My process

I always start by exploring ideas in pencil. Quick thumbnails and rough sketches are all that is needed. If the subject demands it I create a detailed line drawing which I can transfer to my watercolour paper.

Thumbnail sketches

You can see how rough and ready these are, but they give me enough information to start the painting.

Choosing pigments

Before I do anything else I decide which pigments I will use. They're chosen not just for their colour but for their properties such as granulation. Sometimes my palette is the best picture I've painted all day!

First washes

For me it's important to lose the white paper so an all over wash letting the pigments flow and mix on damp paper is my starting point. After carefully placing any masking I need to reserve the white paper

Progress

Starting to build that wall.

The Ugly Stage

I always get to the point where I think it's all gone horribly wrong!

Just a few more brushstrokes

Almost there, I try to pause at this point and consider carefully whether I need anything else. More paintings are ruined at this stage than any other. I decided to darken the field behind the wall to create more contrast at the top. Subtle but vital. This is the first version I made of this subject. I later created a new version which is in my gallery.