Four Sea Interludes Series - Acrylic Paintings

During the last two years of study at Moulsham School, Chelmsford, I studied music and our specialist subject was English Composers.  The Four Sea Interludes by Benjamin Britten from his opera Peter Grimes was one of the set pieces which I loved.  In my latest series I wanted to evoke the menace and sombre moods reflected in Britten´s brilliant orchestral music.  I also used extracts from the original poem used for the libretto and plot:  The Borough.  Letter XXII: Peter Grimes by George Crabbe (1754-1832).  This series about a fisherman outcast by his villagers, also reflects Britten´s own predicament as a homosexual and pacifist in an intolerant (1939) society.  The series has been painted in a "marine" format on linen canvas, using used fisherman´s nets from a local fishing port (Burriana), Malden sea salt, and in Moonlight some paint was applied using a sea sponge.  To see the series in full please visit my web page.

Bulgaria, July 2011

Troyan Monastery and covered bridge, Lovech

"Mixed feelings, beautiful scenery, genuine treasures, pleasant surprises, and friendly people" sums up my thoughts regarding a recent trip to Bulgaria - all made possible by the kind hospitality shown by my good friend Veselin and his family.

Among my travels was Byala Slatina which showed signs of a grander age under socialist rule, historic Lovech and its beautiful covered bridge, Pleven, the Central Bulkan National Park where we met a friendly group of people including Sezi Hasanova and her family, the Troyan Monastery where the famous Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levsky hid out during the time of Turkish rule, and of course Sofia where we encountered some real treasures and pleasant surprises (Sofia will be the subject of a future blog).

Overall my trip left me with a deep feeling of sadness - sadness at the fact that the country has been left to rot, particularly outside of Sofia, sadness at the almost total loss of their previous industrial backbone and sadness at the bleak outlook that is currently facing the people of Bulgaria.