Recently, I was creating a painting in the main border at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, when I was approached by photographer Chris Gorman who was filming the garden with a drone.
We got chatting and it turned out that Chris had been commissioned to create a film for the RHS showing Harlow Carr in its Autumn Glory . He asked me if I would like to appear in it, as the official Artist-in-Residence painting outside, ‘en plein air’. Filming took place with the drone hovering around me as I painted on an easel for about quarter of an hour. The noise of the drone sounded like an invasion of bluebottles.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Chris’s company is called Big Ladder photography and he is the Picture Editor for The Evening Standard. He has more than 30 years’ experience and his work has appeared in many major publications such as The Times and Daily Telegraph. If you would like to see his work, click https://www.bigladder.co.uk/about/. His portfolio is stunning and he has won several awards.
Chris contacted me to say I had made it ‘into the final cut’ and I was delighted to see the final film with myself painting away.
Here is the official RHS Garden Harlow Carr’s Film showing myself painting.
My background to painting outside stems from early childhood. No matter what the weather - I'll always try and paint outside of my studio to capture the subject matter be it animals, landscapes or as is often the case - a combination!
Beautiful autumn colouring this year inspired me to capture the cherry trees on the stray in Harrogate - slightly windy conditions made the outdoors challenging but well worth the effort - !
Had a fabulous time at the gardens of Monet in the tranquil village of Giverny. Made all the more exciting when a massive storm hit the village the evening we arrived - ended up eating my Sea Bass in a plate full of rainwater..... as the restaurant got deluged!
Anita Bowerman
Author