Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Beachlife

There's a new venture taking shape on Dungeness beach in the form of a pop-up pub for the hugely successful Romney Marsh Brewery. Matt, Cathy and family are bringing their award-winning beer to the RHDR station with 'Ales by the Rails'. In true Dungeness style they have transformed a shed into a fully formed beer hut with barrels and pumps - and as the creator of the Dungeness font (which features on their merchandise), we were asked to design and build the signage.

Happy to help, the result is a bespoke, handcrafted and hand-painted set of wooden signs that we built outside during a spell of good weather. After being nailed, painted, stabilised and varnished we used a technique to distress them slightly, giving them a well-worn, aged, smokey appearance.

Ales by the Rails will open on Friday the 16th of June so we wish them all the best and urge you to get down there and support them.
The design takes shape
Preparing the font
Measuring up
Nearly finished
Drying in the sun
After a flurry of film and photography shoots that required an authentic but slightly post-apocalyptic look we have spent time de-cluttering and re-organising the work spaces around the studios. The Lab has been updated and readied to make efficient space for painting as commissions are coming thick and fast. Here is just one of the paintings in progess:

Working title: 'Pathway of Diminishing Returns'

One of the pieces of work that was hanging in Studio 2 has been sent to south London (that groovy part) for a show which has made space for a change of dynamic in there and the display of the new, colourful, polychromatic multi-media work that has been taking shape.

Painting new works

Completed works hanging in Studio 2

We have had a very busy time with Airbnb, welcoming guests from all over the world and receiving lots of positive feedback and reviews, which is very humbling. We have met such diverse and interesting people. We are always sad to see them leave!

There have been a number of approaches from galleries and consultants in this last week, which we are considering as although we like going on tour, we love being here on this beach, especially now. One very welcome visitor was the renowned art academic, groundbreaking photographer and friend, Tom Evans, currently of Tenterden, who has several collaborations in mind for us, which we will happily proceed with. We were honoured to have an exclusive view of his current, large format photographs. Not only were they highly skilled and technically brilliant, they were also profoundly moving.

The garden is bursting with new flowers and plants again after a storm. Everything comes back altered but still beautiful. Most days we are adding new ones or planting out seedlings. The plants for sale at the moment include borage, sea kale, lychnis and cosmos, amongst others.

The umbrella snapped quickly before snapping in the wind again

Poppy

Jostling for position
Wild poppies about to pop

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Filming, Refurbishing and Hosting

It's been a very busy time at Dungeness Open Studios. Last week, we welcomed 17 film crew involved in the production of a short sc-fi film called Black Shore. They filmed in the house, grounds and workshop with actors Matthew Steer, Jessica Raine and Austin Taylor. It is the realisation of a long-held dream of the directors, Jon Park and Grant White, who were joined by Leah Harris as Producer, Director of Photography, Zoran Veljkovic and Production Designer Steve Blundell, among others. They were hard working, friendly and fun, and we are looking forward to the premiere!

Zoran being strapped into his steady cam

Matthew Steer getting ready for a take
As the Black Shore team wanted a fairly gritty looking exterior we had held off on the much-needed paint job around and about, but it's been full on refurbishment ever since. Studio One has been re-painted and varnished as necessary. Studio Two has been whitewashed and The Lab has been refurbished inside as we have created a new, very elegant display screen which will also act as a drying space. This is timely as we can now begin working on a new show ('Spiritual') which will consist of all new material including paintings, prints, mixed media and photography.

Studio 2 - before painting

Studio 2 - looking fresher

The Lab - previous hanging screen

The Lab - new hanging screen made of perspex and canvas

After the creative chaos of film making we had a few Airbnb guests to host so the house was quickly returned to its fomer glory (!) and we met some lovely people who were visiting Dungeness for both work and pleasure.

In the garden, we are still planting new additions every day and the recent rain has helped to bring things on. The zenith hasn't yet been reached but we expect everything to bloom in the next couple of weeks. The lack of rain has had quite an effect on the beach. We have noticed fewer snails and nesting birds, and there don't appear to be as many rabbits or foxes. Plant life is different, too. Usually by now the digitalis and vipers bugloss are showing in abundance, but there is very little sign of them as yet. Good news for lizards though - they are everywhere!

Daisies about to bloom

The hawthorn has flowered for the first time

Mallen

Sweet Peas are being trained to run up the midden

Flowering mint
Last night the French coast was visible for miles which happens rarely but the lights are quite beautiful. Speaking of which, we put up some lights as well...!


Friday, May 5, 2017

In the garden...

The first of May was a first in more ways than one. After months of drought and absolutely no sign of 'April showers' we saw the welcome return of rain! For some time now we have been saving every drop of washing up and bath water for the garden and for seedlings that are coming on in the cold frame. As I write this on May 2nd, we are experiencing another refreshing weather front of gentle showers that will hopefully transform the scorched brown earth (not usually seen until August) into a lush and verdant carpet of grass and flowers.

As the shingle beach gives way to broom, vetch and bladder wort, the garden has seen daffodils and tulips come and go, and is now hosting irises, valerian, anenomes, wallflowers and the last of the bluebells. The rosemary bushes and borage are flowering and red hot pokers are beginning to bud.

New planting includes nasturtiums, borage, flax, poppies and sweet peas. Finding space for everything is becoming a challenge but some of the plants (including sea kale) have been potted up to sell to visitors — at bargain prices, of course...

Borage

Bluebell and fennel

Daisies

Ash coming into bud

Bee making the best of things

Wallflowers around the sign

Planting borage
Iris unfurling...




Tuesday, November 22, 2016

NOVEL

A short novel - (limited edition of 100)


Now available in Studio 2

* Signed by the authors, editioned, numbered & dated Dungeness Open Studios

Would make a unique present | Just sayin'...
*Contact us*

Monday, November 21, 2016

'Last word' | New work


#Dungeness Open Studios in collaboration

'Last word' | New work Open Studios On show in good ol' Folkie with  

Allreasonably priced too... 68 The Old High St - Folkestone

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Saturday, October 1, 2016

New print series | Blot monoprints

Mono print series work: 'BLOT'


Hand painted blotting paper + Hi colour ink detail work. 

Lino cut print as the unifying motif.

Dimensions: 22 cm X 29 cm X 6 off prints 

Price for the series of 6 works: £140.00


New series in Studio 2 | One of ones

 One of ones | Constructed one offs..

New series: Pigments in suspension, paper tape, Hatman paper

Dimensions : Variable

Price £42.00 each - Contact us to specify your preferred choice of work : hamiltonstudios@paintings-for-sale.net

One of one I - 40 cm X 20 cm

One of one II - 34 cm X 25 cm


One of one III - 42 cm X 25 cm

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

New prints in Studio 1

New hang in Studio 1 - Prints & paintings

*


I spy I + I spy II - Diptych 

Dimensions - 10 cm X 9 cm

Lino cuts - Indian red on pink quality paper

Price: £20.00


*

'Rises and falls'

Rises and falls compound prints
Oil based ink on Arches paper
Dimensions 14 cm X 20 cm
Now available*
On show in Studio 1


*


On the Line folding with 'nan' - *Version
On the Line is a collection of six vandyke brown lino prints on heavy rag paper.
A second series of prints depicting everyday teamwork, inspired by the numerous and spectacular washing line moments witnessed on the open beach at Dungeness.
View this new monochrome version of - On the Line prints