Stuck for an original Christmas gift?

Come along to our Winter Studio at 5 Church Street, Cambridge CB4 1DT for a glass of mulled wine and see what these three artists have been up to.

Diana makes wonderful pottery, cups, vases, honey pots, cutlery drainers and a superb selection of ceramic jewellery.

Carmen has some beautifully illustrated cards and prints for sale.

I have painting, prints, scarves and cards and I am showing a new painting based on my research on medieval manuscripts at the Parker Library, Corpus Christi, Cambridge. Also my printer, who makes my limited edition prints, has just made a sample of my Tree of Cambridge on canvas. I love it, but before I get more printed I want your views.

... and still stuck for a present? How about an art voucher for a 2 hour session on acrylic or watercolour painting?

This year I am joining Diana Kazemi in her ceramics studio at the Dovecote, 5 Church Street, Cambridge CB4 1DT.

We would love you to join us for a glass of mulled wine and to chat about our work. Diana does the most wonderful ceramics and I must admit I bought three of her jugs as presents last year.

Alongside my paintings and prints, I have some hand painted scarves, baubles, handmade cards and a print of my Tree of Cambridge on canvas which I am hoping visitors will comment upon. I shall be bringing along my sketchbooks from the Parker Library and the Urban Sketchers group.

You can also buy a voucher for an art lesson as an extra special gift for someone who is interested in art.

This is my first painting based on the Medieval manuscripts in the Parker Library at Corpus Christi, Cambridge.

I always did like the slightly wacky and when I saw it I knew this beast of burden would appear in my work. I can imagine the artist who illustrated this work around 1300, that is 700 years ago, listening to the tales of travellers from afar describing what they have seen.

A grey beast with a nose like a trumpet and big ears, tusks and enough strength to carry a house. Recognise the building on his back? That is the gatehouse of Kings College curved to look like a stronghold that crusaders could defend.

A visitor to my studio asked if I had ever been to the Parker Library, I had never heard of it.

She recommended going on a guided tour which visits the library at Corpus Christi which can be booked at the tourist office on Peas Hill or online.

A few days later I joined 3 others in the rain outside the Tourist Information Office and met our very informative guide. As we walked he told us a bit of history about the college and once inside the grounds of Corpus Christi we visited the oldest part of the grounds before climbing the stairs to the Parker library.

Inside the library was an array of very old manuscripts and we were allowed to handle a few facsimiles to get a feel of the amazing illuminations inside. I was immediately hooked and made a few drawings. I chatted to the librarian and applied to become a reader so I could study some of the illustrations in my own time.

On Wednesday 10 August I spent my first morning engrossed in the miniatures embellished with gold and silver and started a new sketchbook which will form a series of paintings culminating with, I hope, my own book of hours.

Cambridge Open Studio takes place in July this year. This will be my 10th consecutive year and I still love meeting everyone who visits me at 309 Milton Road, CB4 1XQ

This year I am sharing my studio with a brilliant glass artist who is taking part in the Open Studios for the very first time after spending several years at craft fairs honing her skills. Her 3D work is beautiful so I own several of her pieces including a multi-coloured coaster, a tiny lustered glass saucer with glass bobbles, a necklace and some matching earrings.

My paintings are getting bigger. I have new Tree called the Tree of Light, plus a cat that I rediscovered 10 years after I started it and have completed and a large unfinished painting of the backs which I will be working on during the open studio.

Maureen Charles and I have been nicknamed the Mo Show and we look forward to meeting you.

This year The Cambridge Open Studio is backing the Arthur Rank Hospice and we have all made a heart to be auctioned for their brand new building. Besides my own paintings I am including some of the work I make when teaching my students which I am selling for very reasonable prices and I am giving 10% of everything sold to the same charity

I have several new works this year based on Cambridge and my other favourite subject, trees. The guide picture has my Tree of Light of a lady who makes sure we have light in the world. She stands in front of a special tree filled with lights.

One of the new paintings I started 15 years ago. I think this is a record for the longest time to finish a paint. It is a cat! People will be surprised when I say I am not a cat lover but.....

I am sharing my studio with Maureen Charles who lives close by. This is her first year exhibiting at Open Studios although she has exhibited at lots of Craft Fairs and sells her work in several prestigious places such as the Museum of Cambridge.

We would both love to see you in July

The Curiosity Gallery are featuring my prints and cards in their lovely gallery right in the centre of St Ives at 14 Market Hill PE27 5AL

The display consists of many of my tree prints including the Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge and Tree of Cambridge. They also have an original oil entitled Bower, with gold leaf.

My Tree of Cambridge was voted one of the most popular paintings at the Cambridge Drawing Society in 2015. It is a very personal view of how I see Cambridge and includes a few images that make my home city famous including the Ascent of Man and Mr Asbo - to those not living in Cambridge this was the name given to a very aggressive swan who has since been moved to quieter waterways.

I am delighted to have been invited to exhibit at The Plough in Shepreth from April 15 to May 8 2016.

