Oh Yes Its January alright...........

'Through her eyes'

Im really not sure about January, I think when I was young it was a time of year I got an illness of some kind or another. Now I try and fill it with wishes and dreams and I try and think of ways of reaching out to them.
The days are getting longer at last and although the light is still a challenge there is hope of crisp clear days...I am dreaming of them.
A new painting has emerged over the holiday which was really inspired by my visit to Kettles Yard at the beginning of December and I also have a new camera to play with as I want to take some really good quality pictures to create a range of greetings cards.
I am enjoying taking shots of my house and as you can see how inextricably linked work is to home, I don't know why but each time I realise this I am so surprised!

'Snuggling in for a while'

I do not want to point out the obvious but its December and it is getting cold so after the busy last few months this is a good chance to snuggle in and enjoy the festive season.
I have recently been to Cambridge to deliver some paintings to Byard Art a lovely gallery in the heart of Cambridge. While I was there I visited the amazing Kettles Yard which was so inspiring, it was the home of Jim Ede, one time curator at Tate Gallery who wanted to share with others the art and objects he collected over fifty years.
He became good friends of Ben and Winifred Nicholson amongst others and his home is a treasure trove which is his collection.
There is a gallery attached to the house and showing now is a small collection of paintings by Winifred Nicholson which I found very inspiring. In a letter to Ede she wrote;
"All my spare time I spend trying to delve further, to find more.
When one is young one is satisfied by a flower petal or a sparkle. Now I want more-of the rainbow scale of the flower and the reason and the travel of the sparkle, and most of all a long quiet time of peace and uninterrupted thought............

Ben Nicholson Princess (kings and queens)

I have been screen printing recently which is not something I have done before, I have been printing on fabric and really enjoying learning about this new process, a piece of fabric in Kettles Yard by Ben Nicholson really caught my eye!

'Blue Moon' 

'leaves and stones'

I am having an exhibition in the autumn next year at Byard Art which I am really looking forward to working for. They are including me in their mixed exhibitions and this is one of the paintings that is included in their 'Christmas Cracker' show.

'Tea With Friends'
80x80cm

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank  all the lovely people that came  to my 'Open Studio' it was a great fun. 
THANKYOU XXX

Crazy November!!!!

November is looming, today the temperature has really dopped and my layers of clothing for the studio/shed have increased even the late auntie Peg's knitted socks are on!
I am getting ready for Open Studio which I hold at home as the studio is in the garden.The thought of so many people coming through my front door makes me suddenly look around the house with such scrutiny that I usually end up doing something disruptive like this year... tiling the little bit of hall by my front door...determined to do it myself. I have not done it yet but tiles,adhesive and grout are at the ready for me to take the task on next week.
I am at the moment getting work ready for Affordable art Fair Hampstead, Andrew at Stark Gallery is showing only framed work and I have really enjoyed painting on board. The surface is so smooth so the paint behaves slightly differently to the canvas.
Affordable Art Fair Hampstead starts next week 1st-4th November

The middle two weekend are Open Studios and amongst other things I have my new placemats on sale. They have just arrived and I am really pleased with the final result.Open Studio is part of Lee Green Open Studios so in a very walkable trail there are some really interesting things to see. My daughter Daisy is also showing her work with me and she has made some great things. My mum Annette Johnson has her studio open too so it's a real family affair. Mums paintings are delicate and beautiful and I think all three of us have a common thread as we all find inspiration in similar places and objects but we all see them in different ways.

Linocut Daisy Oakley

Oil on Board Annette Johnson

Homage to Sophie Angel

This week I am really sad to say my dog Sophie passed away and I feel the need to tell the world about her and what beautiful little soul she was. She was a constant companion to me for the last 14 years and sat next to me most of the time while I have made my paintings.
She never seemed to tire of my company which now in her absence seems quite incredible.
My two girls now grown into young women adored her, this also was mutual as the attention and love they had for each other was boundless.
I just want to say how very lucky I was to have this very characterful lovely little soul to share the last part of my life and I will miss her very much....RIP Sophie Angel Oakley 

Out and About in London Town

I have had a busy couple of weeks apart from painting I have been delivering work to some of the lovely people that show my paintings. This week Catharine Miller has had a stand in the foyer of The Decorative Fair in Battersea Park.When the show ends today she now has a new gallery in Hollywood Road in Chelsea so work will be showing there. Karen Whitely now has a new space in Hampstead and I was there on Friday giving a helping hand with hanging.I also dropped off some framed work to Store Street Gallery in Bloomsbury, this work is going to be exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead more info to come.........................

A Cooler Breeze

It's September that bring us the beginning of Autumn and me my birthday. The discipline that I pride myself on does escape me in August and I have to find it again so that I can approach this busy season with energy. Paintings are beginning to emerge... here is one of them still with dreams of the warmth of summer.............

Thoughts on August

We are now coming to the end of the month of August and I am aware of the yearly cycle thats present especially with regards to the production of work. Although things do not come to a complete stand still there is a need for a good rest for the mind as well as the body.
My senses have been resting but still observing and now as I make plans for paintings they are full of sea longing.
There are so many sails full of wind, the beach I frequent is full of flora which adds a natural line to the composition that is dominated by the line of the horizon, the mast and the sea wall.
I have got lots of paintings to make and the task in hand fills me with contentment because I can take myself back to the sea from my London studio.