I've started off the new year by opening a shop on Etsy where I am selling unframed pieces including prints, sketches and ACEOs.  I know several sellers with shops on the site and fortunes seem to be quite mixed.  It will be interesting to see how it goes for me but first signs are very promising indeed.

The watercolour painting to the left is a commission I actually completed in 2011 but it was not presented to its recipient until this month so I had to keep it under wraps.  It is the Betty's Craft Bakery in Harrogate and the piece was commissioned by the Bettys and Taylors Group.

Along with the Christmas cards this year I received an invitation to return to Burton Agnes Hall as Artist in Residence in 2012.  I have spent two previous spells in this role in 2008 and 2009 and it will be lovely to be back there in August.  As usual I will be based in the summer house pictured left.  Full details are on the Events page.

I just had time to give one demonstration for a local art group at the beginning of the month before flying out to Cuba for a long planned and much anticipated trip.  It was a two week long feast for the senses and provided a lot of resource material for future art work.  The results should start appearing here on the site next year.

Much of this month has been spent at two Charles Reid watercolour workshops which I ran in Cornwall and the Cotswolds.  These workshops have been two years in the planning and, I'm pleased to say, went very well indeed.  Charles is as inspirational and generous a tutor as ever and I know from the emails, cards and letters I've received since the end of the workshops that these weeks had a huge impact on those attending.  There are lots of photos on the Stoneflower Studio Facebook page. It is hoped that Charles will be returning to the UK in 2013.  Let me know if you want to be on the mailing list to receive information when it is available.

I returned to York to get the lovely news that I have been selected by Winsor & Newton to be one of the featured artists on their website.  It is a huge honour to have my work recognised by such a respected company.

There's a new step-by-step tutorial on the site this month; 'Crooked House in Montbrun' is based on a demonstration I did one morning at the recent workshop in France and it pays particular attention to the issues which arose when students tackled the same scene.  Click on the image to be taken to the tutorial.

At the end of August I headed off to the south of France for another week-long workshop at Manzac d'en Bas.  Our party of ten (six students, tutor and three non-painting partners) were once again looked after magnificently by our hosts, Giles and Louise Nevill, who have become experts at running these events.  Into one short week we packed landscape, townscape, still life and portraiture with supplementary exercises in layering colours, tonal values and using a limited palette.  The glorious weather held out until the very last evening when we finally had to retreat indoors for our end-of-workshop 'exhibition' and farewell meal.
More photos are on the Studio Facebook Page.

There are two new step-by-step demonstrations on the site this month.  'Pear with Shadow' and 'Seven Plums' are both watercolours which use wet on dry techniques and show how to build up colour with glazes.  Click on the image to be taken to the demo page.

The first workshop at the new venue of the Me & Mrs Fisher tea room was held this month and exceeded expectations.  Liz and Hannah looked after us all fantastically and kept us well provided with refreshments and a gorgeous buffet lunch.  The photo show us rounding the day off with tea and cakes downstairs in the café.  Remaining workshop dates at Me & Mrs Fisher this summer are now sold out.  New dates for 2012 will be announced later in the year.

Also this month I travelled down to the SAA headquarters in Nottinghamshire to meet representatives of Clairefontaine papers and to see the materials being demonstrated by former SAA president, Jeremy Ford.  It was fascinating to have a look round the hub of the SAA and see where videos are made, orders processed and so on.

Another June trip to Nottinghamshire was for the Patchings Festival.  Despite miserable weather it was a lovely day; it is always inspiring and uplifting to see so many talented and dedicated artists and craftspeople assembled together.

I had a great time this month at the City of York Open Air Exhibition.   Because of a workshop commitment I attended only on the first day of the event but had a really good day.  Not only was I fortunate enough to have excellent sales (which I later learned were more than the average in both quantity and value) but also lots of interest and enquiries about teaching, demonstrations and commissions.  I'm looking forward to next year's event already!

One of the pieces sold was the watercolour to the left which was purchased by the current resident of the historic York house depicted.  It's lovely to know it has gone to its proper home, in every sense.

Earlier in the year the Painters Online website asked users to send in a painting from a (very small and indistinct!) wedding photo of watercolour tutors, Fiona Peart and Terry Harrison.  The couple were to choose one entry themselves to hang in their home.  I had nearly forgotten doing it so it was a surprise to open my inbox and find my painting was runner up.  The winning entry was a semi-abstract Picasso-like depiction (one of only a couple of non-figurative entries) but of the representational submissions, mine was apparently 'highly commended' as being 'well painted and a very good likeness'.  Something of a relief to my clients and students, I'm sure!

On the subject of students, another workshop has been arranged at Me & Mrs Fisher for August.  Full details on the workshops page.

This is the month to start painting spring flowers!  I couldn't resist painting the gorgeous tulips to the left.

Meanwhile the new classes at Me & Mrs. Fisher which were announced last month were an almost immediate sell-out.  All places have now been taken on both days.  To be kept informed of further dates later this year or in 2012, ask to receive the monthly email newsletter or connect with the Stoneflower Studio Facebook page.

This year's workshop programme got underway this month, starting, appropriately, with an Absolute Beginners day on the first Saturday.  Little did I know at the time that as I got ready for it, elsewhere in York people were putting the finishing touches to another new beginning: the opening of Me & Mrs. Fisher ('Tea, cake and all things lovely') on Lord Mayor's Walk.  A couple of meetings later and it was agreed that Stoneflower Studio workshops will run one day classes in the lovely light and cosy craft room above the café and shop.  I'm sure they will be a great success and I am particularly looking forward to the gorgeous cakes and buffet lunch which will be included!  The first sessions are in June and July of this year.  Full information on the workshops page.

The watercolour painting to the left is one of three portraits (commissioned as a group) which are now at the framer's.  I love it when clients want something a bit out of the ordinary like this!

Despite being free of teaching and exhibition commitments this month, it has still been a busy time for administration.  All 2011 workshops are sold out now with just a few places left on the informal Watercolour Atelier session in May.  Bookings have been coming in for the painting holiday in France this summer too and we are down to the last few places there.