Cover Art

 

And here is Rowan in Milan with two friends, going for the EP cover. What could it be called?

Milano

Rowan went to Milan to some design event with some friends. Here she is posing in a chair

The Stroll Part5 three

 

Layla is a bit of a pathfinder, which can be very helpful for me. In this case there really was no room for doubt as our path took us alongside Doncaster Jail and right into the centre of the town.

The Stroll pt5 two

The route also ran by the river Dearne, which used to be surrounded by pits of the Barnsley coalfield. These days it looks positively bucolic.

The Stroll pt 5

Stage five of The Stroll took place on Friday (my last day before two days stuck indoors for Open Studios). I took the train to Bolton upon Dearne which is a typical (ex)pit village near Barnsley, and walked on the Sustrans route back to Doncaster. It was a good day and a great walk, passing the Earth Centre (failed Millennium project, now by the look of it a hotel), Connisbrough castle and many amazing railway viaducts and bridges. 

The first part of the walk was through wetlands of the Don Valley, made wetter by mining subsidence that allows water to collect. Saw the first swallows of the year, as well as egrets.

YOS is over

York Open Studios has been and gone. The usual mix of lots of interest, lots of chat, sales, future sales etc. This year the Elmet book outsold the Wolds one for the first time, which I was pleased about; a lot of people returning for Elmet, having enjoyed the Wolds book. For the first time I was showing with Gail Fox, a collage artist, and it we worked really well together. This shot is of Gail's display at the window end of the studio.

 

The Stroll pt4

Knaresbrough is one of the more picturesque towns in Yorkshire. It reminds me of a French town, with its river (the Nidd) and steep streets and snickets leading up from the gorge to the market square and castle. The boats were looking smart for the new season. From Knaresbrough I got the train back to York.

The Stroll Stage Four - Viaduct

 The muddy tracks took us to this beautiful viaduct on the current Leeds to Harrogate line.

The Stroll Stage 4

This weeks part of The Stroll was from Pannal (to the south west of Harrogate) to Knaresbrough. It was a windy day, with promised rain unable to show up, which lead to a great walk via Harrogate on bridleways and old railway tracks. 

This shot is of Crimple Beck as it flows (pretty abundantly) through Pannal.

End of Part One

The first weekend of Open Studios is over. It went well, steady flow of people, good sales, lots of chat. 

This photo is not one I showed, I took it last week when meeting Danielle at her office.

YOS starts

 Apologies for the long break, I have been rushed getting ready for Open Studios. Friday evening was the preview that went well, and today was the first real day. The usual mix of great feedback, interesting chat and a good few sales. More tomorrow I hope, by which time I shall have some shots of the studio.

Meantime here is a shot from a very flooded Bolton Percy last week. The water keeps on keeping on.

Visitors

Friends Katie and David came for lunch at the weekend. Great to catch up. It is a mere 48 years since I first met Katie. 

It was the York Open Studios taster exhibition at the Hospitium in Museum Gardens over the weekend where each artist has one work on show. With a hundred artists that makes for a pretty impressive show. I did a stint of stewarding on Saturday; there was a flow of many many people all weekend. Someone bought a copy of the work I had on show (below), she was keen to have number 1 (of 25) so that was a real good outcome.

Gash - taken on Hatfield Moors

    

Music Book Group

We have started a second book group. This one focuses on books that feature music, either fiction or non fiction. There are six of us, all who have an interest in music. The first book was Dirt Road by James Kelman which Danielle and I chose. Great discussion, we had the whole range of responses to it from 5/5 (me, one of my favorite books) to someone who gave it 1/5 and who found the stream of consciousness all too much. 

This is Doncaster parish church, designed by George Gilbert Scot who also built St Pancras station in London.

The Stroll Stage 3

Friend Robert joined me on today's third stage of The Stroll. Picking up where I left off last time, at Kirk Sandall (birthplace of John Mclaughlin) we walked on un-public paths all the way into Doncaster, not passing a soul until we met some youths who pointed us to the exit to Doncaster College. A really great walk and we were rewarded with sunshine as well. This photo is of a pipe bridge across the canal and the river Don, at Kirk Sandall. The bridge connected two parts of the now demolished Pilkington Glass factory. Not surprisingly the bridge is not available for public use.

Farewell Daughter

 Full family turnout to see Rowan get her train back to London: and she got a seat on the train.

Compost

Danielle was busy in the garden potting some plants and clearing a bed. Meantime I harvested the lovely smelly compost. Getting the veg bed ready for planting out.

Easter Guest

 We are all pleased to have Rowan home for the long weekend.