Tuesday 27 July 2021

Summer Exhibition

John has four winter landscape paintings at the Broughty Ferry Art Society Summer Exhibition in the Scout Halls in David Street Broughty Ferry running from 29 July till 8 August 2021, open every day from 10am till 4pm. Exhibition now finished. Two paintings sold on last day.

Saturday 26 June 2021

Summer flowers arrive

Summer arrived at beginning of June with warm sunny weather, but no rain till yesterday. Garden just loved getting a good soaking, but not pleasant when I was picking my strawberries. Summer flowers are all bursting into bloom everywhere.

Tuesday 8 June 2021

A Good Year for Rhododendrons and Azaleas

 After the very wet month of May June brought in the summer. Rhododendrons and Azaleas are now at their best. Viburnum mariesii and the ground cover succulent Delosperma nubigenum ad to the variety of flowers at their best.


White and pink Japanese azaleas

White Viburnum mariesii above the yellow Delosperma nubigenum

                                                            Delosperma nubigenum

Azaleas with palm tree at the back

Mixed Azaleas

Azalea Vyuks Red


Wednesday 28 April 2021

Brilliant month for tulips

 A late winter of snow and daily frosts tried to dampen down the tulip displays, but warm afternoon sunny spells helped them recover. After many years of adding a few bulbs each autumn tulips are now established in large colourful drifts all over the garden.

Tulips underplanted with drifts of grape hyacinths
Tulips have their moment in the spotlight, then Peonia Doreen and Delphiniums will take over for a summer display of flowers.

Large Darwin Hybrid tulips
These tulips are underplanted with oriental lilies to flower in summer
These strong tall Darwin Hybrid tulips rise above a drift of aconites which have now finished flowering.


Apeldoorn (red), Golden Apeldoorn and white Haakun tulips




Wednesday 10 March 2021

Garden comes alive in early spring

 The recent warmer weather, after the snow melted has brought out the young crocus flowers, enjoying a bit of sunshine. Had to take a few photos. However I also went mad with the camera when the snow blizzard gave us a foot of snow. Went up to City Road Allotments for a few ideas for snow scenes, but deep snow was covering too many interesting garden sheds and greenhouses. First winter landscape in acrylic completed. More information on my website at www.johnstoa.com

Mixed crocus amongst the heathers

Winter on the Allotment

Yellow crocus and Erica carnea Springwood Pink


Wednesday 17 February 2021

Old Auchterhouse

 Another winter landscape at Auchterhouse just outside Dundee painted in acrylic on board.

Back in the Scottish Highlands in the Trossachs with Loch Lubnaig and Ben Ledi in winter.

Old Auchterhouse   


Loch Lubnaig and Ben Ledi

Wednesday 3 February 2021

Loch Achtriochtan Glencoe

 This winter landscape painting is in Glencoe on the banks of Loch Achtriochtan. This acrylic in on a box canvas size 12 x 16 inches. I just received ten box canvases from Art Discount so my next snow scenes will all be on 12 x 16 inch box canvas.

Loch Achtriochtan in Glencoe


Friday 29 January 2021

FARM IN GLENSHEE

 Winter landscape paintings continue with this Scottish snow scene of a farm at the Spittal of Glenshee.

This is painting number 1844. This acrylic painting on canvas is 24 x 18 inches unframed.

Farm in Glenshee


Monday 25 January 2021

First flowers appear

 Snowdrops and aconites are coming into flower despite a few frosty nights, but then we are in a short dry spell as snow bypasses Dundee again.

Continue to work on winter landscapes at the easel with a snow scene on the Cottage in Glen Clova.

Early snowdrops


Winter aconites

Cottage in Glen Clova

Friday 15 January 2021

Winter Landscape Paintings of Scotland

 A new project to start 2021 is my plan to paint a series of Scottish landscapes in winter followed by a few allotment plots in winter. These will be based on images from my City Road Allotment Gardens. I have already done about 20 allotment plots in all seasons, but these will all be snow pictures 


Glencoe Village with the Paps of Glencoe in winter



Winter in Glen Clova looking towards Glen Doll



Auchmithie in Winter


Loch Fyne