Welcome to my canal art and blog! My tale of buying a boat and starting to paint began in 2016 after a former career as a university lecturer. Since then, in 2018, I became a Canal and River Trust roving trader. Now, I sell from my boat (usually in the summer months). Don’t worry if you can’t reach me on the canals, you can also order by sending me an email or message me through Facebook or Instagram. I prefer BACS transfer for payment, but can also accept PayPal. I will then post your items.
The Pea Green boat
My 1973 Braunston ‘Barney’ Boat is named Pea Green after the Edward Lear poem, ‘The Owl and the Pussy Cat’. She is moored close to the historic Welford Wharf on the Grand Union canal on the Leicestershire/ Northamptonshire border, here in the UK.
When not at Welford I take Pea Green on adventures around the English canals. I am helped along the way by my reticent boat cat Montefiore-Montague aka Monte)
My canal art
I paint a vast range of items with traditional Braunston style canal art. Everything from traditonal Buckby style water cans to piggy banks. As an historian I recognise the importance of this traditional waterways folk art. However, I also understand that 21st Century customers want items that are both beautiful and usable in their everyday lives. Many of my items are ‘as new’ up-cycled pieces. For instance teapots and gin bottles. On the other hand I also paint items that are brand new. For example wooden spoons and hand painted slates .
Commissions & ‘bring me your stuff’
I am happy to paint bespoke commissions or if you have a special item of your own I am happy for you to ‘bring me your stuff’ to paint. Commissions include Buckby cans and personalised horseshoes. Customers have brought me stools, barrels and narrowboat door panels. I am also happy to paint your kettle or teapot. Objects don’t need to be large!
To find out more
If you would like to know more, please browse my website and view the galleries on each page. My Instagram feed which appears here on my homepage has a new picture every day. Feel free to scroll through. I welcome people making contact and asking questions, and I will do my best to help. To contact me send an email, or a message via Facebook or Instagram . I try to keep my postage costs as low as possible, many items can be sent as small parcels for £3.20.
Want to learn to paint?
If you are inspired and would like to have a go at painting canal art I do offer small group classes of 2-3 people in my house in Northamptonshire. Contact me if you are interested.
Looking for speaker for a group?
Recently I have spoken to a number of groups regarding canal art and my boat. If you are interested in inviting me to speak to your group please message me.