< 2025 Studio
28.03.25
Yesterday was the last of the sessions for the second cohort of art and wellbeing for young people at Milton Keynes Arts Centre. It was also the last session to ever happen in the 17th century barn that has more or less played home to MKAC for the last fifty years. Whilst I did try and get across the significance of this, I have a feeling the young people could literally not give a flying fuck. Regardless I ploughed on, we finished off their Zoetropes, unveiled their fully working animated AR poster and most importantly had some snacks, which included Party Rings, a personal favourite. Was a nice session to end with, they were all lovely young people and I really hope the best for them in the future.
Had some extra time once the Zoetropes were done so I got the young people to work on either a Vanessa Bell inspired plate or designing how they would decorat the living room in Charleston house.
27.03.25
Had a quick visit to the studio yesterday in the sunshine. so nice to be warm in the studio in just a jumper. I worked on the two paintings below. The “Apu” one is now fully blocked in and just needs a few touches before being completed. The “Ralph” one needed the sky colour improved to be closer to that of the scene from the show.
26.03.25
I spent an enjoyable day at Milton Keynes University Hospital. My volunteers and I spent the morning in the Snail Garden turning over the soil where we have previously removed bamboo. The Chief Executive of the hospital popped in to thank my volunteers for all the hard work they have been doing in the gardens which was very nice. We bounced to the ‘restuarant’ for lunch.
In the afternoon we spent a couple of hours in the Meadow Garden. Bagging up all the Bamboo we took out last week.
On Sunday I put series one of The Queen’s Nose (1995) on and did some painting in my studio.
Thursday last week saw me in Milton Keynes for most of the day, prepping for the penultimate Art and Wellbeing session for Young People. I spent the morning in MK Library:
and the afternoon in Pret:
The session itself went pretty well. They made the body of their Zoetropes, painted them and produced the animation to sit inside them.
19.03.25
Spent a Sunny day in the gardens in MK University Hospital yesterday. In the morning my volunteers and I put eighty litres of compost around a tree in the Snail garden. During the bamboo removal around the tree and its roots it became apparent that a sheet of anti weed material was placed around the tree when it was planted. This meant its roots had grown ontop of the sheet rather than deep down into the soil. We removed the sheet and gave them some coverage with the new soil. We then did our first bit of weeding of the year, something that I do really enjoy doing. Having worked up an appetite we hit the ‘resturant’.
In the afternoon we tackled the last large bit of Bamboo in the Meadow Garden.
17.03.25
Squeezed in a little painting this evening:
Yesterday I was at MK Gallery helping out with their programme ‘Art and Us’. It was a full day with a morning and afternoon session. I had a lot of fun. Artist Lisa Tilley had some amazing activities for the young people. Some highlights for me were playing a giant game of snakes and ladders, with the board drawn on the pavement outside with chalk and building the track and trophy for the first MK Gallery Grand Prix. This programme is vital for families with children with complex needs to be able have access to a safe and non judgemental space to experiment and experience art through play. Unfortunately this was the last session for the foreseable as they have had to pause the programme due to a lack of funding.
15.03.25
Managed a swift visit to the studio this evening and worked on the below. I put a very light glaze on the background before giving the sausage in the foregrounds some colour.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to visit the private view of the new exhibition at MK Gallery. Andy Warhol: Portrait of America. I say lucky not
because of the art, the other patrons or the gallery, but because I got to take my brilliant and beautiful girlfriend with me. I have been to a couple of PVs at the gallery before but stopped going as I was going on my own to them and could not imagine a time when I would not be. I am truely blessed.
13.03.25
This evening I was at Milton Keynes Arts Centre for the third session of Art and Wellbeing for Young People 14-16 year olds. We finished off the twenty four frames and Sam from Playbound was on hand to scan them into his computer and animate the sequence.
Last night I spent a couple of hours in a very cold studio working on the below painting.
On Tuesday I was back at the Milton Keynes University Hospital with my volunteers we spent the morning tidying up the Snail Garden as well as very delicately trying to remove bamboo from a round the roots of a very pretty tree. We had our lunch in the hospital ‘restaurant’. then got a load more bamboo out of the Meadow Garden in the afternoon.
