Landscape Painter of the Year

No, not me. Words are my thing. And perhaps, after three years writing artist profiles for Hampshire Life, that explains my latest project. Archant is organising a Landscape Painter of the Year Competition for its South West titles whose Arts and Interiors Editor has asked me to be one of the judges for Hampshire Life. Ooh yes please, I enthusiastically responded within seconds of receiving the email. The competition will be launched in September editions with the winner announced in the New Year. I'll let you know how the competition progresses.

My live BeaconLit interview with Jan Raycroft, Buckinghamshire Life Editor, was great fun and I’m looking forward to my next live gig at Thame Arts and Literature Festival this autumn when I interview author and playwright, Julie Mayhew.

Following my recent trip to the Ashmolean, my Bountiful Invention review has been published in The Lady. The August edition of Buckinghamshire Life includes my interview with Three Chairs Grooming pioneer, Ryan Bartlett, whilst the same edition of Hampshire Life carries my Hampshire Open Studios feature.

I’ve recently been down to Portsmouth to interview more artists including the Official Artist for the British America’s Cup team, and last week a chance meeting with a local photographer at a Wendover exhibition secured my next Creative Vale subject. I attended an inspiring Chiltern Writers meeting and, as always, am constantly on the lookout for news, events and information for my Bucks Herald columns. So do get in touch if you have details to share.

From Summer Exhibitions to Christmas

Well, it’s countdown to Saturday’s BeaconLit where I’ll be doing a live interview with the Editor of Buckinghamshire Life, Janice Raycroft, and providing a Writers Surgery where I hope to answer your questions – and if I can’t, I’ll find a man who can.

I’ve fitted in a couple of Press Days this month – Kate Malone’s exhibition at Waddesdon Manor and the Ashmolean’s Storms, War and Shipwrecks. I’ll let you know when they appear in print. Huge thanks by the way to Waddesdon Manor and Ashmolean for delicious lunches and looking after us all so well. Such events are a great opportunity to meet fellow writers.

Meanwhile my 19^th Century Art review is in the The Lady and Just Four are this month’s artist profile in Hampshire Life. For Vale Life the fabulously talented Graham Jefford is my latest Creative Vale subject. Indeed, I popped in to see him on Friday at Bucks Open Studios. “Ooh, here’s the lady who’s top of my Christmas card list,” he smiled whilst greeting me. “I couldn’t have wished for anything better.” I did, of course, inform my Editor of this praise. Graham was exhibiting with textile artist Barbara Shaw, one of my previous Creative Vale subjects.

Now what else? Oh yes, the July edition of Buckinghamshire Life includes my features about Ellesborough Silver Band and The Beautiful Chilterns, and my three Neighbourhood News columns continue in the Bucks Herald. Finally, it may be summer (hmm, questionable isn’t it?) but crime author Dave Sivers has asked me to do a live interview in December down at Wendover Library. I’ll let you have more details nearer the time but I reckon his books will make great Christmas presents.

From BeaconLit to Opinions and Pearls

They say it’s who you know that counts. Well, having written for Buckinghamshire Life for a few years I am delighted to report that the Editor has not only agreed to sponsor this year’s BeaconLit Festival but also to appear as one of our keynote speakers. I’ll be interviewing Janice Raycroft about her work and journalist career. If you haven’t already booked your ticket, log onto www.beaconlit.co.uk before the end of May for a great deal.

Following a recent Press Day at Waddesdon Manor, my review of A Closer Look: Spotlight on French Royal Furniture by Jean-Henri Riesener has been published in The Lady. Also on the arts front, my latest Vale Life subject is the fabulously talented textile artist Barbara Shaw and for Hampshire Life Katie Gibbs’ artist profile appears in the June edition. Buckinghamshire Life includes my Bucks Open Studios feature and an interview with Lynne Hamilton of Hamiltons Canine Hydrotherapy.

I’m off to Stowe Landscape Gardens later to do some Capability Brown research and looking forward to a bumper crop of Press Days during June. And did you know about my Opinions and Pearls blog? The forbidding Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle is somewhat forthright in her old school views and is currently sharing her thoughts about subservience. Or lack of. Ooh, what freedom writers gain via a pseudonym!

From interviewing to tea and tarts

What a busy and varied month I have to report on. Let’s begin with a new venture, but one to which I have secretly aspired for some time – interviewing. Fellow writer and Chiltern Writers member Dave Sivers asked me to interview him at a couple of his book signings in order to add interest to the events. Of course, I replied! The first venue was Aylesbury Library with a hearty number of supporters. Ivinghoe Library was a little quieter but still great fun and my thanks to Dave for making my role so easy and interesting.

Meanwhile I’m also working with Dave organising BeaconLit which has attracted sponsorship, successful authors, a performance poet and Editor of one of this country’s iconic magazines. Please put Saturday 2 July in your diary and order an early bird ticket – it promises to be an inspiring day.

