Gary Cook RI SGFA Arborealist
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cookthepainter.bsky.social
Gary Cook RI SGFA Arborealist
@cookthepainter.bsky.social
Painter, Sketcher, Tree-hugger.
Ex Sunday Times
cookthepainter.com
Late again……One from a while ago for #worldbeeday
May 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM
A bit of Shaftesbury sketching featuring, on walking stick, Dapper Dan. I don’t know him but he’s a well dressed dude I spotted on Shaftesbury High Street one day. Thought he deserved including in a scribble.
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#urbansketches #dorsetlife #sketchbookartist #sketchingpeople
April 16, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Trees, trees, trees……great to be part of @the_arborealists 40th exhibition @sculpturebythelakes The show is open until 19 April. All the work can be seen online at sculpturebythelakes.co.uk
April 8, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Trees, trees, trees……Really looking forward to being part of @the_arborealists 40th exhibition @sculpturebythelakes The show opens on 22 March. All the work on show is available online at sculpturebythelakes.co.uk
March 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
‘Straight above the spring’ ink, watercolour and charcoal
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The stand of beech trees that marks the spot where the River Stour stays its journey to the sea.
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#watercolour
March 5, 2025 at 10:19 PM
‘Sun above the source’ ink, watercolour and charcoal on canvas
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This is where the River Stour oozes from the ground and begins its 61 mile journey to the sea at Mudeford
#watercolour
February 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Proud to have this piece selected for the SGFA annual open exhibition at The Mall Galleries 10-14 March #sketchbook
January 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Mist in the valley at sunrise as I pass a favourite pot-bellied old oak on Gascoigne’s Lane
#watercolour #painting
January 21, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Sketching by the river……spent a great day exploring the River Rother in Sussex doing preparatory drawings for an upcoming exhibition #watercolour #pleinair
January 15, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Snow on the old drover’s track. This cobbled road was the main route farmers used to walk their cattle up to market.
#watercolour #painting
January 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
‘Mist in the beech wood’ ink, watercolour and charcoal
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Low sun, foggy morning and rotting leaves. I do love the winter.
#watercolour
January 7, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Work in progress……must order some more black ink……
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#watercolour #painting
December 23, 2024 at 10:35 AM
I’m really honoured to be part of this RI film calling for entries to their annual exhibition at Mall Galleries opening on the 25 March. Online submissions are open at mallgalleries.org.uk until 28 January
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#watercolourpainting #paintings
December 18, 2024 at 6:56 PM
‘Winter snowfields’ ink, watercolour and charcoal
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Freezing conditions in the Lake District last year. This view is near the point where we had to abandon our car as we were driving (well, sliding) into Windermere
#watercolourartist #sketchbook #snowpainting #watercolour #drawingartist
December 16, 2024 at 10:14 AM
Work in progress……

Using the trusty flooreasel
#watercolour #painting
December 14, 2024 at 10:39 AM
‘Winter lane’ ink, watercolour and charcoal

Sun setting as we walk down a snow covered lane from a temperate rainforest in Windermere. Temperate rainforests in the UK are ultra-rare and cover less than 1% of the country. 2,300 different species of bats to fungi are dependent in some way on oak
December 12, 2024 at 11:03 AM
‘French Mill Lane oaks’ ink & watercolour

Passing the newly TPO'd oaks as low sun cuts through the mist in the valley. These 70 year-old oaks had red dots sprayed on them for felling. Thankfully Tree Preservation Orders were put on. Imagine how different the lane would look without them
December 10, 2024 at 10:54 AM
‘Light lines’ oil and charcoal on canvas

From a frosty walk on the Roman road in Eartham Woods on the South Downs

www.cookthepainter.com/latest-work/...
#painting
December 9, 2024 at 11:13 AM
A page from the sketchbook. Some fancy gates and coffee. Now part of ‘Travels with The Woodlanders’ www.cookthepainter.com/latest-work/...
#sketchbook
December 4, 2024 at 9:20 AM
Careful now……

‘French Mill Lane oaks’ ink, watercolour and charcoal

Walking past the young oaks on the lane just above French Mill. On show now at the lovely @foldedorset.bsky.social #watercolour
December 2, 2024 at 9:20 AM
‘Walk up to town’ ink, watercolour and charcoal

A late winter view of the walk up to town. Come June and July we spot glow-worms displaying in the bank on the right during the walk back home from the pub on warm evenings
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#watercolourartist #sketchbook #pleinairartist
November 26, 2024 at 12:56 PM
My duckweed time vampire

#pondlife
November 20, 2024 at 9:45 AM
Flaming arrogance…I witnessed this depressing sight in Yorkshire. Highlighted in @guyshrubsole.bsky.social brilliant book The Lie of The Land, research shows burning peat is one of the worst things for the environment. 2.4m tons are released by burning by landowners www.cookthepainter.com/ramblings
November 18, 2024 at 5:24 PM
The big chill……Huge thanks to the Bruton Art Society council for selecting this watercolour ‘Winter stream’ for their Christmas card. It’s from a chilly snow-covered walk in a Lake District temperate rainforest last year. On show at Adrian Hill Fine Art #snowpainting #watercolour #drawingartist
November 18, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Sketch of the incredible sweet chestnut trees in Petworth Park
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#charcoal #sketching #sketchbook #charcoaldrawing #art
November 15, 2024 at 9:25 AM