New Original, Prints - and Prudhoe Gallery Update

I have lots of news for you since my last e-flyer in May. The window that intrigued me in rural France when I visited in May has resulted in a new painting ‘The Bakery Window’ and I am working on a new original from that time now. My Northumberland series has acquired a brand new print: ‘Boats at Lindisfarne.’ See 'The Tithe Barn' above, for a Northumberland original. And there are a few places on my Hexham art course.

Gallery progress is ongoing - more details below.

And finally, there’s a gruesome murder story connected with one of my paintings I have to share.

The Tithe Barn, £3 900, 540 x 750cm, Watercolour on Paper, Signed by Artist

Bakery Window

When I was teaching in rural France in the Limousin area this spring, this window appealed to me straight away. The combination of the aged wooden shutters, layers of cobwebs and foliage made it a natural for me to paint. The original painting sold quickly and prints are now available on my website.

‘Bakery Window’ Digital Print, From a Run of 100, Signed by the Artist, Unframed, Mounted, Backed and Wrapped, 47 x 54cm, £125

Gallery Progress, Autumn Opening

Work is still progressing on my Prudhoe gallery, but the original autumn opening date has been set back a little to later in the autumn. The main problem with the renovation has been serious damp issues - building work is ongoing.

I would love you to come to the launch and you will definitely receive a newsletter like this telling you all about it when the date is set, so I look forward to that.

Viking Boats at Lindisfarne

I enjoyed painting these boat sheds at Lindisfarne. The fine detailing of the rocks and the colours in the foreground took a long time to paint. I wanted to capture the scene, the light and the atmosphere as closely as possible.

The history of these boat sheds goes right back to the Viking era. They are inspired by Viking boat homes, from the time when a Viking warrior would sail the North Sea, land, maraud and then upturn his boat by the beach and live in it on the land he had invaded – Holy Island, in this case.

The original of this watercolour was commissioned and prints are now available on my website as part of my Northumbrian print collection.

‘Lindisfarne Boats,’ Digital Print, £150, 730 x 566 mm, Print Run of 100, Unframed, Mounted, Backed and Wrapped, Signed by Artist

Belmount Farm

This original watercolour comes with a gory and murderous story alongside of it. I waited 30 years to paint Belmount Farm – I needed to capture this gently crumbling building in the right light and weather conditions. Despite the adders I always saw in the grass when I called there, and the remote location near Huntstansworth, I am drawn to the building. It has an almost continental feel to it, and a warmth, and I can imagine myself living there.

So I was surprised to read that on New Year's Day 1880, an extremely bloody murder took place there - the 'Blanchland Murder.' Robert Snowball, the master of the house, was hit in the head from behind, so brutally that his teeth were knocked out and the hammer was half embedded in his skull. No one was ever convicted of the murder, though his elderly father, housekeeper Jane Barron and her beau were all questioned.

This shocking murder has left, for me, no residue of trauma in the building – and I was blissfully ignorant of all this at the time that I visited the house and as I was painting the watercolour. I feel it’s a peaceful painting and landscape, despite this bloody blot on the history of the house.

‘Belmount Farm,’ Original Watercolour on Paper, Unframed, 360 x 540 mm, Signed by the Artist, £2 900

Print of 'Belmount Farm,' £125, 360 x 540mm, Unframed, Mounted, Backed and Wrapped, Limited Edition Print Run of 100, Digital Print, Signed and Numbered by the Artist

Swallows

Noel Connor often writes poems for me or to accompany my paintings. This is a new poem that Noel has created, inspired by the swallows’ nest, top centre of this painting. Prints are now available of ‘Swallow’s Nest' part of my Wi ndows series.

‘Swallows’ Nest’ Digital Print, Signed by the Artist, Unframed, From a Print Run of 100, £150, 530 x 740

Teaching

There are a few places available on my art courses in Hexham - suitable for all levels, from beginners onwards. The atmosphere is informal. Just ring for details if you would like to come along - 07968990552 or email me at paul@stangroom.orangehome.co.uk.

'In The Pause of Passing,' by Paul Stangroom and Noel Connor

If you like Noel's poetry, you may enjoy reading our hardback book, 'In the Pause of Passing,' which is a superb introduction to my work and Noel's writing.
Paintings by Paul Stangroom, Poems by Noel Connor, £25 Plus P and P, 64 Pages Long, 260 x 325 mm. Introduction by Paul Stangroom, Forewords by Noel Connor, Anne Stevenson, Robert Picciotto and Tim Healy. First Edition of 1000 Copies. Published by Whin Sill Press