Nature’s Gems Series

Between 2002 and 2004 I produced twelve water colour paintings which I hoped might be used in the design of a calendar. I went out and about at the beginning of each month and decided what flora and fauna might be of interest in a particular month and what would make nice little paintings to go on my proposed calendar. These 12 paintings have the codes  NS01 to NS12 (‘NS’stands for Nature Series). However, when I designed and published the A4 limited edition calendar in 2005 for the year 2006, it ended up with the title: “Nature’s Gems”. All 300 editions were sold. And each year since then I have designed and produced a calendar based on my artwork done during the year, or re-using some popular pictures from previous years. The calendars remain as popular now as they were in 2005 and lovely people come back to purchase them year after year. The calendars have been sent all over the world. I also now produce A5 and Half A3 Calendars, as well as CD size calendars in a plastic case.

NS02 Nature’s Gems: February

Botanical Illustration. Artist Code: NS02. Completed February 2004. Original SOLD. Water colour on Aquarelle Arches 100% Hot Pressed cotton rag paper. Unframed size 9″ x 12″. Framed size 19”x 15” 

SOLD to private collector May 2010

I was playing golf at Bourn Golf Club and saw a goldcrest. So with camera and sketch pad in hand I ventured next day back to the spot where I had seen it. The bird let me get very close; as did the little wren who lives in and around my little wild garden.

Poem:

Winter’s grip begins to fail.
Sprouts of cuckoo pint, so pale.
Silver shines from willow branch.
A wren flits searching for her lunch,
amid the violets’ timid bud,
as goldcrest watches from above.