My own book ‘Watercolour Workshop will of course be there as well. The publishers have taken no chances in it selling out like it did with my last book ( which had sold out before the book launch!!!) and so I have lots of copies.
I will be at the exhibition most of the time so look forward to meeting some of you! It’s in a gorgeous part of the Cotswolds. Bourton House gardens are lovely at this time of year and well worth a visit ( the exhibition is free but there is a fee for the garden) Tea, coffee and lovely cakes are available- Batsford Arboretum is just down the road if you want a larger lunch and of course Moreton in the Marsh is not far.
Wifi and phone signals are not reliable in the tithe barn so as in previous years I will not be able to take cards payments so please bring cheques or cash or we can arrange bank transfers.
This year so far has been all about books, magazines and exhibitions and it has been very positive. I have had some really lovely messages and feedback . However, I am looking forward to getting back to blogs about inspiration, nature and painting when all this madness quietens down! That , after all is what it’s all about!
Book launch Exhibition: The Tithe Barn, Bourton House Gardens, Bourton on the Hill, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AE
Saturday 5th May to Saturday 12th May 2018 (closed Monday 7th May) 10am to 5pm daily
