New paintings for Dawn Fires

I have been continuing to explore this more symbolic and mythical strand to my work where symbols like the moon seem to appearing in abundance. I am still working intuitively with these paintings, reflecting and allowing forms to arise in my mind or directly on the canvas.

In Tree of Stars, and Homage to the Moon I was drawing on the traditions of the Tree of Life, or World Tree. The tree that links the levels of the world from the underworld to the heavens. In Tree of Stars, there is also reference to alchemical texts, where symbols are often depicted on a tree. Here stars in red, white and gold hang from the tree, and a large blackbird who can often be heard singing late into the night, also holds a luminous star on a red thread.
The star seems to be an offering of light to any traveller who intends to enter the doorway set inside the hill and venture on the paths below.

A standing stone inscribed with the marks of the Goddess stands outside the doorway guarding its entrance and symbols of the labyrinth are marked in the fields. As I was painting this picture it seemed as though it was taking on the qualities of a talisman itself.


Homage to the Moon, as the title suggests began with not one but two moons in the rich blue of the night sky. More and more moons have been appearing in these more symbolic paintings over the last few months. I'm not sure where this will lead but for now I paint the moons.
The World Tree in this painting has rich foliage and the celtic and Goddess marks upon its trunk and branches and a white bird with echos of the luminous moon flys across it.

A dragon lies uncurling under the roots of the tree contemplating or watching a smaller moon and a monk sits meditating infront of the entrance to a cave, with his own luminous moon in his lap. It seemed that everything in the painting was paying homage to the moon.

Some of my paintings will be in a Dawn Fires exhibition in the Atlantis Bookshop Gallery.
Link to Dawn Fires here The exhibition runs from 17th to 29th October, link to Atlantis Bookshop address and contact details here

Tree of Life at St Andrews Leytonstone and E17 Designers

I have been pretty busy these last few weeks, I have started teaching my courses at the City Lit. (November and December) and have been sorting out cards and other items for the Christmas craft fairs coming up.
I also have 3 large photographs at the exhibition, "Roots and Remembrance" at St Andrews, Leytonstone. The exhibition is part of a programme for the arts, Tree of Life, more info here there and I am facilitating one of their lunchtime arts sessions on 18th November, in the cafe space.

I am showing 3 photographs of trees, one from Epping Forest,"A Path Through the Forest" one from the gardens next to me, "The Silver Dancing Tree and one from The Seekers Trust, "Reflections of Autumn Trees"

The first art and craft event I'm part of is the E17 Designers Fair on 27th November at the Asian Centre18a Orford road, Walthamstow. There is always a great range of designers there and a fabulous cake stand, which will be selling seasonal goodies.
I am also taking as well as a new range of cards, wooden decorations that I've painted and Ruth is printing wrapping paper this year. Info about the market here