From my sketchbooks

“I find these these little sketches often more interesting than the finished work” - Fred Cuming commenting on his sketchbooks

You really don’t need much. I have a small watercolour set; a few brushes (including, crucially, a flat one); water; kitchen towel; a few soft pastels (especially white) and soft pastel pencils; white gouache; wax resist; a few pencils, e.g. 2B, 4B and 8B; bespoke water pots made from mint sauce containers from the local curry house cunningly held in place with velcro whilst painting; and usually one or two small sketch books (a Seawhite A5 (21×15cm) Watercolour Travel Journal and a HAND.BOOK Journal Square Sketchbook (14×14cm)).

  • Twin path on Rodborough Common

    Watercolour, , 21 x 15 cm, 27-8-25

    I love this twin path on Rodborough Common, on walk along curved path above ‘The Street’

  • Evening light of Mennagio reflected on Lake Como

    Watercolour and pastel, 21×15 cm, 5-7-25

    The view from our BnB in Varenna across the lake was magical. Quite proud of my chromatic black.

  • Varenna town centre

    Pen & wash, 21×15 cm, 4-7-25

    People seem to love my little fun pieces - loose and fast. It seems like a cheat because I find them so easy, but as people love them so much I really shouldn’t feel that way. Value in art is not measured by man-hours but by joy-hours.

  • Stone Pines in Lenno

    Watercolour, 15x21 cm, 4-7-25

    Study looking down via Carlo Lomazzi, Lenno. The row of Stone Pines caught my eye - a tree I love - with the Gulf of Venus just in view. The Albergo is a family run hotel and their Ristorante Giglio is a great spot for lunch en route to the jaw droppingly lovely Villa del Balbianello. On way back waiting for the ferry and to cool off, the Albergo provides a lovely bar too. Quite a find.

  • Disembarking at Bellagio

    Pen & wash, 21×15 cm, 2-7-25


    Pen & wash I did based on a photo I took when disembarking a ferry at Bellagio on Lake Como

  • Capturing the light

    Watercolour and pastel, 14×14 cm, 2-7-25

    Sat watching the ever changing sunset light over the mountains by Lake Como. Fast and wet watercolour. A glass or two of local Rose certainly helps loosen up the brush work. Finished off with some pastels.

  • Travelling light

    Pun intended.

    You really don’t need much. A small watercolour set, a few brushes and sketchbook is usually enough.

  • Whalebone Cove

    Watercolour and pastel, 15×21 cm, 23-9-24

    Evening light, looking down from the pool, wild grass meadow and Whalebone Cove beyond. Old Lyme, Ct.

  • J&B's House

    Watercolour and pastel, 15×21 cm, 16-9-24

    I love J&B’s house, a New England archetype. Here I found some shade and this view caught my eye.

  • Wild Grass Meadow

    Charcoal sketch, 30x42 cm, 9-9-24

    Sat on the lawn looking down at the wild grass meadow, Whalebone Cove and hills beyond. I like to work with a large A3 sketchbook when doing charcoal pieces. I work fast and loose. All I need is a piece of charcoal, a finger, rubber, and a pencil for minimal line work to resolve some elements.

From previous sketchbooks …