Passages of Time

These three monotypes demonstrate a change of background colour. Instead of using a mixed palette of colours and blending the them on the printing plate, I have chosen to mix Prussian blue with a little black and green to make a teal colour. I think the teal works really well on its own to describe the Dartmoor landscape.

The ink drawn trees featured in these landscapes are all from the Foggintor Quarry area. I worked from photos and sketches made during a drawing session lead by Maria Floyd of The Dartmoor Collective.

'Passages of Time' 1

Monotype and Ink Drawing 43 x 38cm

£225 framed

'Passages of Time' 2

Monotype and Ink Drawing 28 x 23cm

£175 unframed

'Passages of Time' 3

Monotype and Ink Drawing 28 x 23cm

£175 unframed

Peirson and Peirson Gallery

I am delighted that 'Communion' 1 has been selected to be exhibited in the Peirson and Peirson Contemporary Art Prize and Exhibition, here in Plymouth.

The exhibition will show a wide variety of art themes and processes in the Peirson & Peirson Gallery (formerly ArtMill) in Hyde Park Plymouth. The exhibition will take place from 13th-17th June 2026.

'Communion' 1

Monotype and drawing

Communion 1

Leading on from ‘Gathering’, I have noticed that two or three trees appear to be in a fellowship with each other: a communion of interconnectedness and unity.

These are from the Norsworthy end of Burrator Reservoir.

'Communion' 1

Monotype and drawing 29 x 23cm

£285 framed

Gathering 1

I have been looking at small groups of trees, particularly those that give a sense of separateness from the rest of the forest, or clusters that can be singled out from the rest of the landscape; 

trees that are gathering.

'Gathering' 1

Monotype and drawing 29 x 23cm

£215 framed

Spirit of Winter 1

This tree, near Northsworthy Bridge on Dartmoor, seems to be the epitome of the bleakness of winter, as it leans over, blown by cold winds against a colder sky.

'Spirit of Winter' 1

Monotype and drawing 29 x 23cm

£215 framed

Spirit of the Woods

Burrator Reservoir and the surrounding forests are a great source of inspiration for me. I regularly visit when the sun is low in winter, or the area is heavily misted. I’m particularly drawn to these quiet, atmospheric scenes and take photographs to use for my drawings.

'Spirit of the Woods' 3

Monotype and Drawing 28 x 28cm

£85 framed

'Spirit of the Woods' 3

Monotype and drawing 14 x 14cm

£65 unframed

'Spirit of the Woods' 5

Monotype and drawing 14 x 14cm

£65 unframed

'Spirit of the Woods' 1 & 2 SOLD

A Higher Place

Another beautifully rounded oak tree from the edge of Dartmoor, which fitted into the square frame perfectly! I spotted this tree near Yelverton on Dartmoor.

'A Higher Place' 1

Monotype and drawing 28 x 28cm

£85 framed

Spirit 1

I attended a monotype workshop led by the talented Gemma Gunning from Bristol and enjoyed experimenting with single colour printing and using different textural techniques. It was a great opportunity to loosen up the creative process and gave me ideas for future work. Spirit is one of many prints that I made that day.

'Spirit' 1

Monotype 34 x 28cm

£65 framed

Log Print from the Lucombe Oak

Sadly in July 2024 I heard that the beautiful Lucombe Oak in Widey Woods had succumbed to high winds and the tree fell. The hollow base of the trunk could not support the tall structure of the tree and it crashed across the top path in the woods. It was such a sad sight to see, not just because of its age and stature, but because it was known locally to many as the tall tree with amazing twisted branches.

I took several photos of this fallen giant, which I hope to document in the future with drawings and prints. The local authority had cut a couple of fallen branches to allow for access, and I brought a small log home to make prints.

'Log Print from the Lucombe Oak', Plymouth

Ink on paper 22 x 22cm

NFS

Hawthorn near Kings Tor

Having enjoyed making the print and drawing from ‘This Leafless World 1’, I decided to capture the twisted hawthorn as a larger drawing in pencil.

'Hawthorn near Kings Tor', Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Pencil on paper 41 x 30cm

£305 unframed

This Leafless World 2

I’ve taken many photographs of trees in and around the Dartmoor National Park, and the four I chose for these prints have been recent favourites. When I take the photographs, I begin to think about the textures, colours and style that I want to create for the monotype background. For these prints, I wanted a sense of a lone tree, perhaps the last one in existence, echoing the environmental concerns around loss of local trees and wider deforestation.

