Although I have painted in Cheddar Gorge before ( 8 of them on show at Caffee Clifton at the moment), this was my first chance to paint from the Cheddar Village side. I had 5 working days on my artist retreat and did 4 oils, 4 tiny sketches, 3 slightly bigger sketches and a card for mothers day. Gorge View Cottage on Birch Hill is elevated so has a  great view of cottages and cliffs from the windows  and you can stay warm inside while you paint.

 Just back from 6 nights at Gorge View Cottage, Cheddar which I rented to enjoy an artists retreat at my favourite painting spot. A chance to paint from the village end of the gorge and paint views out the window in comfort and peace and quiet, undisturbed by miserable weather, rain, cold winds or mobs of passers-by.

I like Pitt Artist Pens (Faber-Castell) because you can draw but with colour. These are permanent colours , unlike most felt- tips.  But once you make a mark you are committed. No rubbing out. As I have been drawing portraits over winter I was attracted to draw the sketchers at Will Stevens Life Class rather than the life models.

As it is a zoological Garden there are some lovely mature trees and I'm also doing studies of the Midland Hawthorn.
It is still too cold to do more than quick sketches but I can nip into the butterfly house for a warm up.

      Cheddar Gorge is one of my favourite painting spots. I am showing  8  paintings of these dramatic cliffs done over several years. It is great to see them exhibited all together.
 The exhibition is at Caffee Clifton, St Pauls Road, Bristol BS8  from 1st March 2017 for a month.  The café is open from 8-6pm Mon to Sat and 10-6pm on Sundays.