As I sit typing this, it’s raining the proverbial cats and dogs here in the North of England – a massive change from the wall-to-wall sun: mind you, in terms of getting stuff done, it’s easier when you don’t feel tempted to ‘just read another few pages’ whilst basking in the rays.

So, having said that, I’ve been beavering away: finishing a couple of commissions ( which I’ll share when I can), but mainly working on my annual sketchbook: I am usually in full-blown panic mode in June as I prepare my yearly collection of drawings from the previous 12 months- working feverishly to have it ready for the annual Festival of Arts and Heritage in September each year at Staithes, where I have usually ‘launched’ them. It’s a fabulous event where I’ve been lucky enough to have had success year on year, and the months leading up to it pass in a blur of drawing, mounting,flyer and brochure design,packing stuff, booking accommodation and list making.

Not this year, though: within a week of the Government’s announcement, the Festival organisers took the inevitable, but sad decision to cancel this year’s event. It won’t be the same without the buzz of the full-on weekend, and the run up to it, but these are strange times we’re living in, so we must make the best of what we can do. My annual sketchbook collection usually includes a fair few images of Staithes, for obvious reasons, but this year it’s slightly different. 

The gift of time that the lockdown brought with it resulted in a flurry of drawing activity in a whole range of sketchbooks, and many of them are included: here’s the cover – I expect to have the books printed and ready by the first week in July.