'This Leafless World' 2

Monotype and drawing 48.5 43cm

£215 framed

'This Leafless World' 1, 3 & 4 SOLD

Heartwood 1

This silver birch tree is approximately 50 years old and I’m delighted that it still stands in my back garden. Having enjoyed it through the seasons for over 30 years, I thought it was time to include it in a print and drawing. I have added tiny dots of gold leaf to the print to capture the last of the autumn gold leaves.

'Heartwood' 1

Monotype, drawing & gold leaf 23 x 29cm

£1215 framed

The Tolpuddle Martyr's Sycamore

Joining the Woodland Trust has given me a great insight into the cataloging and recording of details of ancient, veteran and notable trees throughout the UK. Using the Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory, I am able to locate specific trees to document and draw.

The story behind the Tolpuddle Martyr’s Sycamore was interesting, and after a trip to view the tree and take photographs, I made two drawings in pencil demonstrating the effects of pollarding and fallen limbs, offering a gnarled texture with very interesting detail.

'The Martyr's Sycamore', Tolpuddle, Dorset

Pencil on paper 37 x 50cm

£305 unframed

'The Tolpuddle Sycamore', Tolpuddle, Dorset

Pencil on paper 28 x 39cm

£305 unframed

The Oak at the Gates of the Dead

This specific oak tree lives on the edge of the Chirk Castle estate near Wrexham. In 1165 the Battle of Crogan took place here and many of the dead lay buried where they fell near the oak tree. The ancient oak is estimated to be over 1000 years old and is sadly in decline, suffering a major split in 2010. It’s title is a recent addition.

'The Oak at the Gates of the Dead'

Monotype and drawing 29 x 23cm

£165 unframed

Ash Tree at Long Meg and her Daughters

While visiting the Eden Valley I was keen to see the standing stones of ’Long Meg and her Daughters’ at Hunsonby near Penrith. The ancient stone circle dates from 1500BC. The much younger ash trees nearby gave a dappled shade to sit in while musing on the mysteries of Long Meg. My thoughts also turned towards the impact of the loss of Ash trees in our landscape.

I took several photographs to work on at home, settling on the unusual perspective of looking up and across a branch.

'Ash Tree at Long Meg and her Daughters'

Pencil on paper 38 x 30cm

£305 unframed

Oak Tree at Dousland

This beautiful oak tree in the Dartmoor National Park was introduced to me by friends who live nearby. The shape of the tree, being naturally sculpted and shortened by the wind, is perfect.

'Oak Tree at Dousland', Dartmoor National Park

Pencil on paper 63 x 44cm

£345 framed

Caught in the Rain

The muted colours of moorland appeal greatly to me, especially when the weather turns the sky a beautiful lead grey. The title was inspired by a lyric written by the Boxer Rebellion. 

'Caught in the Rain' 4

Monotype 29 x 23cm

£145 unframed

'Caught in the Rain' 1, 2 & 3 SOLD

Immersion

For this monotype, I experimented with adding four separate layers of ink to the print. The intention was to create a typically atmospheric scene of the moor.

'Immersion' 2

Monotype 30 24cm 

£145 unframed

'Immersion' 1 SOLD

The Beech at Maristow

I have had a tendency to focus on the grandeur of ancient and notable oaks. However, while walking through the Maristow Estate in West Devon, I noticed the beautiful beech tree on the corner of Watery Lane. Without the summer foliage, it was possible to look up high into the structure of the tree. 

I made a few sketches in situ, then worked in my studio from photographs to make a complete study of the tree and a second study of the detail.

'The Beech at Maristow', Maristow, Devon

Pencil on paper 56 x 45cm

£315 unframed

'The Beech at Maristow', Maristow, Devon

Pencil on paper 28 x 38cm

£305 unframed

Dartmoor: Ancient Land 4

During my re-introduction to printmaking, I found myself drawn very much to the monotype process. I occasionally make linocuts, drypoint and collagraphs, but my instinct is for the more painterly and spontaneous use of ink in monotypes.

Living so close to the Dartmoor National Park, it has been a natural source of inspiration. I take many photos whenever I visit, often of the wide open moorland.

'Dartmoor: Ancient Land' 4

Monotype 20 x 20cm

Sale Price £45 unframed

'Dartmoor: Ancient Land' 1, 2 & 3 SOLD