Inspiration in the South of France

We have just got back home after spending an idyllic five weeks in the south of France. How I love the vibrant greens and azure blues of the French Riviera with its winding hilltop villages and lush vegetation. We were mainly based in Grasse, but we travelled all over the French Riviera, signt-seeing, hiking, cycling and sampling the local delicacies! Our favourite places included Eze, St Tropez, St Paul de Vence and Antibes. I was so inspired by the light, the colours, the sea, and it's always amazing knowing that I'm painting in the same places as some of the greats such as Cezanne, Matisse, Monet, and Chagall who painted prolifically in the South of France during the 19th and early 20th century.  I was so inspired thinking about the impressionists and post-impressionists painting here -  I felt like this when I was in Montmatre last year as well.  To be surrounded by the very scenery that inspired some of the greatest artistic masterpieces of all time is truly awe inspiring. I love that each artist had a slightly different interpretation of the scenery, but they all agreed on it's beauty and magnificence. One of my favourite paintings I did whilst I was away was of Antibes. The light was like nothing else. It seems Claude Monet felt similarly!  His painting Antibes (Afternoon Effect),1888 (Museum Fine Art. Boston) is painted from a very similar angle at a similar time of day.

I got so much painting done in France - I think I painted every day! Much of it was done en plein air because we were super lucky with the weather. I felt so productive in France, probably because I was so inspired by the spectacular natural beauty of the Mediterranean and whilst we were there I painted so many paintings! The originals have been sent to the framers and I can't wait to get them back to show you! We'll have the originals on display at the gallery soon! Limited edition prints will be available in due course also.