Last year was a strange and lumpy one. For most of the year I had few exhibitions, few sales and few completed drawings. Then for a few months it was the complete opposite before grinding to a sudden halt again. I suppose it’s more exciting that way.
Exhibitions
From the beginning of January until the middle of May I was involved in just one exhibition, albeit my favourite of the year. The 104th open exhibition of the Society of Graphic Fine Art took place at Mall Galleries in London in March. I had two pictures in the exhibition, which I was very proud about because the standard is extremely high.
In May I had a couple of pictures in the In Our Nature, a Dorset Visual Arts members’ exhibition at the wonderful Durlston Castle in Swanage. The Castle was originally built as a restaurant in Victorian times (and still serves great food) but the gallery is quite new and has huge windows overlooking the sea. It’s a quite stunning setting and the exhibition itself was a fantastic showcase of the huge depth of talent in Dorset’s artistic community.
The Harmony Festival took place for just a few days in June. It was in a church in Dorchester and the inside was full of beautiful flowers, paintings and sculptures, as well as various musical events taking place in the day and evening. It was a shame it wasn’t on for longer as it felt very special, a burst of hope and joy in these difficult times.
Then there was nothing until October. And in October, I had two pictures in the Bath Society of Artists open exhibition, two pictures in the Dorset Open exhibition and one picture in the South West Academy‘s open exhibition, followed in November by a showcase exhibition in Dorchester (twelve pictures!!) and a picture in the Art in Poundbury winter exhibition.
(And then, in December, just the Bath exhibition continuing, nothing else.)
I’d applied for two exhibitions earlier in the year that I didn’t get into: the Wells Contemporary and the RWA open.
Pictures
At the start of the year I finished a picture I’d started in 2024, The Isle of Portland from Ringstead Bay. I then fairly quickly finished a portrait of the gorgeous Maple, a lovely spaniel. I then finished a picture I’ve spent, so far, sixty hours on, and still haven’t finished. Hopefully it’ll be done in a few weeks. It’s taken a long time partly because it’s just taking a lot of drawing but mostly because I’ve been stopping work on it to work on other pictures.
I draw a picture of my four nephews for my parents’ diamond wedding anniversary gift. Then I drew two Weymouth scenes, the Jubilee Clock and The Levels, because I needed some more pictures for my showcase exhibition. After that I had a commission to do (the lovely Lussy). And then I got ill, and I haven’t really done much drawing at all for about five weeks. (Just about better now, though.)
Sales
Every artist I talk to is saying the same thing at the moment; 2024 was one of the worst years ever and 2025 has been worse. That was certainly my experience for most of the year but I made a few good sales in November and December that balanced it out a little. But it’s tough for everyone in the creative arts at the moment. One thing that helped was having a couple of drawing students. If you live near Weymouth and would like to learn how to draw (beginners to advanced!) then please do get in touch.
Some thoughts and what’s to come
It’s been a strange year. I would have liked to have finished more pictures but it’s my own fault for choosing to work on something big and detailed. In the time I’ve taken so far on that picture I would usually have finished three or four drawings. I just hope it’s worth it in the end. Hopefully in a few weeks you’ll be able to judge for yourself!
I was very proud in 2025 to be elected a full member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art. I was also proud of the work I did with Hope House, running a men’s sketching group.
This year I plan on applying to enter all the exhibitions I applied to this year (including the ones I didn’t get in). I’ve already applied for the SGFA open, I’m a little nervous as I had two pictures lined up for my application which I thought were very strong but one sold and the other one is the infamous unfinished picture mentioned above. I’ll find out soon. There’s also going to be a south-western SGFA exhibition taking place in Somerset in May which I will definitely be taking part in and which I’m very excited about. It’s going to be great to bring the Society to my part of the world.
I’m also hoping to finish that picture and to then go on to finish a lot more pictures during the rest of the year. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and harmonious 2026.
