Hedge bindweed

Hedge bindweed ‘Two’ – Calystegia sepium

The local field hedges are a tangle of bindweed, briar roses, seedheads, grasses and much more. This particular flower had a lovely beetle (Oedemera nobilis) on it which proved irresistible!

Original watercolour 21 cm x 12 cm

Prints available

Bristly oxtongue- Picris echoides

Bristly oxtongue – Picris echoides

One sunny November day in 2021 we sat with friends for a, Covid distanced, coffee on a bench metres from the sea at Preston. My eyes kept straying to an interesting looking ‘weed’ still in flower. It captured my imagination with it’s bristly leaves and fluffy seed heads and unusual mauve stems.
A blank sheet of paper was waiting at home ready for a new subject so lovely chat and coffee over and pruners always in the car, I cut a couple of the darker, mauve stems to take home to paint.
Identification revealed it as Bristly Ox-tongue, so named as the leaves have ‘pustules’ with tiny thorns. Not easy to paint but very satisfying in the end.

Original watercolour 40 cm x 30 cm

Globe Artichoke

Globe Artichoke – Sun dried seedhead

Whilst on an Open Gardens visit in September 2025 I came across this wonderful Artichoke abandoned in the vegetable patch. I was inspired by the architecture of the seedhead and the muted browns and greys, not to mention the remains of the few decayed, withered leaves that were left after a summer of drought.

Watercolour on 600gsm paper

Image size 54 cm x 31 cm

Limited edition of 25 fine art Giclée prints available

Alexanders

Alexanders –Smyrnium olusatrum

Alexanders is a stately spring flowering umbellifer which graces many of the local Devon lanes. Late summer sees the development of the large black seeds which can be ground to make a spice.

Watercolour on 300gsm archival paper

Image size 40 cm x 30 cm

Limited edition of 25 fine art Giclée prints available

Spear thistle

What a prickly character this plant is as it inhabits any spare ground it finds. One fine day on a walk along our local lanes, tucked tight against the stone wall, was one with seed heads bursting into the wind. Reaching home, gloves and secateurs were quickly gathered up and returning I gently placed a bag over the dispersing seeds and managed to get it home in time!

Original watercolour

Image size 35 cm x 50 cm