Idyllic Tuscany

If you are seeking a peaceful destination for a spring fling rural Tuscany has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
Art lovers can enjoy painting the warm  contrasting colours or visit Florence and the magnificent architecture and collections of paintings. Hundreds of cafes and restaurants  for food lovers, shops and markets full of exquisite clothes and shoes and handbags to take home.


                                                                 

Poppy Field ,Tuscany (SOLD)


gouache on canvas board, for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

                                                   

Spring Flings in England

The sun has some warmth in it at last and with some spring vacation time these are some of my favourite destinations at home in England .

Messing About With The Boat  (SOLD)

Alderburgh in Suffolk is a lovely fishing village. As well as the shingle beach there are some upmarket hotels and restaurants or just the simple pleasure of an excellent fish and chip shop.Buy some smoked fish from the fish shacks to take home.

Plenty of cool, clean, east coast air to enjoy

Also in East Anglia is Houghton Water Mill. The mill has been restored to working order from ancient days and now grinds wheat to flour in the traditional way .It is surrounded by lovely water meadow walks .


                                                                          

Houghton Water Mill (SOLD)

paintings in designers gouache on canvas board for sale on www.ebay.co.uk
 

WASHING DAY ,1944

A warm breeze today has reminded me of the times before  washing machines and tumble dryers when my great grandmother would give everything a good boil in the copper, I was allowed to use the posser, sometimes called a dolly,a cup shaped device on a stick to move the washing around and increase the soap suds . After a good wring in the mangle the clean washing was hung out to dry.
 Dire warnings were issued about going near it with footballs or skipping ropes.




                                                                        


                                                                                  

WASHING DAY 1944

Acrylic on canvas
for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

HEADING NORTH,KINGS CROSS, LONDON

It is  usually an easy journey from Cambridge where I live to London by train  via Kings Cross Station. Trains travel along the east coast routes heading north to Scotland and back. Always busy it has a slightly romantic ambience. There is an area of the station set aside for Harry Potter fans and the invisible platform used by pupils from Hogwarts .
Less attractive when things go wrong and boarding is by stampede.


                                                                    

HEADING NORTH,KINGS CROSS


Acrylic on canvas, for sale at  www.ebay.co.uk

SPRING SUNSHINE in Cambridge UK

Spring Sunshine
Acrylic on Canvas
for sale onwww.ebay.co.uk

 Spring flowers are coming out around the gardens of the colleges here in Cambridge. Some areas are open to the public providing lovely walks in the spring sunshine. The area known as The Backs  on Queens Road offers the best views.


                                                           


                                                                      

WESTMINSTER MORNING,LONDON

This is a good time of year to visit London before summer heat and huge crowds of tourists make it a trial.
Westminster Bridge is always at its best early in the morning just as the city is coming to life and the mist from the river clears.

                                                                  

Westminster Morning,London


Acrylic on Canvas
for sale at www.ebay.co.uk

THE LAST TRAIN HOME

Storm warning Doris has been issued today for the U.K. More disruption to travel from snow may be expected.


                                                                        

The Last Train Home


acrylic on canvas for sale at www.ebay.co.uk

WINTER SUNSHINE

At last the weather is a bit warmer. Everyone who has been stuck indoors during the cold spell is hoping to get out enjoy some winter sunshine .



                                                              

Winter Sunshine

acrylic on canvas for sale at www.ebay.co.uk

WINTER WOODS

It is still deep winter  with snow laying and falling in many areas. Desperate for food, rabbits can be seen nibbling at the bark on trees in the woods.




                                                         

Winter Woods

acrylic on canvas for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

SUNDAY MORNING

It is warming up a bit outside and gardeners are wondering if they can get ahead. There is nothing like double digging for breaking up the soil ready for planting in the spring. A good time to tidy up and anoy the neighbours with a big smelly bonfire.





                                                                    
SUNDAY MORNING

for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

FROZEN FEEDING THE DUCKS

The temperature has not risen above 0 degrees for 2 days. It is bitterly cold and ice is forming around the edges of the river .The ducks have to slide towards the bank to get the food that is offered to them.

                                                                 


Feeding The Ducks
acrylic on canvas

item number 322399027323  www.ebay.co.uk

SIGNS OF SPRING-SNOWDROPS

The weather is still freezing cold but the bulbs are starting to show through in a few places. Some snow drops and aconites  are  out in sheltered spots.It fills me with optimism to see this happening .

