NEWTON St Cyres Art Club was pleased to welcome a watercolour demonstration by renowned local watercolour artist John Christian on March 31.

John has painted all his long life, in the tradition of Edward Seago and Edward Wesson.

While painting a Dartmoor scene of stream, clapper bridge, trees and moorland, he showed us the importance of composition, not overworking a painting, suggesting rather than putting in details, and allowing the paint to do its own thing, while controlling the amount of water used.

He loves to sketch outdoors, as this locks the image in his memory more effectively than a photo would.

He used a limited palette, and a small range of brushes, so the amount of equipment required was minimal, and the resulting painting a delight.

We were grateful to John for coming at short notice, when the programmed demonstrator was unable to make it. 

Jenny Hallam