Dixter diaries

Drawings from the porch - spring & summer 2025
As the visitor numbers reduce towards the end of the season in quieter moments I made quick digital drawings of the manicured pot displays at the entrance, porch-side views and sketch of the Solar ‘pocket bed’ which changes three times a year.

2025 Digital collages and mixed media
Imaginative and topographical studies developed from drawings made in the studio and at Great Dixter en plein air.
Magisterium - digital collages created from an oil study made in the studio and digital drawings of the chasubles in the V&A.
The Ancients - digital collage using en plein air sketchbook drawings of the Lutyen's steps melded with a studies of the Breughel's Parable of the Blind including the digital studies made on the Lutyens steps. Paone and ident dahlia digital collage.

In and out of the house - summer 2024
Digital drawings from the Alan Caiger-Smith collection at Great Dixter. In 2015 Alan donated over 300 pieces to the trust and I've been drawing in the dimly lit Billiard Room where the majority of the work is stored, 3 and 4 pieces deep. Quick digital sketches, of the Oast House view and Solar bed summer 2024.

Taking sketchbook drawings forward - summer 2024
Back in the studio over the summer I've been developing sketchbook Dixter drawings into graphite imprints or digital artwork and experimenting with these combined with linocut. Finally printing the Peacock collagraph block at Dumfries House.

Digital Dixter diaries - winter into spring 2024
So easy to become lost in magic of the towering winter grasses at Great Dixter.
At the top of Lutyen's steps. Magnolia soulangeana 'Lennei' in full flush. The giant Gunnera manicata in the Lower moat.

Digital Dixter diaries - summer 2023
Height of summer. Mysterious, magical place, amazing history and stunning design. Sometimes overwhelming.

Great Dixter sketchbook diaries 2023-25
Miscellaneous A3 sketchbook studies of The Peacock Garden, The Topiary Lawn, Winter grasses, The Ancient Mulberry and Lutyen's Steps.

Great Dixter in print
The Peacock Garden, Great Dixter, 3 layer linocut reduction limited edition of 8 prints; Peacock Blue, one layer linocut edition of 50 prints; unlimited greetings card. Great Dixter Inside and Out drawing recently published in the 2024 & 2025 Journals.
Digital drawing of the Agnus Dei crozier in the V&A and sketchbook drawings of the Artificial hawk used to frighten the pigeons in the Peacock Garden taken into screenprint.