Latest linocut

A quarter way through this linocut of Aberdare, a montage of some of the more noticeable buildings. End result will be slightly smaller than A3 and in a number of colour combinations.

Victoria Square, Aberdare

Another attempt at this view of Victoria Square, this time in acrylic on coard. About A3 size.

St Fagan's Church. Trecynon

The small acrylic sketch was done to get an idea of the composition, then the large collage made using cut outs from other unwanted sketches and printing ink trials.

St Elvan's Church again

Decided the orange and the pink was too much so have muted the tones with patterned shapes, added darker tones to the foreground etc

St Elvan's Church

Its difficult to ignore this building, on a hill right in the middle of Aberdare. However unless your in a helicopter its also impossible to see the whole thing because its surrounded by buildings. This is a large acrylic collage sketch, not yet stuck down so it will probably change again.

Hidden Chapel Part V

Well less is more in this case. I have decided that the more detail that is added the weaker the image, so it stays like this for the time being. Acrylic collage, approx 35"x 25"

Hidden Chapels. Part IV

I scrapped the last version because it was becoming a painting with collage bits rather than a collage with painted bits. So while I'm waiting for the gesso to dry on the old version here is a

small collage of the sort of thing I'm aiming for. With the last one I was led by the lack of materials so once I've decided on colour I will prepare large sheets ready to cut up.

Hidden Chapels Part III

This is the memory drawing made large. Have tried to limit the colour palette to mainly blue. Need to do the gates more solidly before I decide whether to keep this version.

Hidden Chapels Part I

Bethania Chapel is the first of three chapels that I intend to make the subjects of three large collages. The theme is hidden chapels and the three I have chosen are either derelict or underused. Bethania can be glimpsed between the Black Lion Hotel and the first of the houses on Wind Street. The skeletal remains of its roof are a noticeable landmark in Aberdare.

Its impossible to see the whole facade of this large chapel from the road so you have to climb the steps to get a complete view. The steps rise in a couple of flights and are really well worn in places. The litter and weeds growing on the steps and the ivy on the house to the left add to the feel of dereliction.

Above the entrance is an amazing carving of an open bible with flames coming from around it. Interestingly it doesn't quite fit with the shape of the arch. The building stones are all dressed and well coursed. The 3 windows above the door have lost most of their glass and the roof beams are clearly visible through them. A stone plaque shows that the chapel was originally built in 1853, the same year as the market.

Hidden Chapels Part II

The first stage after looking at the chapel is to draw it. I do individual sketches of windows, stonework, arches etc so the chapel is familiar to me and so that I can draw the main features of the building from memory, that is without looking at it.

So the small sketch of the windows done in acrylic helps me to understand the way the windows and arches are put together and how the patterning of the window frames and roof beams work. I am not really interested in the 'real' colours of the stonework though I have emphasised the different types of stone with yellow and blue.

The drawing at the top is my memory drawing of the building in its setting. I have overemphasised the size of the chapel as this is the bit that interests me even though its impossible to see this much from the road. The gates are also prominent as they add to the hidden properties of the chapel. I have emphasised the worn steps. On the right is the vermiculated render of the Black Lion.

The next stage will be to think about the colours that will be used in the final collage.

Aberdare Library Collage

Final version of the library. Collage, about A3 size.

Exhibition dates 2011

I now have three exhibitions planned for this year;

• The first at Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery from March 26th to May 1st. This will be exclusively of buildings from the Cynon Valley and will include collages, lino cut prints and paintings.
• Secondly at Dare Valley Country Park, Cwmdare from July 23rd to August 14th which will be mainly landscapes.
• Thirdly at Neville Hall Hospital outpatients department from September 6th to October 4th which will be collages of castles and other historic buildings in the environs of Abergavenny.

As I haven't any material for the second two and am only two thirds way through the first I think I'd better get my finger out!

Greeting Card image

I think this is the image for the greetings card with four of the linocuts from last year. Hopefully there will then be something for everyone, whatever the size of their pockets from collages to cards.

Still life

I always look forward to seeing tulips in the spring. Here's my interpretation. acrylic sketch 8" x 6" on hardboard.

Trinity Chapel, Aberdare

Adjacent to the Con Club and opposite the Bingo Hall this makes for an impressive collection of very large buildings right at the centre of Aberdare. Acrylic sketch on hardboard. Image size about 6" x 8".