Manawatu River.

"Manawatu River." Oil on panel. 16x20in. $300




This is one of my favourite views of the Manawatu River. I haven't painted it for some years so I used a much larger panel than usual. A lovely still day with wonderful reflections. A painter's painting.

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Bastia Hill Tower

Bastia Hill Tower. Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $100




This remarkable Italianate structure is a water tower that was built in Wanganui in the 1920s. As a youngster it was a wonderful days adventure to push my bike uphill to the tower, climb the tower, enjoy the view, then freewheel all the way home.
Unfortunately, the tower is closed to visitors these days, but is a very special subject in the morning sun.


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Rangitikei Willows

"Rangitikei Willows". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $80


- I'm travelling in the North Island. I'm staying with family and friends and brush cleaning is problematic. Hence I'm painting with a palette knife.


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Autumn gold

"Autumn Gold". Branford Park. Oil on panel. 12x9 in. $100


Branford Park is at the beginning of the Maitai Valley, just behind the tall hill that marks the centre of New Zealand. It has been a wonderful sunny week painting in the valley, but it is starting to cloud over now. Rain due tomorrow, but I'm off to the North Island for a week. I'm hoping to find treasure on the banks of the mighty Wanganui River, and the Manawatu.



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Location:Branford Park.

Golden Poplars

"Golden Poplars". Maitai Valley. 9x12 in. $100.


This was painted at the Maitai Cricket Ground, near the beginning of the valley. I've painted this before, but it is always at its best in early autumn.



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Location:Maitai Valley

Maitai River. Near Sharlands Creek

"Maitai River near Sharlands Creek" oil on panel. $100



These river paintings are a challenge. You have to paint the background, then paint the willows over it. If you get it wrong, and you do, you have the scrape it off and start over, all the while the light is changing. Interesting, but fun. Grin.

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Maitai Valley Meadow

"Maitai Valley Meadow" oil on panel. 12x9 in. $100


This is just along the valley floor from where I live. I've painted it several times at different seasons, but I really enjoy it most when the willows turn golden. Blessed autumn, the landscape painters joy.



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Mt. Stoke from Queen Charlotte sound

Mt. Stoke from Queen Charlotte Sound. Oil on panel. 12x9 in. $100


Another from my last trip to Picton. I always enjoy the Queen Charlotte drive. one of the exciting challenges painting the grand vista from a high vantage point can be the huge sky and the hills mirrored in the sea. Today was quite windy and the sound was changing constantly. Quite different from a still day.


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Queen Charlotte Sound, from Whenuanui Bay.

Queen Charlotte Sound. This road is so beautiful. Honestly there is a painting around every corner. It is a painter's delight in any season, but given my sensitivity to bright light at present I really enjoyed today in early autumn.


Oil on panel. 12x9 in. $100


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Back painting

I've had a bit of a set back. In October I was diagnosed with a choriodal melanoma in my right eye. I'm also right eye dominant so it was all a bit of a challenge. They think that the melanoma was killed by the radiotherapy treatment that followed, but it did some damage to the eye.  My eye became very sensitive to sunlight so there has not been a lot of painting outdoors.

• Now that autumn is here and the daylight seems to be more gentle I'm back painting outdoors.