Last month I entered the Buxton Spa Prize, which is an en plein air landscape competition, the rules being that some or all of the painting must be created outside and on a specified location. The competition was launched this year in part to publicise the beautiful views in and around Buxton. The location I received was a pub near the centre of Buxton called the Old Sun Inn. Painting from life is nothing new to me but I had an enjoyable time making the picture - there isn't much chance for outdoor work when you're a still life painter. I ended up finishing the work from photographs in my studio because the amount of interest from passers by meant that progress on location was slow.
I doubt I'll get very far in the competition because my style is rather conventional and there have been a lot of excellent entries but it was an interesting experience and I should have a good chance to sell the picture at the exhibition next month in the Green Man Gallery. I hope at least I've managed to express the summery atmosphere for which I aimed.