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Grey Street, Snow Flurry

by on October 19, 2011 in Latest News

Grey Street, Snow Flurry

Grey Street, Snow Flurry

I’m just preparing for my Christmas Exhibition. The preview weekend starts on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November where there will be a selection of new original paintings on display, most of which have been inspired by recent trips overseas over the last 12 months. It’s been an eventful year for Susan and I, with us both travelling to the Middle East and Italy and my television appearance on the BBC’s “Show me the Monet” with my watercolour of “Grey Street, Saturday Morning”.

Travel always gives me a deeper appreciation of home here in Northumberland, so there will of course, be several scenes of the North East, including the one above of Grey Street, Newcastle seen in a snow flurry.

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Emerson Chambers, Newcastle upon Tyne

by on May 20, 2011 in North East Prints

Emerson Chambers

Emerson Chambers

Emerson Chambers in Newcastle is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in the North East. It was designed by Benjamin Simpson in 1903 and boasts commanding views of Grey’s Monument and Grey Street. Last year I decided to reproduce my original watercolour as a limited edition giclee print which can be viewed and purchased on alanreed.com

Also last year, I was invited by the book shop Waterstones to do a watercolour demonstration one Saturday morning. I decided to paint the view from the second floor window for those who attended the demonstration. The resulting painting titled “Grey Street, Saturday Morning” was one of the final 100 entries selected for the BBC 2 programme “Show me the Monet” presented by Chris Hollins.

The painting of Emerson Chambers is one of my more detailed watercolours as I felt I had to do justice to the fine Art Nouveau architecture that is a real distinctive to the building. Benjamin Simpson also designed the Half Moon Inn, in the Bigg Market, another scene I have painted which is also available as a limited edition print. That particular painting was stolen from an art gallery in 1992 and has never been recovered.

If you have one of my prints of Emerson Chambers, or indeed the Bigg Market, which evokes special memories which you would like to share, then please feel free to post a comment below.

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Show me the Monet

by on May 7, 2011 in Latest News

You may recall a blog post earlier in the year where I wrote about being filmed for a BBC Series titled “Show me the Monet“. Well, the 10 episode series begins on Monday 9th May on BBC 2 weekdays 5:15-6:00pm. I have been told that I am appearing in the program on Wednesday 18th with my painting of Grey Street viewed from Emerson Chambers.

“The series following the fortunes of amateur and professional artists from all over the United Kingdom, as they battle it out for a spot at the Show Me the Monet grand exhibition and sale at the Royal College of Art in London, where members of the public and the art world alike will bid to buy the best of the art work on show.

Contenders could stand to make some serious cash, but first they need the seal of approval from three of the art world’s toughest critics. To win a spot at the exhibition and the chance to sell and make some money from their work, hopeful artists must first face the Hanging Committee, where their hopes and dreams could be made or dashed.” Quote taken from the BBC Website.

The painting I submitted actually began with me doing a sketchbook study in watercolour on location as preparation for a painting demonstration I was doing at Waterstones the book shop one Saturday morning last September.

Using the sketch and some reference photographs, I drew the basic shape of the buildings and figures in readiness for the demonstration. I was able to work quite quickly on this particular painting and as you can see form the photograph, I managed to complete most of the building on the right hand side of the painting. I was able to finish off the rest of the scene in my studio.

The filming of my appearance on the program was an enjoyable but slightly disappointing experience for me as my work was not selected for the Royal College of Art, but I’d much rather try something and fail than not try at all. I’m looking forward to finding out what artwork the judges did pick in the end.

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Show Me The Monet

by on February 8, 2011 in Latest News

Grey Street, Saturday Morning

Grey Street, Saturday Morning

Lucky Day Productions have been filming a new series for BBC 2 called “Show me the Monet”. Artists from around the country were invited to submit a piece of art to be judged by a hanging committee of renowned art experts to then be shown to the public at the Royal College of Arts in London. The 3 judges were Charlotte Mullins, David Lee and Roy Bolton.

I entered my original of “Grey street, Saturday Morning” which was shortlisted as one of the final 100 paintings out of over a 1000 applicants, however, despite some very positive comments from the judges, on this occasion it was not what they were looking for.

The filming of my painting took place in “House for an Art Lover” a truly unique location designed by the famous Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, in Glasgow 3rd February.  I also had the pleasure of being interviewed by BBC’s Chris Hollins, a former winner of “Strictly Come Dancing”.

Despite not being selected, I enjoyed the experience and I may well be shown when the series is televised t at the end of March on BBC 2.

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