Book Update

 For those that are following the Facebook page you will have already seen mention of the progress of the book so here is a more complete update.
 There are a couple of reasons why the book has been delayed:
 Firstly, I still require a couple of dozen references for the work, these have been difficult to acquire due to the inconsistent weather over the year. I do need a period of 4 days to get over to Wasdale where most of these references lie. My routes are all planned and they include a couple of nights wild camping I need to make sure that the weather is suitable.
 Secondly, a most importantly, as some of you may already know, whilst I continue to work my way through the project I also progress on the design of the book. This will mean that as soon as the sketches are all complete there will be little delay in getting the manuscript to the printers.

However, there is one factor which has meant the re-designing of the book. The original plan was to include as many of the sketches in the volume as I considered that including the full number of the sketches would have been impractical. Whilst working on the design I found it quite a challenge to pick which sketches to omit. So now I have decided to include every single one of the sketches, this has meant some re-working of the layout and of course making the number of pages larger. It does of course mean that the book will be a truly complete record of the project and every single one of the sketches which AW placed in the Pictorial Guides will be there including thiose which have been cut from the revised guides.

 In fact, there will be more sketches in the book than AW did, but thats a secret for now.



Another Book?

  Whilst talking to the many visitors to the gallery about the Wainwright Project the thought has occurred to me that there may be a possibility of producing another "follow up" book to the forthcoming Wainwrights in Colour book.
 I already have ideas to what would make this new book different as books on the Lake District are filling the shelves of bookshops already. My intention would be to give this book a very personal twist but I am reluctant to divulge too much information at this time as I have found that ideas can so easily be picked up and copied here on the internet.
 Here is just a basic clue as to the idea.

Book Update.

 In the past week or two I have had a couple of enquiries regarding the Wainwrights in Colour Book so I thought a blog post would be useful.
 As I work my way through the list of fells I try and juggle several balls in the air at the same time, not only completing the paintings but then doing all the follow up admin. From scanning the images and updating the website right through to all the ancillary admin such as answering emails etc. At the same time I am actually working on the design of the book. This is so that the publication of the book can go ahead as soon as all the sketches are complete.
 We have done a bit of re-working of the design and this may not even be the final layout. This is an example of the Chapter pages.

The 214 fells will all be featured with as many of the 1500 sketches as possible shown in the book. The intention is to let the sketches speak for themsleves but there will of course be notes on how the scenes have changed etc. Below is an example of just one of the designed pages for the fells.

 To date we have over 1000 potential orders for the book and already we have had email enquiries from bookshops to supply them with copies. We have a date in mind for the official launch later on in the year but we will post more news here shortly.
 In the meantime, keep watching the website for updates.

Wainwrights at your fingertips.

 Did you know that here on The Teesdale Gallery website not only can you find gallery information but also a photographic record of walks to ALL of the 214 Lakeland "Wainwright" Fells?

 Visit the On Location section and you will find hundred of walks in all seasons, all with a set of photographs to inspire you to get out onto the hills or just enjoy. Andy's walks are not usually standard recognised routes as they are from his reference search for his Wainwrights in Colour Project so you will find many photographs from unusual locations.
Why not bookmark the website: www.theteesdalegallery.co.uk or "Like" the Facebook page?

Ten Years On

  A friend of mine off Facebook, Gary Jones recently posted some super photos from a recent trip to Chester Zoo and in particular some great shots of Black Rhino. The photos took me back 10 years to a trip that I did to Northern Kenya.
 I'm sure that we all remember where we were on that fateful day- 11th september 2001 and for me it certainly was memorable as I along with a team of about 12 others were cycling across the remote dusty tracks of Laikipia raising money for Save the Rhino.
 So the other day I had a rummage in the studio. There in a small box are pages from a sketchbook from that trip. These sketches have never been on display since they were done so I have scanned a couple and put them on here for the first time.
 I'm actually not too sure what to do with them, some as you can see are quite saleable where as others have a special meaning and little commercial value.
Anyway, here they are.

White Rhino in the heat of the day.

These were on the Lewa Reserve and we were able to approach to within just a few metres. We did see Black Rhino as well but they tend to be more cautious.

Lone Bull Elephant.

Samburu Tribesman and the type of terrain through which we cycled.

White Rhino mother (Opndo) and 8 week old calf at Lewa.

A return to the blog.

  Time flies, nearly a year since I posted here on the gallery blog. Obviously some readers of this blog (if there are actually any?) will realise that regular updates of what I actually get up to can be found on the gallery Facebook page or for the more photographic side of things on the Andy Beck Images website and blog.
 Of couse I haven't been sitting doing nothing, in fact I can say that I have never been busier. The Wainwrights in Colour project is progressing well albeit slower than I intended. Currently in the gallery there are 15 completed fells fully framed and on display and awaiting collection.

This is quite and unusual situation as normally once a fell has been completed and I inform the customer the work is collected right away.

Of course these fells are all sold so now is a good time to call into the gallery to see these fells before they go to the customers homes. If you are not able to call in then do take a look at the website where the work can be viewed.

A Damp Castle Crag

 An early start was called for so that I could deliver a couple of the completed Wainwright in Colour Fells this morning. Fortunately the deliveries were over in the Borrowdale area so I was able to incorporate a walk with the plan. The weather forecast was pretty poor so I opted for a simple low level route to Castle Crag. At about 8am the low cloud looked as if it would spoil my chances of even obtaining the one reference that I was after today. This was a reference which I should of ticked off on my previous visit to Castle Crag a while ago but due to the fact the subject was from a completely different fell I missed the connection.
 So today I would hopefully get the shot and also give Bailey the chance to tick off another Wainwright.

On Castle Crag.

As can be seen from the picture, the low cloud had been matched with rain by the time we reached the summit. On clear days there are fine views from here of both Borrowdale and to the north but today we were shrouded in mist. never mind, there is always another day and besides, I did get my reference!