During a recent visit to see en plein air landscape artist, David Walsh, in his beautiful, airy Wiltshire studio, I was privileged to see, among his work, some of his newest paintings of woodland paths and autumn trees painted near Slad in Gloucestershire.
Early Autumn Woods, oil on canvas, by David Walsh
Coincidentally, I had recently visited The Woolpack pub, in Slad, for a delightful lunch with artist, Fiona McIntyre. This charming pub’s landlord is Dan Chadwick, son of the British sculptor, Lynn Chadwick, whose home in Lypiatt Park we had visited the previous day.
The Woolpack was a favourite spot of poet, novelist and screenwriter Laurie Lee, who grew up in Slad and is buried in the village churchyard. Lee was a popular visitor to his local village pub and was also a much loved member of the Chelsea Arts Club -a place very close to my own heart. A bust of him sits
in an honoured place in the club, so I see it frequently on my visits to London.
I now find myself musing about how interconnected we all are and how, just sometimes, everything can connect to one place and one stitch in time. What a small world it sometimes seems!
So as, in the words of Laurie Lee himself, we feel ‘the gold foot of autumn,’ I am pleased to announce that a selection of David’s exquisite new arboreal works are coming to my online gallery; perfectly reflecting the change of season and mellow beauty of autumn's approach.
See these and more, on my ARTISTS pages.
A Path through Autumn Beech Trees,
oil on canvas, by David Walsh