06.03.25
This evening I was at Milton Keynes Arts Centre for the second session of Art and Wellbeing for Young People ages 14 to 16. We were producing the frames for the bird animation. We started with collage then move on to painting. It was a chill session I was very impressed by how studious this age range are and how willing they are to try things out.
Yesterday morning was the last session of Art Journalling for Wellbeing at Milton Keynes Arts Centre. I have been running these every first Wednesday of the month for the last ten months. We had twelve participants who were all very engaged and a little disappointed it was the last session. As MKAC is leaving its premises of fifty years I thought it would be a good idea to take advantage of the sunny weather and take the group outside into the garden. Giving them the opportunity to draw the seventeenth century thatched barn where so much art has been made with community members throughout the years. I led them through some drawing exercises to loosen them up, the kind of thing my lecturers at uni would give us to do and would strike fear into my very core. But being older and wiser I understand the benefit of them now. We also spoke about some fundementals like how is best to hold a pencil and the importance of breaking scenes down into shapes to make it easier to render in 2D. A couple of the participants said some lovely things about the course and how they were going to continue making art in the future.
On Tuesday I had one volunteer at Milton Keynes University Hospital. We tackled a patch of ivy in the Snail Garden which has been on our watch/hit list for a while now. Before this we had our lunch together in the hospital ‘restaurant’.
On Sunday Penny Maltby was back at MKAC for an intermediate session of Wheat weaving. we learnt how to tie a clove hitch then moved on to producing arrow plaits. It was alot of fun and everyone left having produced something which is always good!
28.02.25
I was back in Great linford at Milton Keynes Arts Centre yesterday evening for the second round of sessions on AR and animation. This time with 14-16 year olds. Sam from Playbound.studio gave us an overview of the poster we would be producing then we got back to basics and worked on some hand drawn flip books. We are the last programme running from the historic barn, which the arts centre has used along with other bits of the Manor since 1974.
26.02.25
Yesterday I was at Milton Keynes University Hospital. I had a morning and afternoon session with my volunteers. We spent the morning in the Snail Garden picking out the last few bits of bamboo. In the afternoon we went to the Meadow Garden to finish of the bamboo removal we started last week. Inbetween we hit up the ‘restaurant’ for lunch.
On Friday evening I was in the studio. I started blocking in the below painting. For the first time in ages I mixed most of my colours I needed before starting. So a pretty healthy looking palette.
19.02.25
Yesterday found me at Milton Keynes University Hospital. I am fully of the opinion that a day of full sun is a true gift. I met my volunteers at 10.30am we spent the morning in the Snail Garden going over the beds that we have removed Bamboo from previously. We then hit the restaurant around 12. in the afternoon we moved to the Meadow Garden and took a swaithe of Bamboo out, finishing up around 3pm. The Bamboo claimed the fork my sister got me for my allotment. Ive had it probs two years and it has been used quite regularly. Going to see if I can change the handle.
17.02.25
Spent a couple of hours in the evening yesterday messing about with the old man face and cardigan. Trying to make him fee less like that Ecce Homo Jesus fresco that got painted over in 2012.
16.02.
16.02.25
Last night I was in a really cold studio with not enough layers on. I decided to revisit a painting I have ignored for quite a while.
During the day I was in Great Linford helping out at MKAC. They had Penny Maltby, Designer, Maker and Straw Worker giving a workshop: Wheatcraft for Beginners. We learnt how to make a Harvest Knot. Penny was very skilled and the examples pieces she had with her were so beautiful!
12.02.25
Last night I spent a lovely few hours in my cold studio. I havent started a new painting for a while; I had an itch and I scratched it.
Before this, during the afternoon I was in Milton Keynes University Hopsital working in the Meadow courtyard with my Volunteers. We were tackling more Bamboo. Before this we met to have lunch together in the ‘restuarant’.
10.02.25
Once I had finished my pancakes and coffee from the Mcdonald’s I worked in for a bit in 2018 I drove to Conniburrow for the last session of ‘Creative Space’ art club that I will be running for six weeks. Was a really great session we had a new member as well as the usual participants and someone I hadnt seen since Halloween. I had bought some cardboard canvases from the Scrapstore in Kiln Farm so I gave them the oppurtunity to paint on these. I also produced some colour mixing charts. I have realised that not everyone knows how to mix colours (which I should have realised as I managed to get through a BA in painting without knowing).
