Happy New Year!

...with love from Chinatown, London, UK 2014  xxx

Pontobosio Mist

I've enjoyed playing with ink in the last few days, remembering atmospheric walks in Italy at new year. Now I'm back in London, it's fun to recreate my own abstract version of the morning mist-covered mountains that were all around us, near a village called Pontobosio.  Here's a small selection: 

Sketch 1, 2014

I've enjoyed doing a more precise drawing, alongside the looser palette knife paintings, since coming back to London after New Year. This is a small teacup on my Puer teatray. I like the patterns of word carvings in the wood.

It's been added to 'sketch'   . 

Happy New 2014

Blue skies in Italy- Buon Anno! 

Kunming still-life series

Just completed two more for my new collection of still-life paintings, made using oil bars and palette knife ..... getting ready to launch in 2014

 Kunming Still-life

Kunming Bowl with Blue Fish

Yunnan Flowers

New Blossom Bowls

Blossom bowl still-life paintings are well underway.....

Teacup with blue fish and blossom

Teacup on black table

Xmas @ Johnny Rocket Gallery, Greenwich

If it's luxury jewellery you're looking for this Christmas, get along to Johnny Rocket's Gallery in Greenwich for the best in British Designer Jewellery, all in one cool space. Each designer hand-picked by Johnny and showcased in his French style salon.

selected jewellery by Claire Hart Design stocked at Johnny Rocket's

Flux Open Studios @ Vanguard Court

Call in to see the marvellous talent at Vanguard Court in Camberwell next weekend Friday 29th November - Sunday 1st December. You're in for a treat!

Still life: Chinese Bowls

I've enjoyed immersing myself in colour again, this time developing my still-life series of  Yunnan tea cups, bowls and blossom. All painted with Oil bars, some of them handmade from Sweden: Bivaxoljekwritor:) 

A way of slowing down and observing what I see in front of me. It becomes a meditation on the object itself, making associations with time spent in China and what I've seen out there. 

By using oil bars and a pallet knives, I can't work in great detail. It's an impression of what is there, capturing something about the object without reproducing it as I would in my drawings. 

I'm looking forward to developing this series over the next few months and making some of them available for sale online. 

Puer Teacup and Orange Blossom 2

Urban Retreat

Just what is needed in the centre of the city. A place that's peaceful and quiet, floating on the water, where all you can hear are ducks quacking and with a view of Canary Wharf towering in the distance......

Friends have purchased an amazing boat in the Caribbean, and now have it docked on the Thames. We spent Friday night just chilling in the cabin, drinking red wine and having a laugh. With an open invitation to return, I am so happy to have found an oasis in the centre of London. I'll certainly be back:)

View of Canary Wharf 

Desire Fair, Winchester

Call in to the fabulous Desire Fair this weekend and see the best jewellers and silversmiths in the UK. The set up for tonights private view is well underway.

It's my second year showing here and this time I'm delighted to be exhibiting with the amazingly talented silversmiths from House of Jewellers.  

Philip Rhys Matthews solo exhibition at GX Gallery

Locomotive

It was fantastic to be at the Private View of Photographer Philip Rhys Matthews, at GX Gallery in Camberwell last night. I was impressed to hear about the amount of painstaking work and research that goes in to each photoshoot, from the detailed embroidery he did himself for the Chinese costume, to the printing of images on to silk for the backdrops. I liked the size of the prints and the fact that each photograph is printed on rag pearl giving a warmth of tone.

Fiscal Cure

Fiscal Cure, Fiscal Cancer is an incredible first solo exhibition for this recently graduated young photographer, with his well researched reference to fine art while exploring current issues about East/West relations, in the context of stunning fashion photography. I wish him every success in his career and will be fascinated to see how his work progresses in the future.

Seeing the elaborate costume and accessories in the show reminded me of traditional Chinese Empress costumes. In December I will hear Jung Chang speaking at the V&A about her new book,  'Empress Dowager Cixi: The concubine who launched Modern China'. Having heard Jung Chang speak before, I'm really looking forward to this one.