SnowDrops
Acrylic on Canvas

                                                               

Signs of Spring

 

Acrylic on Canvas for sale at www.ebay.co.uk

item number 322394871766

 

                                                                   

Aconites

Acrylic on canvas
for sale on www.ebay.co.uk
item number 322399027323

                                                  

SNOW IS ON THE WAY

At last it looks as if we shall have some snow in the UK. Some of us have to go out whatever the weather to get to work or exercise animals



                                                         

 

Snow in The Park
Acrylic on Canvas
for sale on www.ebay.co.uk
item number 32238396582

 

                                                                          

Snow in The City,London

Acrylic on Canvas

 for sale at www.ebay.co.uk

item number 322383972743




 

ICE SKATING in ENGLAND

Warmer winters have meant fewer naturally frozen over venues on lakes and rivers for ice skating .More recently temporary venues have been set up in cities across England. London has Somerset House and The Tower of London .
Cambridge has one on Parker's piece.
Fun to do, lovely to watch. No special clothes are needed, you can hire skates when you get there.



                                                                    

SKATERS, acrylic on stretched canvas

for sale on www.ebay.co.uk
item number 322390586688

                                                


 

Home For The Holidays

 Many people are travelling this weekend with the aim of getting home to see loved ones over the Christmas and New Year holidays . Storms are forecast with possible travel disruption and additional difficulties are being caused by some railway workers in the UK.
Good luck to all travellers this weekend.
Proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to The Salvation Army

                                                        

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

acrylic on stretched canvas, for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

All proceeds from a sale of this painting will go to The Salvation Army


 

                                                                          

Happy Christmas Buyers and Viewers

To all the nice people from around the world who have bought or viewed my paintings this year
I wish you a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.


                                                                   

Kings College, Cambridge

WINTER VEGETABLES

The hard frosts have eased a bit this weekend making it easier to harvest winter vegetables.
 It is generally acknowledged that frost improves the flavour of many vegetables, like parsnips, making them taste sweeter, but it is hard work digging and pulling  them out of the frozen ground.


                                                                

WINTER VEG


acrylic on canvas ,for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

LONDON,TRAFALGAR SQUARE, CHRISTMAS

Every year Norway donates a magnificent Christmas tree to London. It can be seen in Trafalgar Square and looks especially lovely with a fall of snow or in the evening just as it is getting dark.




                                             

Trafalgar Square, London,Winter


acrylic on stretched canvas www.ebay.co.uk

Freezing Temperatures

The temperature has been well below freezing for several nights getting down to minus 8 in some places. The skies have been clear allowing dramatic views of the moon and stars.
This is hard work for people who work outside like this shepherd.



                                              



WINTER MOON


acrylic on canvas for sale at www.ebay.co.uk
















 

Christmas Cards

It is time to start writing Christmas Cards .I love receiving Christmas cards  the old fashioned way in the post. Reading through them gives me time to remember old friends and memories even though we not have met for years.

My cards go into a post box in an ancient wall just like this one on Castle Hill ,Cambridge.My favourite pub,The Castle ,is next door.



                                                                     

                                                     

Posting The Christmas Cards


acrylic on stretched canvas for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

item number 322343712775

Winter Weather and the Whippet Bus

 

Winter Weather




A bus company whose livery is bright blue travels around the country side in Cambridgeshire connecting small towns such as St Ives and Huntingdon to Cambridge City .This bus run by Whippet is a lifeline to many people especially in  the winter.It is the only bus that goes to the main railway station and Addenbrookes Hospital from the north. The council is threatening to close it down.


Acrylic on canvas, 9x12 inches ,for sale on www.ebay.co.uk (SOLD)






 

 

Visitors at Christmastime.

The season of Christmas and good cheer is approaching fast.I know how these cats feel about the arrival of some visitors.

Visitors!



Acrylic on Canvas for sale on www.ebay.co.uk  (sold)

Brussels Sprouts

I have just bought some Brussels Sprouts .These vegetables always remind me of when Dad and Grandpa  visited their allotments in Abington Park in Northampton during the war and post wartime dig for victory days .I was sent along to get me out of the way and forced out into the freezing cold while seasonal vegetables were gathered for Sunday lunch. Sprouts were, and still are an absolute MUST with Christmas dinner in the UK

I recall them cooked to the texture of a poultice and served with cremated roast beef.
They are quite nice if cooked lightly and a bit of crunch is left in them. Lashings of butter and freshly ground black pepper help too.

All this talk about Brussels Sprouts has made me do this painting.

                                                                        

Brussels Sprouts

for sale on www.ebay.co.uk (sold)

                                                                              

Winter in England

The clocks have been turned back so the days are short and dark evenings falls around 4 pm .
Cold, damp weather mean thick clothing .Warm sweaters and waterproof coats are a must.Time to dig out gloves and boots.Cats hate this weather,  time for staying in and watching the world go by for cats.
In cold weather garden birds stay close to houses for shelter giving a chance to see them more closely. Blackbirds are some of the most entertaining with their tendency to crash land and chase other birds away from their territory.

