With the Royal British Legion Roadshow less than 60 days away I have been forced to cancel the two lectures that I was supposed to be giving through ill health, as a healthy replacement I am arranging an interview with the local press to cover the aspects of my lecture that I would have otherwise covered.
The Powerpoint presentation, the poster and the childrens workshop for the same show are coming along nicely and will be published nearer the date (sept 09)
I have recently finished the commission piece for the veteran in Northern Ireland with it only needing a glaze and postage, that completed there is no rest having gained two more commissions from local folk courtesy of some recent press coverage.
My earlier difficulties with the new medium, water based oil paints, are all but resolved now and my new series for future exhibitions are well underway, the paint giving me that which I had wanted to achieve, currently I have one local exhibition confirmed for Sept - Nov 2010 and one other which awaits a decision from the powers to be at the biscuit factory exhibition hall in Newcastle. I still need at least one other confirmation to fill my minimum quota for next year.
I have also embarked on an epic as far as projects are concerned; there are over 150 ginnels (connectings Lanes) and Yards ( former resedential and work areas off the main beaten track of the town), each with its own personal history and ambience that is quite palpable, sitting on the side of the street sketching the entrances to these areas brings a lot of personal satisfaction and attention, from tourist, local and artist alike, for sure this is a marvelous marketing experience, over the next three years I hope to compile a comprehensive file covering all aspects of these areas, in sketch, photograph and written experiences and acquired knowledge; it is not an exercise that has not been undertaken before, as one local put it, the ginnels have attracted artists for many years, they have been done before, my answer is simple, 'not by me!'
Yard 5, comprising the recently converted Time and Tide 
affordable accomodation and home of the artist and poet Tim Leeson and Oscar, the cat.
Other projects initiated include a short term public art instalation of which contact has already been established with the local council arts officer, more on this also later.
