Sometimes, something as simple as a new material can take your work in a completely new direction.

We recently visited London & stumbled across an art supply shop called Russell & Chapple which looked like it was from another era... well, I suppost it actually is, as it was founded in 1770.

The sense of history when you walk in, is palpable.

It was honestly, slightly over-whleming, so I didn't actually buy anything on the day.

But I couldn't stop thinking about these wonderful oil pastels.

I mean look at them... so many colours, how on earth do you choose??

After a few days of pondering, I did choose ... just five to begin with.

Notice there are two shades of green in there...

funny that...

Well, just as I hoped, it has taken my work in a new direction.

Here are a couple of colour studies.

The scale of the oil pastels (they are super chunky) forces the mark making to be much freer... and then I went back in and scratched into the surface the lines were super delicate & fine which creates a nice contrast.

When I made these colour studies, I wasn't aiming for anything at all. I was just playing with the materials, but the outcome really reminded my of the softly rolling landscape of East Lothian in Scotland.

The light there is exceptional and often has a warm coral tone to it with the contrast of the bright green fields.

I decided that what began as a colour study & an experiment, deserved to be celebrated in a nice frame.

So... I had a bespoke mount made, with unusal apertures...and oh my goodness, I love it!

Isn't interesting how the way an image is presented can transform it?

What began as messing about, has quickly become one of my favourite artworks of 2026... I realise we're only in February.

I wonder what's next...