Open again...

We re-opened the doors of Lund Gallery on June 10th after 6 months of the Gallery being 'dormant'. The date coincided with the North Yorkshire Open Studios event of 2011, which resulted in a cascade of visitors coming to see Debbie's work... it was great to see the place alive with people once more! Debbie also managed to track down Sarah Carrington for some new work - now living in Ireland having moved on from Edinburgh. It's taken some time to get in touch, but it's been well worth the wait... several new pieces now hanging in the gallery.

Debbie has recently bought in some vintage Ercol armchairs which are now sharing the space with the pictures and ceramics... they look great! had them re-upholstered and cleaned up. Great to see such classic design in the space.. and a little bit toooo comfy - at risk of being found napping on a Sunday afternoon!

Feb to May Opening

Saturday night saw the opening of Debbie's show of new work at the Gallery at Ryedale Folk museum - it was also Debbie's birthday AND there was a Folk Festival in Hutton-le-Hole - fantastic!

Our son Finn came along for the evening, which made it very much a family afair... though he quickly tired of the main event preferring instead to wander down to the stream that runs through the middle of the village. His first game of 'Pooh Sticks' under the bridge.

During the evening three middle aged men who should have known better started having a tinker with the old tractor outside the museum, and ended up knocking it off it supporting blocks. They ran away and hid like primary school lads who had pulled a prank... and I even think I saw one blushing (!) but they skulked back and 'fessed up with an offer to reseat the green machine. Hutton-le-Hole was most certainly the place to be last Saturday...

February to May 2011 - Solo show...

Debbie has a solo show at The Gallery - Ryedale Folk Museum opening on the 28th of May... In addition to over 70 smaller works she has been working on several larger pieces in mixed media. With so much ink, paint pastel and water on the move, the best place to work is often on the floor...

Exhibiting in Swaledale - East Windy Hall

Debbie has just returned from beautiful Swaledale after delivering some new paintings and drawings to East Windy Hall Gallery. The work is showing in their Easter Exhibition from the 23rd April to the 8th May. So if you fancy a great day out in the dales, take a trip to Reeth, head north towards Arkengarthdale, and after a mile or so stop off at one of Englands most wonderfully located galleries - East Windy Hall.

A week in Runswick Bay

A week in beautiful holiday cottage in Runswick Bay on the North Yorkshire Coast - sublime. Uninterupted panaromic views out across the bay in glorious sunshine.

First Earlies

There's a different smell around the farm at the moment - I find that Debbie has bought a blow torch and is experimenting with scorching her paintings. The results are amazing! but, since it's all done outside, it's a case of trying to dodge the snow showers...

With best intentions I have a box of first earlies chitting in windowsill half way up the stairs. I have a bag of main crop waiting to be laid out in a second box. Life is so busy at the moment I think I'll be putting most of our raised beds down to one or other type of potato with maybe the odd onion and parsnip - minimal attention required... Good job the three of us are spud fans!

I'm home for the weekend between trips abroad with work. Time to refill the boiler, bring in some logs, wash some shirts, and spend some precious time with family. But most important of all - strut my stuff at Coxwold Village hall at a very dear friend's 40th birthday bash - 70's style. Over the past few weeks I've been growing a goaty beard which today has been trimmed down to a classic porn star / drug dealer / hipster droopy moustache (I don't think it will remain on my face for mare than a day!)

I think our son is stirring after his midday nap - so better be off...

Snow snow snow

Just like everyone else in the North East of England, we have had our fair shair of snow over the past week or so - however, from the news coverage it looks as though we've missed the main falls and only have about 30cm on the ground. But, as we live here, we have no problem getting to work! So we're still open to all who venture out to see us.

Very glad we took delivery of 5 tons of woodchip a few days ago - with temperatures dipping down to minus 10 C the boiler has been earning its keep. And it's been a perfect chance to throw some large logs in that we collected in 2009 from some of the branches down around the farm. The boiler seems to work better when it's firing on all cylinders, really seems to burn the wood down to very little ash...

Following a very busy month - courses from Celia Smith and Peter Wray, and opening TWO shows - Debbie's own show in the main gallery and a show featuring Hilary Angle and Barbara Wood in the Tractor Barn - we now have only a few weeks left before closing the doors for Christmas. It's been great to have the gallery bursting with people and creativity, but it will also be pleasant at the end of the month to take a deep breath and enjoy a few days to ourselves!