Location
-
Stupas at Wat Xieng Thong
Stupas are to be found in most countries in South East Asia. Many of these structures, like those in this painting, are near to Buddhist temples. I have heard varying explanations as to what these stupas are for, ranging from their being repositories for sacred relics through to just being simple memorial stones. In truth…
-
Bruges Station
Bruges is well known for its pretty old buildings and canals. However, few who have visited the city other than by train will realise just how modern by comparison the station is. Of course the station is not brand new – rather it is modernist, with lines that are very straight and clean, the building…
-
Reigate Priory – History
Reigate Priory was originally an Augustinian priory, founded in the 13th century. Following Henry VIII’s dissolution of religious foundations in the 16th century the building became a private residence. The Priory remained a private home until just after the end of the Second World War, when the buildings became a school. Although the extant structure was (re-)constructed after…
-
Roadside Banana
I have had a banana plant growing indoors in a pot for well over twenty years. Although it has continued to produce new leaves, in all that time it has only managed to grow to about half a metre in height! By contrast, throughout South-East Asia we saw these plants grown to many metres in…
-
Canons Ashby – Book Room
Canons Ashby was a bit of a find. We were looking for a place to stop for lunch on a journey up north that wasn’t a motorway service station, and so decided to see what the National Trust had to offer. The manor house at Canons Ashby was perfect – conveniently situated and a haven…
-
Kanazawa Castle
Castles in Japan are both quite different and very similar to those I am used to back home (in England). So for example, they have moats, big thick stone walls and slits through which to fire at anyone who is attacking the castle, just as I imagine castles must have almost anywhere in the world.…
-
Robinia Tree
This tree sits in front of our house, and whilst I often notice and appreciate its bright green / yellow foliage it doesn’t normally stand out from the surroundings. However, the other day when I saw it standing nonchalantly in front of some rather dark and angry storm clouds, I was rather taken by the…
-
Singapore – viewed from Marina Bay Sands
I’m not normally a fan of heights, but a friend had recommended seeing the view from the rooftop bar at Marina Bay Sands. The building is rather tall, and hence as promised the rooftop gives a very fine view. Somewhat surprisingly the bar is surrounded by quite mature trees, which I can only assume are…
-
Marina Bay Sands – Singapore
This is quite a building! They only finished constructing it in 2010 but already it seems to be quite an icon for Signapore, which just maybe was the idea when it was built. I have heard it described as a (cricket) wicket, which accurately summarises the basic shape of the structure, but somehow misses out…
-
Gorse
This plant puts on a magnificent floral display in the most unlikely of places. Of course, gorse flowers are uncompromisingly yellow, so if you prefer blue or pink flowers they are not the plant for you. Luckily I’m happy enough with yellow, so I appreciate gorse wherever I see it. When I first considered how…
-
Milky Stork
We saw this chap in the Bird Park in Kuala Lumpur, although since I have elected not to paint any background I suppose the exact location is not really important. I have always been impressed at how bold pictures can be created using very few colours. Initially I guess this was done to simplify the…
-
Mount Fuji
Easily visible from many places in the region around Tokyo (except for most of the time when the clouds hide it!) this famous mountain is of course extremely iconic. The advantage of this from an artist’s point of view is that, provided you have managed to draw two sloping sides and a snowy summit, the…
Doodling ... 