Updated: June 2021
New Studio
The new studio is now up and running and very nice it is too. I won't be showing it off at this year's Open Studios as I'm not taking part for a number of reasons including I didn't think it would be finished in time. Next year though and probably all taking place in here and not the house as in previous years. Looking forward to seeing some other artists' studios this summer.
The new studio is now up and running and very nice it is too. I won't be showing it off at this year's Open Studios as I'm not taking part for a number of reasons including I didn't think it would be finished in time. Next year though and probably all taking place in here and not the house as in previous years. Looking forward to seeing some other artists' studios this summer.
Here's a panorama of the studio and it looks from the house.
On Jesus Lane (detail)
Lizzie and Lottie (Identical twins, friends of mine) when they received their birthday present, a commissioned portrait I painted.
 Passageway Onto KIng's 2021, oil on canvas, 50x76cm, available, £900
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Passageway Onto King's - Repainted
Over 'Lockdown' I did a reworking of this painting 'Passageway Onto King's', this time oil on canvas and twice the size (the original was oil on paper). This painting featured in The Cambridge Art Book which is still selling throughout the city four years (I think!) after publication. |
Recent Drawings
This year I have been doing a lot of sketchbook work, mostly drawings of my family in different pencils and for different durations. Here are some of my favourites which can be found on instagram at @dakinart
After years of identifying myself with graphite pencils b6/b9 I've suddenly started using HB again. Class test, what pencil to what drawing?
This year I have been doing a lot of sketchbook work, mostly drawings of my family in different pencils and for different durations. Here are some of my favourites which can be found on instagram at @dakinart
After years of identifying myself with graphite pencils b6/b9 I've suddenly started using HB again. Class test, what pencil to what drawing?
New Painting
After working very big during the summer, I've recently started a series of smaller Cambridge scenes, oil on board. The most successful so far is this one 'Cows on Fulbourn Fen' (50x25cm). The current aim is to assemble a seasonal collection all at this size.
After working very big during the summer, I've recently started a series of smaller Cambridge scenes, oil on board. The most successful so far is this one 'Cows on Fulbourn Fen' (50x25cm). The current aim is to assemble a seasonal collection all at this size.
'Did Somebody Say Something', oil on canvas, 2020
'Did Somebody Say Something?'
This oil on canvas painting from 2020, is now hanging in Savino's, the Italian cafe on Emmanuel Street, Cambridge. Please look out for it when life gets back to 'normal' and you can get the best coffee in town and Sara's soup. Love and thanks to the Savinos!
This oil on canvas painting from 2020, is now hanging in Savino's, the Italian cafe on Emmanuel Street, Cambridge. Please look out for it when life gets back to 'normal' and you can get the best coffee in town and Sara's soup. Love and thanks to the Savinos!
The Minnow Catcher
'The Minnow Catcher' is the biggest painting I have ever attempted at 5 x 4.5 foot. This painting wouldn't have existed without 'lockdown', as it allowed me the time, space and freedom from outside influence to dive into something different from the straight 'realism' I've been working on in recent years. Painting on this scale while standing up (I'm pretty tall at 6 foot 4) was very liberating. The initial stages were lightning quick, quite abstract and I got the feeling it was painting itself. Later I thought long and hard about where to take the painting and am very happy with it. It made me want to throw away all my previous works and now only work big, but was advised that throwing things away was a dumb idea! Anyway, here's some illustrations of it.
'The Minnow Catcher' is the biggest painting I have ever attempted at 5 x 4.5 foot. This painting wouldn't have existed without 'lockdown', as it allowed me the time, space and freedom from outside influence to dive into something different from the straight 'realism' I've been working on in recent years. Painting on this scale while standing up (I'm pretty tall at 6 foot 4) was very liberating. The initial stages were lightning quick, quite abstract and I got the feeling it was painting itself. Later I thought long and hard about where to take the painting and am very happy with it. It made me want to throw away all my previous works and now only work big, but was advised that throwing things away was a dumb idea! Anyway, here's some illustrations of it.
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Recent portrait, oil on canvas
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Dead Roses, oil on reclaimed board, 2020, available
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' Dead Roses' was painted on an old cabinet door which has been kicking around the house and garden for a few years. I've had my eye on it to paint on for some time and would like to do more like this if the right bits of old wood can be found. The roses, picked from a late flush from one of my gardening clients, were both growing and decaying simultaneously, and offered a wonderful smell conveying both. |
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'B', oil on canvas.
