Typically, after wall to wall sunshine, the day I took the class out on location, it was cloudy and breezy, and someone somewhere actually lit a bonfire which of course blew in our direction! Mind you, it was probably just as well, as we could sit out without the fear of sunstroke. The heritage centre is conveniently near our usual location. It pays to have a walk around and see things from a different angle and consider how much you can realistically manage in the time available. Sometimes a few small sketches can be more valuable than a full-blown painting.

The original church building fell into disrepair after a new one was built in the early 1800’s, but was restored during the 1990’s. Today it stands overlooking fields which are the home of grazing horses, but which was once the site of the ancient village destroyed by fire in 1684.

Bales are appearing in the fields around here, which always cheers me up, as it’s usually a sign of better weather and the chance to spend more time outside. Sometimes, they are glimpsed in the distance, and once they are tracked down, there is absolutely nowhere to leave the car. As many roads around here are narrow, simply abandoning it on one side isn’t an option. Happily, we are well endowed with footpaths and access to open spaces. Very lucky, I know. Here, I sat in the shade of an old barn to paint the first bales of the season in a Moleskine 5×8 inch landscape sketchbook.

Four of us braved the uncertain weather forecast and went painting at Chastleton House yesterday. We ended up having to dodge a few showers but were able to sit in the gardens for quite a while before they interrupted us. The best moment for me was when a small and slightly scruffy Robin came and perched right on the corner of my sketchbook as I was painting. I managed to have a conversation with it before it hopped, skipped and jumped across the top of the page and flew away to see what others were doing. Moments like that can only happen when sitting outside and remain with one for ever.

They said it would only be a 24 hour inconvenience. Essential work, part of a bigger project to replace old metal gas pipes with new plastic ones in our area. The supply would be turned off in the morning and switched on again the same day. Also a small hole may have to be dug somewhere on the driveway.

So far it’s been a week. To be fair, when the supply has been turned off it has been switched back the same day, but small holes have turned into large and very deep holes, the front flower border has been trampled under foot and everything should have been completed before the weekend. That’s when they discovered the new mains pipe wasn’t strong enough for the job further up the road, so they are all back today.

Hence, the road is awash with yellow fencing, red and white cones, plastic pipes and all kinds of machinery. Not the usual view from the window, but at least it’s colourful !

The Whispering Knights burial chamber is said to date from 3,800 years BC, and is one of the earliest known monuments in Britain. It forms part of the Rollright Stones along with the King’s Men stone Circle and the King Stone itself, although these are thought to be much later in date.

Legend has it that the Knights were conspiring against their king.

Despite the threat of rain earlier in the week, four of us went to sketch in the grounds of Chastleton House.There are so many doorways and gateways leading into different parts of the garden and through to outbuildings. Windows too, in unexpected places. I found this little window low down on a wall and was drawn to the surrounding textures of wood and stone.

I also like the sense of mystery of doorways and windows, especially in older houses. How much can we really see through them and how much is left to the imagination? How much history have they witnessed? How many secrets do they keep?

After one of the wettest months anyone can remember, the only good thing is to see the Bluebells spilling out from the woods and onto the roadside verges. Despite what is happening to our climate, Spring remains a magical time of year.

In this dreary rain-soaked Spring, it is a joy to see the all-too-brief moments of sunshine in the garden!

Adding to the collection

At this time of year, the garden springs to life again – hence the name of the season! As soon as it starts to be a little warmer, all the little bulbs which have been sleeping under ground start to push their way up in the hope of catching sight of the sun, and once they start there seems to be no stopping them. Snowdrops, daffodils, tulip, forget-me-nots… now two recent paintings, Musari and Snake’s Head Fritillary are available as greetings cards.

Muscari, or Grape Hyacinths, really bring the garden to life at this time of year. It is hard to believe that some people hate them because they “make the place look untidy”, but for me it is their rampant wildness taking over many of the borders which have been so bleak during the last few months, which herald Spring like no other. I love their blue-purple lushness, especially when seen against a backdrop of yellow Daffodils.

Do you love them or hate them?