Eye Catchers: April 2026

‘Rock and Water on the banks of Ariège’ by Alain Voinot

First up, I have selected ‘Rock and Water on the banks of Ariège’ by Alain Voinot.

There were two pieces by Alain Voinot that I thought were worth mentioning but I chose this one, of a river weir, because the light is captured so beautifully as well as the movement of the water. The subtleties of colour convey an artist familiar with working within a limited colour palette to great effect. I also noted how Alain uses detail to focus the viewers’ gaze, with the trees in the background providing a softer contrast to the turbulent water, making this a considered and atmospheric landscape.

‘The Palm House at Kew Gardens’ by Angela Bell

I was transported to The Palm House at Kew Gardens by Angela Bells’ striking piece. I know the Palm House very well and Angela has cleverly captured the wonderful plants whilst hinting at the famous structure to great effect. The result is an almost abstract, graphic composition which plays with negative space to create an engaging image which balances form and tone well.
I really like the cross-over section at the top of the picture, where leaves create a lattice effect.
I can feel the humidity and smell the plants, swaying above my head…

‘Iris Study’ by Dave Flitcroft

Dave Flitcroft’s Iris Study in contrast, uses a much looser technique to capture detail and form with a small number of strokes. I liked the immediacy and energy in this as well as the use of colour, which conveys the vibrancy of the flowers beautifully. Sometimes less is more!

‘Tryfan’ by Dave Roberts

I had to include this stunning piece by fellow Pastel Society UK member, Dave Roberts of Tryfan in Wales. What a show stopper! Dave spends a lot of time out in the beautiful Welsh landscape, gathering inspiration. Mountains often feature in his work, along with moody skies in hues of his signature blue colour palette, which is shown to great effect here. I can feel the chill in the air and love those lilac tones in the sky. Dave presents physical and elemental aspects of a landscape so well. The contrast of the hard, dark rock against the softness of the sky and icy lake creates drama and depth. Just fabulous.

‘Thunder & Missy’ by Jenny Mack

I selected ‘Thunder & Missy’ by Jenny Mack because not only is the technical skill amazing, Jenny has also managed to capture a real sense of character in these two beautiful dogs. This is something that is not easy to do in animal portraiture but is in part because the subtle positioning of the dogs heads – a small tilt can say a lot – and also because there is an incredible attention to small details within their features. The decision to make the background out of focus is used effectively as a creative tool to make the dogs ‘centre stage’. A handsome pair!

“Summer Meadow” Montafon, Austria, by Kerstin Birk

The detail in this dreamy landscape by Kerstin is compelling and really draws you through to the blue mountains in the distance. A lovely depiction of a landscape bathed in sunshine, I am guessing this is a special place for Kirsten, as it exudes calm and warmth.

‘Reflection at Anglesey Abbey’ by Katy Bailey

I recognised the work of Pastel Society (UK) member, Katy Bailey immediately. This piece is one from a series about reflections seen in puddles, often featuring trees and leaves in complex patterns that play with notions of perception. I enjoy looking for the less obvious in the everyday for my own work, which is something I can connect with in Katy’s work, shown here so well.
Katy directs the viewer to her own experiences of walking through a landscape, noticing the wonderful patterns and forms that we may not always acknowledge. It reminds me of wet Autumn days and the beauty in the changing seasons.

‘Kingfisher’ by Kelly Qian

Those vibrant colours really pop ! I thought this was piece was great fun. Kelly has highlighted the feathery textures beautifully by choosing to create a contrasting bokeh background, which works really well. Full of charm and sunshine, this picture made me smile.

‘Four Lemons’ by Patti Tan

These Lemons by Patti Tan are visually delicious! Patti demonstrates a great understanding of colour and light as well as excellent technical skill in this beautiful still life piece. The dark plum hues in the background compliment the yellow tones of the lemons perfectly, creating a warmth whilst balancing with subtle cooler colours in the cloth. The leaves create an interesting compositional element, making a visual link between the dark background and fruits.
Good still life pictures draw you in and make you want to stay. I lingered for quite a while!

‘Before The Last Race’ by Rebecca de Mendonça

‘Before The Last Race’ by Rebecca de Mendonça is one of Rebeccas’ latest horse paintings. Created in her signature style, full of atmosphere and movement, Rebecca’s appreciation and knowledge of painting all things equine is breathtaking. The rendering of light, capturing the heat and breath of the horses as well as the physical presence and weight of the animals combines to create a beautifully compelling picture. I also really appreciated the limited, complimentary colour palette as well as sensitive mark making, which is a hallmark of Rebeccas work. Just gorgeous.