it's my dearest friend Jessica's birthday today. She has been saying for years that she would love a painting of her babies, so this year (as I'm pretty certain she has stopped making new ones) I thought I'd paint this for her birthday. As you can see, it has her three children in it, each holding their favourite cuddly toy. It has their handsome Daddy, Andrew, (West Ham fan, hence the mug) plus the family cat and all their much loved chickens! There are a few symbolic things painted in; Jess and her man met at a party where they played Twister, hence the mat under the bed. Jess' Mum loves poppy fields so I painted in a poppy on her bedside table. Jess loves elephants so a picture of one had to go in. The sweetest addition are the two portraits above the bed, depicting both Jessica and Andrew's Dads, both are sadly departed and much missed, so I thought they could be proudly looking down over their children and grandchildren. Ahhhhhh. Happy Birthday Jess! xxxxxxxx

It's always extra nice creating a painting of people and places I know, so when my friend Frank asked me if I would paint him and 'the boys' wakeboarding in Boscastle harbour, I was
ever so pleased.

I've never painted Boscastle before, despite it being my kind of perfect subject with its higgledy piggledy houses, lanes and footpaths. I hadn't realised how many trees surround the village until I had to paint them in....it's practically surrounded by forest! Frank had also asked if the Cobweb pub could go in which took a bit of artistic licence as it can't actually be seen from the harbour. His girlfriend and chihuahuas had to feature too so I put them strolling along the harbour wall.

I love how it turned out, the boys on the boat look like they are having the best time! I might even be inspired to do a few more Boscastle scenes now, I'd overlooked how deliciously paint-able it all is. Thanks Frank!