The exhibition is by a selected group of Cambridge artists as part of the Running wirh Brushes project started in 2013. The aim was to sell 1.000 postcard sized water colours donated by artists worldwide. The exhibition at the Plough extends this programme to a full scale exhibition of artworks of all sizes.

Artists exibiting:

Rachel Haynes, Maureen Mace, Vandy Massey, Tess Recordon, Jo Tunmer, Deanna Tyson, Sophie Whitaker, Peter wilkes and Clare Wood.

This must be the longest time I have ever spent on a painting.

Started about 19 years ago, I put it to one side waiting for inspiration on how to proceed and it just got covered up in a rather dusty corner as life happened all around me.

When my studio needed repainting in the summer I found it again. It is finished now, awaiting a final varnish before it appears in the Cambridge Drawing Society exhibition from 9 - 16 April.

This year I am joining two other local artists and showing my work at the Old Dovecote, Church Street, Chesterton. Cambridge CB4 1XQ.

It is a fantastic venue in the studio of Diana Kazemi just down the road from St Andrews Church. Diana makes elegant, functional pots from porcelain and stoneware clay, decorated with rich glazes. She also makes miniature clay mice which are ideal for stocking fillers.

Tess Ainley is also exhibiting at the same place. Tess is a mixed media artist making quirky collages which include life drawing and stitching on handmade papers. She also makes wearable art and will be selling her beautiful handmade stitched cards.

I have several new prints for sale including my very popular tree of Cambridge which is my own personal view of the wonderful city where i live. Besides my paintings and prints I shall be showing some of my original silk cards, hand made, hand painted baubles and a few 3D sheep.

So if you are looking for an original Christmas present do come and visit. Mulled wine and mince pies available.

The Autumn Drawing Society Exhibition is open during half term.

I have 3 paintings on show here including two of my small detailed paintings which are part of my Silvanite Tree series. These two have silver leaf and copper leaf to accentuate the trunks.

Cards are also available.

This is a great show of a high standard.

Saturday 17 October 10am to 12pm

Join our Saturday session on Mixed Media learning some new techniques with acrylics, collaging and using bought and ready made stamps.

A small group of 6 people taught by painter Maureen Mace and illustrator Evi Gstottner in Maureens studio in Cambridge. Lots of personal attention and help in this fun and creative course.

At the end of the session you will have created a unique piece of art on canvas ready to hang on your wall. 4 hours of fun for £50 which includes ALL the materials.

Book now to reserve your place. Telephone 01223 500909

Improve your drawing and painting skills, plus an introduction to all kinds of media including silk painting, mono-printing and 3D alongside some art appreciation.

The classes take part in my studio. Group classes take place on Wednesday morning, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. They are for a ten week term.

I also offer Private Tuition and Art Vouchers which can be used as a gift for a birthday or as a taster session. For more details visit the website below.

Many thanks to everyone who came to the pop up shop at St Andrews Baptist Church. Great venue and lots of fun.

Following a very successful exhibition at Addenbrookes a few years ago, I am very excited to have been asked by Cambridge Drawing Society to include one of my paintings in their exhibition in the long corridor at the hospital near the Treatment Centre.

Two years ago I took my art students to see the John Craxton exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum and I set a project based on his work. The results were quite stunning and you can see them on my Cambridge Art Classes website. As I paint alongside the students I started this image during the lessons and completed it in oil some time later.

The pictures here show the original Caxton version which is full of rather dark dreams and mine which is about the delightful fresh light of dawn when the day begins.

There is lots to do with Cambridge Open Studios looming.

Shown here is one of my new, as yet unfinished, paintings that will be part of the Silvanite Trees series.

These oil paintings are made of lots of layers and take a time to paint as each layer has to dry before I can add the next. I love doing the detail using my tiny brushes. Yet to be added is another layer of gold branches, more leaves and some pink flowers will cover the tree.

I shall give it a temporary varnish before framing the painting for July.

The Tree of Cambridge

is a one-sided vision of the Cambridge I live in.

It all started with a list of people, ideas and objects and has led to my own personal view of Cambridge. Nobody yet has recognised them all.

Most people will recognize Kings College Chapel and evolution and could say why they are there, more difficult is the swan and the plate of cakes. And they all inhabit a gloriously old tree with a copper leaf bark. Have a close look and see what you can find.

Dawn Chorus

is a much smaller painting where a flock of white birds are waking to a still bright moon.

Tucked away in the beautiful town of Ely is a tea-room.

The Samovar Tea House and Gallery is a joy to visit. Marta, the owner, certainly knows her teas and how to present them. They arrive in a glass teapot so you can see the leaves turning the water brown. Alongside is a jug of water kept hot by a candle.

To go with the tea, there are also coffees, are a delicious array of home made cakes, panninis, sandwiches and salads.

The atmosphere is great with lots to look at on the shelves including Russian dolls and a huge collection of teapots.

Exhibited there at the moment are 17 of my paintings and prints. So do go along and sit at the table made from an old door complete with keyhole and enjoy the atmosphere.