On Thursday I took a deep breath and made my way to Milton Keynes Arts Centre for the penultimate session on AR and Animation for 11 to 13 year olds. We had Sam from playbound with us putting the frames, we had made in the last two sessions, together. Whilst he was doing this I talked the young people through making their own Zoetropes. I was actually amazed how into this they were, as well as how able they were to follow instructions to produce them.
05.02.25
This morning I was at Milton Keynes Arts Centre for the penultimate session of Art Journalling for Wellbeing. Given how well paper mosaicking went on Saturday I decided to run it again for this session. I brought a paper shredder which really sped things up. It was a lovely sunny day and being sat around a big table of people in the old barn full of light and making art was pretty nice. Below is a selections of the works that were produced:
I made the below which was fun as fuck:
Yesterday I was back at Milton Keynes University Hospital with my legendary volunteers. We once again tackled Bamboo in the Snail Garden, the fact it was not raining and sticky as shit like last week was an absolute blessing. We took our lunch in the Hospital ‘restaurant’. I spoke to a couple of very nice members of security about the alcohol being drunk in the gardens, I was impressed with there sincerity. I have also been jealous of the volunteers boot bag so I purchased my own. Wish I had known you had to select the number for the back of the shirt, I’d have choosen either 69 or 44.
These beautiful Early Crocus have popped their heads up in the Meadow garden:
On Monday evening I was in the studio finishing off a couple of works on paper both of which I had started in art sessions in the previous week or so.
03.02.2025
On Saturday I was in Conniburrow for another “creative space” art club. It was a fun session, we made paper Mosaics based on, ‘Paper mosaic of two women and a child’ a mosaic produced in 1912 whilst Vanessa Bell was ill. but still wanted to make work. I produced the crab below:
I then shot over to MKAC, MIlton Keynes Arts Centre, to help with a couple of hours of making Folk Art inspired hearts for one of their Family first Saturdays.
Thursday evening was spent at MKAC for session 3 of a five week workshop for 11 to 13 year olds on animating and AR. It was pretty fun. We finished off the 24 frames ready for Sam from Playbound can come to the next session and animate them.
30.01.25
I have just completed my self assessment for the tax period 6th April 2023 to 5th April 2024. It is honestly laughable the amount of money I made during that period. I would put it up here but I dont think people would believe me, as it is so low. I am very lucky to be in a position where I can make so little money but still exist. This also includes a three month period where I was working in a call centre for Charles Tyrwhitt (an extremely low period of my life that no amount of money could get me to relive). I am very grateful to my wonderful parents for allowing me to live at home with them still. My good friend Chris Conway for the use of a 2013 Macbook. James and Lizzy for the cheap studio space and for those people who continue to employ me on fun projects. I really enjoy what I do and love making things in any form.
Below is something I have been working on using just crepe paper. I started it in one of the art sessions I run in Conniburrow on a Saturday morning. I just havent been able to leave it alone. Its been a nice change of pace for me. No refrences or plan just looking at the page and seeing what I can make in the ersatz tableaux.
29.01.25
Around the time two inches of mud had transformed my boots into platforms yesterday I decided it had in fact been a bad idea to dig out more bamboo with my volunteers at MKUHospital. An hour and a half in and during a downpour I called time and we went to the warm resturant to have lunch. I also shot off some emails as I am finding alot of empty Gin and Vodka bottles in the gardens. There are quite a few security guards at the hospital but I am a bit unsure of what they actually do so just wanted some clarity on that. One of the CLemantis my volunteers and I planted before Christmas is also starting to show its flowers which is lovely!
25.01.25
This morning found me in Conniburrow for the “Creative Space” arts club. I put together a session based around the work of Vanessa Bell again. This time I thought it would be fun for people to add there own style and designs to one of the rooms from Charleston House. I produced a general sketch of the room which I then copied a few times using a OHP and the sun and a window.
24.01.25
Yesterday I was at Milton Keynes Arts Centre leading the second session of of a five week workshop for 11 to 13 year olds on animating and AR. I spent the day getting appropriate footage of a bird flying and splitting it up into 24 frames that should result in a loop. Then in the session the young people transferred the frames on to quality thick paper and using any artistic medium they could think of (within reason) they produced the final frames.
