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

Oak Leaf

I’m always keen to nurture my love of botanical drawings and this oak leaf was so beautifully photographed by a friend, that I felt compelled to draw it.

'Oak Leaf'

Pencil on paper 19 x 17cm

£35 unframed

'Oak' by Katharine Towers

In 2021 I was delighted to be asked by Picador Publishing to use my ink drawing of the Lucombe Oak for the cover of Katharine Towers book ‘Oak’; a beautifully written book of poetry on the life of an oak tree.

'Oak' by Katharine Towers

"Oaks are some of our oldest companions, and have been rooted in human imagination and language for a millennia. Their great, slow lives have always demanded our careful consideration."

Picador Poetry

www.picador.com/poetry

The Lucombe Oak

A new interest was sparked in ancient, veteran and notable trees, starting with the Widey Oak and the Lucombe Oak in Widey Woods, Plymouth. These two, different, but magnificent trees demonstrated their position in history and their prowess in the natural world. 

I began to seek out opportunities through drawing and reading to connect with a habitat where trees are venerated for their age, wisdom, healing and intelligence.

'The Lucombe Oak', Widey Woods, Plymouth

Pencil on paper 27 x 37cm

£345 framed

'Lucombe Oak', Widey Woods, Plymouth

Ink on paper 

SOLD

Drawings from 2020

In 2020 during the Covid pandemic lockdowns, like many people, I found myself with quieter times at home and the opportunity to take short walks in my local area. These walks introduced me to a new way of noticing detail and taking a greater interest in the natural world around me. I used the time to sketch and draw more, focussing on botanical drawings that captured the detail and structure of trees. I worked from photographs, initially making small images, then I increased the size to make larger studies.

'The Widey Oak', Widey Woods, Plymouth

Ink on paper 13.5 x 17cm

£45 unframed

'Oak Tree', Central Park, Plymouth

Pencil on paper 20 x 30.5cm

£215 framed

'Oak Tree', Ham Woods, Plymouth

Pencil on paper 32 x 39cm

£345 framed

Featured Post

'This Leafless World' 1

This piece is the first in the series of monotypes with drawings are inspired by the landscape of Dartmoor. I have used one of my favourite colour palettes of sepia, white, black and yellow ochre, mixing and blending the inks creating an atmospheric, quiet place. The drawing is made with black ink to capture the tree's bare ethereal qualities.