The Environment
I am an environmentalist. I love being in and surrounded by Nature. That is the main driver for my landscape art. There is nothing I love better than to be out in the field(s), literally, and attempting to capture some of the magnificence of what I see around me, in my plein air painting.
Braving the elements painting plein air on Skye.
My other pursuits, since retirement, also involve “the outdoors” as a beekeeper and as an allotment gardener
This is not only my natural inclination, but also a way for me to say “I am doing my bit” for the environment. It may seem small, but every little contribution helps. Bringing the awareness to others is something I hope I can also achieve in my Art.
Doing my little bit, and enjoying the produce!
Since the mid-twentieth century my parents and my generation have been burning fossil fuels and wasting their plastics by-products like the world was coming to an end! That is literally what has accelerated the potentially irreversible processes of climate change, global warming, loss of biodiversity, rising sea levels, bleaching of coral reefs, de-afforestation, poisoning of our rivers and increasing the greenhouse gas effects on our atmosphere.
I was fifteen when I did a Chemistry essay for my GCSE “O level” project on greenhouse gases. Over 50 years ago! When will we all cop on?
Iceland: An enlarging glacier lagoon. Accelerated melting and receding of all glaciers is happening in front of our eyes.
Iceland: What was recently an ice sheet is now barren land.
However, I am an optimist. I can see that my childrens’ and my grandchildrens’ generation can stop this madness. But we all need to help them by “doing our bit too”. We can travel less, use electric vehicles and take the train. I am privileged to have a Senior’s Railcard! We can all increase our recycling and re-using and help reduce wastage. We can also turn our “rubbish” into art forms by up-cycling too!
My artwork is meant to reflect the Power of Nature in it’s elegance but also in its restorative qualities. I hope I can convey the beauty of the changing seasons and the glories of our golden dawns and sunsets in my work. I will be using art materials that, to the best of my abilities, will be sustainable and kinder to the planet. Because, we should never forget, there is no Planet B!
Sunrise on a frosty morning over the Union Canal near Edinburgh.
Beekeeping
I have been preparing to be a beekeeper for a long time but could never commit. Now I have taken my opportunity! I have had an interest in bees ever since a I created a pollinator friendly garden over ten years ago. In 2021 I befriended a beekeeper in the west of Scotland near Kirkintilloch who appreciated my assistance at weekends in exchange for his mentoring and passing on of his skills and wisdom.
I continued this arrangement for another two summers until my retirement and relocation to Thornbury near Bristol in 2024.
Kirkntillock Apiary near Glasgow where I received my initial training and mentoring in the art and science of beekeeping.
Suited and booted and ready to go!
Bees will cluster in the hives during winter to maintain the core temperature around the queen above 32deg C. Incredible!
On arrival in Thornbury I made myself known to the South Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association (SGBKA) and expressed my keen interest in wanting to learn more. In particular I wanted to acquire the knowledge necessary to start managing my own hives. New colony establishment happens in Spring or early summer. In the interim the SGBKA offered a full beginners course covering the Basic Knowledge recognised by the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) My disadvantage during 2025 has been my living in rented accommodation. To overcome this obstacle I was asked by SGBKA to part manage the care of the hives belonging to Old Down Country Park, within the proximity of our Association’s main apiary, near Thornbury in South Gloucestershire.
My current responsibility, two hives at Old Down Country Park near Bristol.
This has been of immense value bringing on my skills and experience. It has been a really good way to meet other enthusiasts, many of whom are recognised as experts in their field. It has also meant that I get to share in the delicious honey harvest of Old Down Honey.
I also took part in the Gloucestershire Annual Honey Show in February 2025 hosted by our own SGBKA near Badminton. As a novice I thought I had little to contribute but lots to learn. However I did decide to submit some close up (and macro) photographs I had taken while training in Scotland. To my surprise and delight I won the photography category and also the “The A.H.Bowen Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Novice Member gaining most points”. Well, knock me down with a feather!
Nurse bees surrounding and licking the queen bee to revive her (after she had been colour marked!) First Prize.
My award for my bee photography at a Honey Show.
So, now I have been inspired. I will obviously continue my interest in bee photography as my ongoing beekeeping experience develops. I recognise that the majority of bee art is with bumble bees (by some distance!) I definitely think that I can transfer some of my interpretive skills from my photography to canvas, in honeybee art. Watch this space!
All of my submitted photographs of bees and future inspiration for my planned artwork . Honey-Bee Art
My Allotment
One of my ambitions following retirement was to work with soil ! I remember as a teenager grudgingly helping my mother with her small market garden tilling vegetables. She was right ! It has stood to me !
I was allocated an allotment at the long-standing Daggs grounds to join on the edge of Thornbury in springtime 2025 and I got stuck in with gusto to start my planting and tending the soil.
It has been a pure pleasure to see my produce growing. It has provided me and my sons family with lovely fresh vegetables. The other great benefit has been a significant improvement in my backache due to long years of poor posture and desk work. Now I can feel new strength in my back muscles!
I plan to bring my portable art equipment to my small holding where I can relax and do some plein air painting in the shade of my little shed.
The Daggs allotment has been officially recognised as such since 1874, but some say it goes back as far as 1546 for the benefit of poor landless people. https://www.thornburyroots.co.uk
My family locally have been enjoying the benefits of my fresh produce since my plot was allocated to me in Spring 2025.