Below is an example of one of the flipbooks made in the last session and finished off in this one. I was blown away by how good it was!
22.01.25
Yesterday I spent the day at MK hospital with my volunteers removing more bamboo from the Snail Garden. We had lunch together once again in the hospital restaurant. A prospective new volunteer also joined us in the afternoon for a taster session.
In the evening I spent some time in my cold studio. I started picking out figures on the boat of the larger panel painting I am working on at the moment. As well as doing another layer of yellow on one of my Kent Brockman paintings.
20.01.2025
On Saturday I was up early for another art session at Conniburrow Community Hub. I had a little time after setting up and before people came so I made a little poster to put in the window. There is a car I park next to that definitely has someone sleeping in it which is really sad especially as its so cold atm.
In this session, continuing the Vanessa Bell theme I have been rolling with, we worked on producing our own fabric designs based on Bell’s. All sorts of materials were avaliable including crepe paper and stickers for collaging. Was a chill session I am really enjoying them!
On Thursday I was at Milton Keynes Arts Centre for the first session of a five week workshop for 11 to 13 year olds on animating and AR. Sam from Playbound.studio was there to give us a talk on animation and AR after which we made some flip books the analogue way. Some of the books the kids made actually blew my mind. As this was the first time doing this workshop it was interesting to see what worked and what didnt. From this I will be able to fine tune the session for future groups.
16.01.25
Yesterday evening whilst working a few hours at Milton Keynes Arts Centre, opening and closing for a workshop. I made a flip book version of the animation Sam, from playbound.studio, and I made for an upcoming workshop later today. I used the thermal printer my parents got me for Christmas to print out each frame.
15.01.25
I was back at the Hospital on Tuesday working in the Creative Courtyards. My volunteers are still keen on coming in a couple of hours early so we can get the bamboo out of the Snail Garden.
We took our lunch in the busy hospital restaurant together:
13.01.25
On Saturday I was in Conniburrow on a freezing cold morning for the next ‘Creative Space’. It was a truely beautiful morning. I had selected some items from my parent’s cottage, which is filled with knick knacks, to put together a still life. Based on Vanessa Bell’s still life paintings which can currently be seen at MK Gallery.
I had four participants and we had a pretty good time drawing the Still Life and chatting about all sorts of things from Patois to the how Cadbury’s looked after its workers back in the day. One of them was doing creative writing and when I ask what in particular they were doing they replied ‘producing a still life like you guys but with words’, I thought this was cool as fuck.
Spent a little time in the studio on Saturday and Sunday working on the large panel painting below.
09.01.25
This morning I was in the studio finishing off the last frame for an animation test for an upcoming workshop.
I had a couple of sessions in my studio as well. Each lasting a couple of hours at a time. It was just too cold in there to stay much longer!
08.01.25
Yesterday I was back with the “boys” at the Hospital. They were very keen to have a longer session so we met at 10.30am and finished up at 3 pm. I showed them all the new stuff we had got over the Christmas break and then made our way to the Snail Garden where we dug up as much Bamboo as possible. Anyone who has ever done this knows its a pig of a job. We chatted, joked about and had lunch together so it was all actually quite fun!
05.01.25
I have spent a few very cold evenings in the studio since New Years. I found another painting I started 8 years ago only finishing the underpainting. I had completely forgotten that I had done it, so it was a lovely suprise to see it again and start working on it.
I have also been producing some frames for an animation for an upcoming workshop at Milton Keynes Arts Centre. This is something I have never dabbled in and am excited to see how it turns out.
04.01.25
This morning I was back in Conniburrow for the first “Creative Space” of the year and my first since November. There were a couple of people I hadnt met before so it was fun to listen to what they had to say. The night before my beautiful girlfriend and I made a couple of examples for the session. My plan was to talk abit about Vanessa Bell and specifically her “Famous Women Dinner Service” then provide all the materials necessary for people to produce there own plates with portraits of noteable women to them.
I was at the hospital on Thursday (02.01.24) where I litter picked in all the gardens and swept the paths. I made room in our shed for the new trolley we have got and also changed the lock on the door. I planted about ten ground covering plants in the Camel garden which will hopefully complement the bulbs I put in last month.
One of the winter shrubs I put in the Snail Garden has started flowering and I was admiring it whilst picking up a load of dog ends.