794. The little Monkey. Oil on board. 2006.

This painting was inspired by a childhood experience at the annual fair. That night, standing in amongst the stalls, bright coloured lights, candy floss , rides and noise I was invited to have my photograph taken holding a dear little monkey dressed in a tiny knitted jumper and trousers. I jumped at the chance. Of course now society knows better, it is cruel and no life for a wild animal. Sadly, it must have been very popular in the 1960’s as I know of many of my generation that have similar black and white photo’s in their old family albums. As that small child, I really wanted to take him home, the thrill of those few precious minutes has never left me, I could actually hold a living monkey, with its tiny fingers gripping onto mine, and I could see so close, its shiny dark eyes catching the light on that cold October night at Michaelmas fair.

Snowdrops, studio window. Oil on board. 2008.

The view from my studio is beautiful. I can see across the fields, to the cottages in the distance which was the childhood home of a dear friend . The rooks are frequent garden visitors, and as the daylight fails they gather together, calling as they head for their roost. In the fields, people and machinery come and go, depending on the seasons, preparing soil, planting, picking, and all the while that big Cornish sky above changes .