Really missing the beach during this UK wide lock down. I guess I gave to make these looking through some of my photographs of my previous walks along my local beach.
My last pics I will share from Sweyne's Eye ~ 2014-15. The pic is of shed doors down in Swansea Marina. Of you would like to see more of the images, you can purchase the photography zine here.
This artwork features on the doors of a boat shed in Swansea Marina, and uses the symbolism of doors to represents the passage from one state to another. The marble door handles have been crafted into the shape of a boat to carry travellers through these states, whilst a huge guardian eye keeps a protective watch over those who undertake the voyage. Beneath the boat, and threatened by a single graphic harpoon, ocean lifeforms gather.... The work was designed by Robert Conybear and Robin Campbell.
Swansea's pavements become beautifully decorated during the Autumn with the leaves of numerous city trees. Another image from the my photography Zine - Sweyne's Eye ~ 2014-5:
Having been put on lock down, I have been able to spend a fair amount of my time working on Sweyne's Eye photography zine. Over the next few posts, I will be sharing some of the images that be found in these various zines for your hopeful delectation, starting this friendly feline:
My employer has sent everyone with medical issues home until further notice. I have decided to keep my mind occupied by making an early start on the next issue of my Sweyne's Eye zine.
This is the sound that awakens us each morning. :) The audio recording was taken from our bedroom windowsill. Captured in the recording are the sounds of traffic, our neighbour's cat, a great tit, sparrows, a magpie, a blackbird, gulls, planes and chickens:
Here they are - the new cover designs for my first four folk-horror novels. My fifth (Berserk!) was only published a few month ago, so I am still happy with the cover for that book. To celebrate the relaunch of these titles, they will be offered for sale at just 4.99 for the entire month of March. :)
Click on the image of the book you are interested in purchasing to be taken to the appropriate Amazon page:
[Background reading] Well, I made it to the other side of winter. Just. Time to get back on track and also try and get my health back in some semblance or order...
March 1st also sees the end of my month long break from writing. I did use the time productively, however, and produced three photography zines during February. But although I enjoy photography, my real passion is definitely writing and it was with relief when my month-long abstinence from working on my next novel came to a close and I opened up my writing bureau this morning to continue work on Solstice. 'Tis time to crack on...
Oh, and in case you were wondering what that red and green thing is on top of my writing bureau, it's this Manor Ware ornament from the 1970s - one of my fondest items from my childhood:
Piscies fishing in a boat. A Manor Ware ornament from the 1970s
Having looked through my back catalogue of books on Amazon with fresh eyes, I have come to the conclusion that the cover design of my first novel appears a little tired. And so I have started work on a classy new relaunch of my folk-horror titles. Look out for these spanking new cover artworks on heading your way soon...
Working on a classy new book cover for Crawley ~ an adult faery tale
Working late into the night on the new cover of Pixie-Led
All I seem to have recorded on my Tascam DR40 this year is the rain and the wind. It will be lovely when the weather finally improves and I get to do some rambling and record some less inclement sounds... Still, there's nothing quite as atmospheric as listening to a storm when you are chilling at home in the warmth, so here we go - Storm Jorge, recorded from my living room this afternoon. As usual, this is best appreciated whilst wearing a good pair of headphones (by the way, you can see the audio recorder to the right on the mantelpiece in the accompanying photograph to the audio):
All I seem to have recorded on my Tascam DR40 this year is the rain and the wind. It will be lovely when the weather finally improves and I get to do some rambling and record some less inclement sounds... Still, there's nothing quite as atmospheric as listening to a storm when you are chilling at home in the warmth, so here we go - Storm Jorge, recorded from my living room this afternoon. As usual, this is best appreciated whilst wearing a good pair of headphones (by the way, you can see the audio recorder to the right on the mantelpiece in the accompanying photograph to the audio):
My favourite character amongst our garden birds. He has been visiting us for the nearly seven years we have been living in our house and is always a welcome sight. Given his chunky size, he is still a bit of an acrobat. Look at those balancing skills!
Perfect Balance!
Given that he is a bit of hungry fella, and that we have known him for so long, he has earned himself a nickname. Here is is arriving, and lingering, on our birdfeeder the other day. He added to his girth quite considerably on this visit, and continued to eat until an impatient starling came and chased him off (caught at the end of the following video):
