I have been a bit distracted from painting recently. Since we moved to our new home we have a garden for the first time in ten years. The garden has not had much work done on it for some years which has given us a blank canvass to work on so a lot of time has been taken up. However it has been a very enjoyable process and at last we can enjoy the fruits of our labour so far and we have spent a very pleasant afternoon in the sun eating a delicious meal and enjoying some Yorkshire cider. It is a traditional dry cider and made entirely of Yorkshire apples so naturally it is the best cider in the world...with apologies to all my old friends in Somerset and Herefordshire! Anyway I had a quick trawl through some older paintings that I haven't shown before. This was done a while back and features one of my favourite places - Strensall Common. Strensall Common is an amazing place for a painter to visit. Situated on the outskirts of the historic City of York it is one of the last remnants of the mighty Galtres Forest which used to stretch all the way from York up into Northumberland. It's been able to preserve its ancient habitat as it forms part of an Army Live Firing Range which becomes out of bounds for obvious reasons when the red flags are flying. However several acres are still common land and access is available at all times as this area is not under MOD jurisdiction. I have wandered there many times and always been inspired. This is early spring and the many reedy pools overflow and flood with meltwater. Hope you enjoy it as I say a fond farewell and head back outside to the garden.... and some more cider. Cheers.
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