Watching the Birds

for sale onwww.ebay.co.uk (sold)

Christmas Shopping

Struggling home with the tree

Christmas is Coming

                                                                       

SLEEPING CAT

acrylic on canvas

Our Robin

Stuffing The Turkey

Helping Grandma

                                                                             


The first hard frosts of the winter have arrived .Christmas goods are arriving in the shops. All this makes me think of warm kitchens, children ,snow, robins and pets sleeping in,cosy corners .



                                                                          

Best Friends

The fine dry weather is good for dog walking .The affection between owners and dogs is very special.


 For sale at www.ebay .co.uk

Cambridge Scenes

Jesus Green

There are many open spaces in Cambridge. This park known as Jesus Green because its proximity to Jesus College is particularly attractive in the autumn as the leaves on the trees turn to rich shades of gold.


                                                                         

Autumn Walk, Jesus Green

Acrylic on canvas,12 x 9 inches for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

Bicycles are a popular form of transport in this city with virtually no hills.Riders are not always entirely sober.

A RIDE HOME


Acrylic on stretched canvas, 9x5 inches, for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

Signs of a cold winter

There are loads of red berries on the holly trees and in the hedgerows this autumn .Traditionally thought to be the sign of a hard winter I hope so, I love painting snow scenes.


                                                               

Hurry Up! (sold)




Acrylic on canvas,12x9 inches, for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

MADISON SQUARE 7TH AVENUE NEW YORK

Travellers emerge from Penn station to wait in line for a yellow cab.


                           

Acrylic on stretched canvas

for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

Goodbye Summer 2016

Autumn is here. My last painting of summer, some lovely old fishermans' cottages  in Suffolk on the east coast of England.


                                                                 

East Coast Cottages



Water colour on water colour paper,9x12 inches,24 x32 cms


for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

America ,Pennsylvania

I have been to see some of the immaculate farms and husbandry of the Amish communities like this one in Lancaster .I am using water colours as they are easy to transport.


                                                                

Peaceful Pennsylvania

                                                                 

Checking The Hay

ON THE BEACH

The weather is unpredictable, violent storms and heat.This can create misty weather when warm air passes over a cool sea, a feature often seen on the East Coast of England.
But the call of the ocean on a fine sunny day is irresistible.

Fine Art by Janet Cockerill ,acrylic on stretched canvas, for sale on   www.ebay.co.uk

Early Risers

                                                                 

Heat Wave

                                         

Low Tide

                                                           

The Call of the Ocean (SOLD)

High Tide

The Dragons beat The Russians

 I do not watch much  football but I found the Wales versus Russia match amazing as this brilliant team from a tiny country beat the mighty Russia,Wales 3 Russia 0.
I just had to do a little painting of this event as the crowd celebrate with the team scorers at the end of the match in Toulouse.The singing was brilliant too.

                                                                       

DRAGONS CELEBRATE BEATING RUSSIA (SOLD)

                                               
                                                                          

Acrylic on a box canvas 

for sale at www.ebay.co.uk item number 322163266710

SUMMER DAYS

The recent rain and now warmer weather has encouraged everything in the garden to grow at a great rate.
Allotment holders and gardeners have a abundance of vegetables and flowers  like this chap struggling home on his bicycle.

                                                           

A Fine Crop (SOLD)

Acrylic on stretched canvas for sale on www.ebay.co.uk

TOP HAT, WHITE TIE AND TAILS

Top Hats ,Ascot and High Society in England

Old fashioned as it may seem there is still a requirement for gentlemen to wear top hats for some social occasions in England.These hats are not worn with the white tie and tails evening dress as worn by Fred Astaire in the famous film Top Hat but with a more subtle form of attire known as morning dress.
Ascot , Royal Garden Parties, Society Weddings  and Investitures are the usual occasions when this elegant form of dress should be worn.Most people hire the suit and hat.If you get a chance to wear it , do it.
Ladies this is your opportunity to buy a  large,gorgeous hat NOT a fascinator  to go with your lovely outfit.

If you are going to Royal Ascot see the official website  advice on forms of dress.

www.ascot.co.uk/royal-ascot-style-guide?

There are several wonderful milliners in London, my favourite for men and women is Locks .If you are visiting London you can always window shop and wish.

www.lockhatters.co.uk


As an artist I love the chance to draw and paint a few scenes from high society events

                                                         

WE WENT TO ASCOT
acrylic on stretched canvas for sale on www.ebay.co.uk