Time away in the countryside and a shop update :)

Hello, I thought I’d do some updates as it’s been a while.  Also because I had a little break away for the first time since the beginning of the year which was really needed and lovely.  Normally I would have had a break by now but with all that’s happened….well, need I say more!

Firstly, I’ve updated my Etsy shop with new products since I was last here, including custom house portraits in a variety of sizes.  I’m offering black and white portraits as I think they make lovely personal gifts.  I’m hoping people will like them especially with Christmas coming up.  We have all spent a lot more time at home this year after all.  I’ve also added some pick and mix print selection bundles and a postcard set, so some bargains are available.  I’ve got some new products coming soon which I’m very excited about and when they come I will post about that, promise!  Also, if you’re really organised I’ve added my Christmas tree ornaments.  These are hand painted with various patterns and each one is totally unique!  So, if you’re a really early decorator or you’d like a gift for a friend in advance of decorating time a little bit of Christmas awaits.

I’m also going to share some photos of my time away.  I went to Norfolk/Suffolk and spent my time going out for lovely long walks every day I was there.  It was so good to see my family again and spend a good chunk of time with them.  I really feel refreshed and I definitely needed to get away.  I was so lucky with the weather too.  It was really sunny and warm so it meant every time I got to the coast I got to spend a long time paddling in the sea which for me is a total joy :).

Brandon Park

Wells-Next-the-Sea

Cromer

Flatford

Southwold

Southwold happy feet :)

Dunwich Heath

I had such a lovely time.  I've really missed taking long nature walks so this trip has really revitalised me in so many ways.  I hope everyone is doing well and managing ok during this time.  It will end!  Take care and I'll be back soon x

Happy New Year!

Hello and Happy New Year!  I've had a lovely break away for Christmas and am now enjoying being back, sorting out a few things, and doing some drawing :).  I always really appreciate a break at this time of the year.  It is so nice to just slow down a bit, relax and spend time with family.
I wanted to share an illustration I completed just before Christmas still on a sea theme.  I've really been enjoying drawing sea creatures, they are so fascinating.  The colour palette I hope gives it a vintage feel.  I didn't get to spend much time at the coast on this visit home, just because it's Christmastime and it's a little more difficult to get out.  Next time!

When I got back to London I spent a beautiful day out walking from Hammersmith to Richmond.  It was a glorious sunny day and the light was sooo pretty.  

It was such a lovely day :).  

Finally, as it's New Year, and 2020 I've also got a sale on in my Etsy shop SharonFarrowArt 20% off everything.  There are prints, xmas cards, originals, stickers and postcards to choose from so please come and have a browse.

I hope you've had a lovely break and I hope you have a wonderful 2020.  I can't believe we're at that date already!  I'll be back soon, now it's time for coffee and some drawing :).

Coastal walking

Hello,

So now the first week of January is well and truly over, Christmas and even New Year feel like a lifetime ago!  I've been getting back to work and life, (as has the body,) and so far I'm enjoying 2019, and I've been making lots of plans for the year ahead.
Today I am looking back though to my time post Christmas when I went for another very lovely walk at one of my favourite places, Wells-Next-the-Sea (it has the best name).  I have a lot of lovely childhood memories from there, and I love to visit.  I've drawn lots of illustrations inspired by Wells in the past and I'm sure I will continue to do so.  I especially loved drawing the bark and the seaweed.

I have taken so many photos of beach huts over the years, but it can't hurt to have a few more.  I love the pop of colour they bring no matter the weather.  

I hope you've been having a good start to 2019, and have a lovely cosy weekend :).

Happy New Year!

Hello and Happy New Year!

I hope you've had a good break if you've had one.  I had a lovely Christmas with my family and have come back feeling relaxed and refreshed.  It was lovely to spend some time in the countryside and go for some nice long walks.  I created the illustration below following a walk around Dunwich.  It's known for suffering badly with erosion over the years, so a lot of old buildings have ended up in the sea.  It is told that on stormy nights you can hear the bells of old churches ringing from the sea....

