This window was designed by one of my old teachers, the Bideford artist James Peterson A.R.S.A. and portrays St Helena the Patron Saint of Lundy carrying a boat and St Michael with an aeroplane. There is also a map of Lundy with white horses as well as many sea birds which include, of course, a Puffin. It was given in memory of Arthur Manley Tucker and his son George. The father was buried off Lundy and his son was killed in action with the RAF in WW2.
Just a few experimental abstracts using some of my recent paint palettes and finally refined by using digital inversions. Colours inspired by two beaches in North Devon, Combesgate & Barricane. Al
A quick timed acrylic sketch of the River Taw at Ashford Strand in North Devon. Painted on 400 x 400mm gesso panel. The original painting has much more subtle colouring. I needed to do this because my paintings are becoming more drawn out and laboured. I need them to become a little more honest and spontaneous. Al
An abstract in acrylic using the colours and forms seen at Bucks Mills in North Devon. Reference from iPhone and sketchpad. 400 x 400mm on gesso coated panel.
To start Art Trek this year Adrian Beasley, Stephen Raff and Al Brown will be holding an exhibition at The Old School used by The Pilton Art Group, beside Pilton Church. This is also near to the Ladywell in Pilton, Barnstaple EX31 1QT. The evening is a preview of our work Adrian & Stephen are both photographers and myself a multimedia artist. Should be an interesting evening including Adrian’s music and you’ll be pleased to know that drinks will also be available!
An acrylic painting 690 x 380mm on Bockingford Paper. It is of the road across the Marsh in Braunton, North Devon. I particularly liked the dark summer shadows and Cow Parsley peeping through the gloom. I cycle around the Marsh and always stop here by the bridge to look out across the fields and at the swans paddling up the narrow irrigation drains. Al
Back to using my Bideford Black pigment on Bockingford paper 700 x 340mm. This time is a picture inspired from a circular walk from Watersmeet to the Blue Ball Inn at the top of Countisbury Hill. Then onto Lynmouth and back up to where we started our walk.
The Blue Ball Inn was so called because in the late 18th century it was used as a coaching stop. A blue ball used to be raised on a pole to notify the coachmen that someone was in need of passage. It has a history of haunting and highwaymen!
I have just completed four highly enjoyable days at this year’s Hatherleigh Festival and parted with a few paintings. More importantly I’ve met new people, artists and musicians. I’m hoping that the contacts I’ve made here will help further my artistic endeavours in the future. There are so many creative and enthusiastic people here you can see why the town is known as a hub of creativity. I’ve received such positive feedback about my work my confidence can only grow, so if you’ve never visited this wonderful town then do so you’re in for a great surprise. I’d just like to say thanks to Josie, Mick and Alan for your generosity. Al
I would love to spend a few days here painting and drawing the North Devon coast at Bucks Mills. I used to surf here on Christmas Day and have many happy memories of summer days here. This is a pen and ink drawing it did a few years ago with a nod towards an old art teacher of mine at Bideford Art College/North Devon College called Jimmy Paterson ARCA. He painted this very scene and I’ve seen it displayed at the Burton Gallery in Bideford. Al
Al Brown Artist. 