Another painting in my series of books in trees.

These paintings are a labour of love. Painted in oil mixed with Liquin to make very small strokes and applied with tiny 003 brushes to get the details right. They are paintings that need to be looked at closely but also work from afar as an explosion of colour. Made in the style of Medieval painting and manuscripts which I absolutely love.

The painting has a few other objects thrown in such as an owl and a bottle of wine. I paint them so those who look closely can enjoy spotting them and are often overlooked by those who just glance at my work. There are nine objects to find.

Before Covid I used to visit the wonderful Parker Library at Corpus Christi in Cambridge. I sat in the reading room with the books on a cushion to protect them and my sketchbook on the table. I drew in pencil and occasionally added colour using coloured pencils as wet materials were understandably not allowed. I loved drawing there in the quietness surrounded by scholars researching their thesis or writing books. No-one spoke. I often wonder what they made of me sitting there drawing.