Just before Christmas I also visited Blickling Hall.  For Christmas they light up the gardens and house and I've wanted to go for a while now.  This year I finally made it.  It was very cold but worth the wait, it was so pretty, (luckily I had some mulled wine and a gingerbread tree to help warm me up, of course! yum) 

It felt really Christmassy.  It all feels like a long time ago now though.  I'm really excited for the year ahead though, I've come back full of new ideas and I'm excited to be back to the table drawing!
I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your break if you had one, and that Santa bought you all you hoped for!  I'll be back soon with more new work :).

Autumn sunshine

Hello,

Brrr, it's been a bit nippy this weekend, but the sun has been out so I've been enjoying a day of sunny painting, hurrah!
So, I've now been reunited with my laptop, all back, fixed, (even cleaned!) and earlier than expected so I'm feeling a lot happier, (and very relieved).
I mentioned previously that I'd spent a few days in the Norfolk/Suffolk countryside just recently so I wanted to share some illustrations inspired by the trip.  I always find taking time out of regular life and going on long walks out in nature refreshes me so much, and I always come back full of ideas following what I've seen.
The Chicken below was one of the few (some more willing to pose for photos than others!) found in the gardens at Felbrigg Hall.  They are free to roam around as they wish and have some rather fancy homes.  There were also some beautifully coloured and knobbly squash dotted around the gardens.  Along with lots of lovely plants and a few flowers.

I made this swan pattern following a walk along the river stour, on a lovely sunny day.  

I love the colours of the lichen on this tree contrasted with the blue and green :).

Ok, that's it for now.  I've got an early start tomorrow so I need to start organising myself.  I'll be back later in the week with more updates.  I hope you had a lovely weekend! 

Autumn time in the country

Hello,

I've just come back from a little break in Norfolk/Suffolk visiting my family.  Very nice it was too.  I was lucky to have some lovely sunny days (along with one rainy one but luckily I was inside for that).  I love those crisp autumn days and I really enjoy having a good stomp around in the fresh air.  I've come back full of ideas from my trip.
Before I went I finished this illustration of a blackberry and apple crumble, something which is definitely missing in my life, I can't remember when I last ate one :(.  It's one of those perfect colder day puddings, yum.

A few pictures from my days away.  I always like to go and visit the sea.

I love the light at this time of year in the late afternoon and the long shadows it casts.

I do have a berry obsession, I don't know what ones these are but they have the most gorgeous colour.

 This was the late afternoon sunshine, perfect.

Autumn, :).  I hope you have a lovely weekend (and get to eat some crumble!) 

Ice cream? I think so

Hello,

I hope you've had a great week.  I'm loving having bright late evenings, it really seems to lengthen the days, and it's so nice to have the doors and windows open and feel the fresh air :).
On a summery theme, I'm sharing the illustration I completed below following a coastal visit.  I really loved working on this and I'm very happy with how it turned out.  I'm pretty addicted to inks at the moment, both those that are water soluble and those that are not.  They create such wonderful colours and textures and I think they work really well with the more detailed line work.  To be honest I just love combining all different mediums, I really get stuck into the textures.

I must admit, I did have a few ice creams that looked a bit like this one the week I was away (not all on the same day I will add!)  There's nothing like an ice cream when it's a hot day at the seaside and in the UK if you are lucky enough to have a lovely warm day at the coast ice cream is essential, because lets face it those days need to be grabbed!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I have a lot of drawing/painting I'm hoping to get done, hooray!  I'll be back soon :)

Out for a walk

Hello,

It's a lovely sunny Saturday :).  I'm sharing another illustration completed after a little break in the countryside.  I went walking through Sheringham Park where luckily some of the Rhododendrons were out at that time, lots of glorious colour.  I made this inspired by the walk which led to the coast in the end, and also to fish and chips and later an ice cream, yum.
Have a lovely weekend whatever you do, I'm about to start sketching for some new nature themed work :).