Watercolour of Chipping Sodbury, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms.

The Royal Oak Inn (a local pub I visit a few times), a 17th century coaching house on Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury.  I suppose what breaks up the monotony of a load of horizontal lines are some jagged edges of the roof tops and their shadows, and the replication of peaks and troughs of the tops of the parked cars, then their shadows coming out into the road.  The angle of the sun now is about the only time the town is paint-able.

Watercolour of Sidmouth, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms.

Sidmouth Devon and the River Sid (of course) as it meets the sea.  Ahead is the small Alma footbridge.  The cliffs in the area are characterised by bright red mudstone rock - really quite striking in the sun.  The reflections on these red cliffs were done 'wet in wet' with the sky reflection painted first then the red as we come to the foreground.  There's all sorts of debris down one side of the river, I guess partly from the sea and washed down stream.

Watercolour of Athens, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms

A view from the Monastiraki district of Athens looking towards the Parthenon high up on the rocky outcrop above the city.  The tall slender cypress trees are done in one - a pointed synthetic brush, dark green paint and an upward stroke to the pointy bit.  The olive tree green is more cobalt green/turquoise and fairly thick again.

Watercolour of Bristol, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms.

A view over 'Redcliff Back' - a stretch of internal waterway in central bristol - to the spire of St Mary Redcliffe Church.  My reference photo was actually taken in Winter, but I changed to summer season for my painting (bit easier on the trees).  I think the foreground car park deserved a bit of rough treatment as per the waste ground on the other side of the water.

Watercolour of Marseille, 22" x 15" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms.

The Old Port of Marseille, a rectangular expanse of water running into the centre of the city and reminding me of a bigger version of my home town Bristol's own waterfront.  The view is looking up to the Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde, the highest point in Marseille and a great view over the city.  The view is framed by the local coast guard boat on the left and smaller vessels on the right.  Hundreds of yacht masts clutter the middle ground.

Watercolour of Yate, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms

Another painting of St Mary's Church in Yate, this time more of an Autumn/stormy scene and grey sky.  I seemed to have a few leaning figures so perhaps they're struggling against the wind.  Sky was mainly ultramarine blue and burnt umber.  Church tower was weak light red.  Trees and foreground shadows were done with an old brush and thickish pigment.

Watercolour of Exeter, Devon, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms.

A quickish sketch of a view looking down Queen Street in Exeter and the central part of the city.  I think the main building in front is now a coffee shop.  The sky wash while still moist, had bits lifted out with a paper towel to make the clouds on the right.  And the ochre wash of the main building had drops of extra pigment added to make it a little more interesting. 

Watercolour of Sidmouth, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms

A late Winter's day on the front at Sidmouth, looking down the South Devon coast and I think the hill is called Peak Hill.  A very quick sky indeed - just a few dabs with a very large mop brush, picking up some leftover paint on the palette.  Figures were painted around, then I decided to make them mostly dark anyway, and used a touch of white to bring out the highlights on heads and shoulders.

Watercolour of Yate, 15" x 11" on Fabriano Rough 300gms.

My last piece of Fabriano watercolour paper and a scene of a pub near me.  I'm sure if you used a certain type of paper often enough, you'd get used to it, but I don't have enough.  I'm more comfortable with Saunders now.  Fabriano seems to be a bit rougher and stiffer than Saunders and not as absorbent.  I'll try the same subject on Saunders soon, and do a comparison.

Watercolour of Bristol, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough 300gms.

A view from a side alley to the market running down Corn Street in Bristol.  There's lovely victorian buildings up and down the street with pillars and arches, and old style gas lamps no longer in use (I think).  A great subject for watercolour with the light shining right up the street contrasting with the darkness of the foreground.