On the writing front, my latest Buckinghamshire Life features are an interview with Hon Christopher Gilmour about Winslow Hall and this summer’s opera event, plus an article celebrating RAF Halton’s Trenchard Museum and James McCudden Flight Heritage Centre where, during interviewing, I had the privilege of flying a de Havilland Chipmunk simulator. The fabulously talented Lucy Pick is my latest Hampshire Life artist profile and I’ve also written a feature about Gerlinde Seeley and her award winning skin care range for Lincolnshire Pride Magazine.

It’s never too early to think of Christmas, by the way. So, along with fellow journalists I was invited to tea and tarts in Queens Park Centre as part of their panto launch. Oh yes, I was!

Finally, my Bucks Herald Neighbourhood News columns continue to cover numerous local events and news, and pitches to magazine editors have been flying off the keyboard. I’ll keep you posted about their progress.

From Royal Danish Ballet to BeaconLit and Waddesdon Manor

Having failed so early in the year to blog more regularly, I’m going to bypass the usual apology and crack on with the mother-of-all updates.

Let’s start with Chiltern Writers, shall we? In January I delivered a practical talk / workshop aimed at helping members and visitors Write for Magazines. I’ve received some great feedback so best of luck to everyone intent on feature writing.

Here’s a list of my published articles since then. Hampshire Life - art forger John Myatt, ASpaceArts of Southampton, Gallery Guide and Ron Moody artist profile. The Lady has run two of my Ashmolean reviews: Andy Warhol and Scenes of last Tokyo. The February edition of Hertfordshire Life published my Valentine’s Day article whilst Landscape magazine featured my article about the restoration of Chinnor Windmill. For Buckinghamshire Life I interviewed German art expert Katrin Henkel, did a round up of National Gardens Scheme in Buckinghamshire, a Mothering Sunday books selection; I interviewed a pest controller, a principal with the Royal Danish Ballet and explored a selection of festivals for the year. Vale Life continues my Creative Vale column with Pirjo Keene and Kathryn Acton’s work explored. And, of course, I continue to write three Neighbourhood News columns for The Bucks Herald as well as my WordPlay column for Thame Out.

I’m currently involved in organising this year’s BeaconLit event and we’re planning an exciting and constructive day to appeal to writers and readers alike. Follow them via @BeaconLit1.

Only recently I had a fabulous time at Waddesdon Manor as a guest on their Press Day. The private view included lots of news and details and it was fascinating mixing with journalists over a scrumptious luncheon in the Manor Restaurant.

My Regular Writing group continues with successes applauded, ongoing projects discussed and a hefty measure of encouragement all round. And it was lovely to meet a writer who contacted me through my website recently. We enjoyed a motivational chat in our local chocolaterie.

Well, time to crack on. There are editors to contact, ideas to brainstorm and features to write.

2016

Not only do I wish you a Happy New Year but one that is equally rewarding and fulfilling. I’ve already begun 2016 as I mean to go on – writing features, exploring new markets and revelling in inspiration. Meanwhile, here’s a quick summary of my articles that hit the presses towards the end of last year.

Country Life: Parchment for Parliament; Landscape: Vicki Brand Upcycling; Buckinghamshire Life: Festive Dining Décor, Pantomime Round Up and 2015 Quiz; Hampshire Life: Romsey Art Group artist profile; Vale Life: Jane Miller; Thame Out: Wordplay column.

This month Tony Clegg is my Hampshire Life artist profile whilst for Buckinghamshire Life I talk to a number of charities in order to encourage everyone to take up volunteering.

February articles have already been submitted and next month’s Ashmolean exhibitions are in the diary. But for now I have half a dozen interviews lined up over the next few days in between which I will also be preparing my Chiltern Writers’ talk about Writing for Magazines.

Finally, whilst colleague and children’s author Nick Halliday is touring various continents for a few months I have taken on distribution of his fabulously successful The Lonely Tree.

Hmm, quite a busy start to the year. Must crack on . . .

November onwards

As the fog lifts and autumn sun brings a spot of warmth to my study, it’s the start of a busy week encompassing interviews with artists, charity workers, gallery owners and garden enthusiasts. How I revel in variety!

Meanwhile, to bring you up to date, here are my latest features which have hit the magazine shelves. Buckinghamshire Life this month includes my 10 Sunday Specials article focussing on venues across the county serving mouthwatering food. In Hertfordshire Life I explore the lovely villages south of St Albans and all they have to offer. At the Titian to Canaletto: Drawing in Venice Ashmolean exhibition I took the opportunity to chat to artist Jenny Saville and include her generous quotes in my review for The Lady.

During a holiday in the New Forest this summer I popped into an art exhibition in Fordingbridge where I fell in love with the unique work of Cliff Brown. Well, of course, I contacted him upon returning home and his interview is my latest artist profile for Hampshire Life magazine.

Last but not least, Writers’ Forum includes my interview with my fabulously successful colleague, Dave Sivers.

Progress on my Lady Margaret Gosworthy-Pringle greetings card range is slow but I promise to keep you informed of progress.

Now, back to today. My December features are all submitted so please excuse me as I put the finishing touches to my January articles and begin February's research. How time flies!