One of the great joys of London in June is the annual spectacle of Trooping the Colour and the incredible parade along the Mall.  It's often very hard to find a good spot during the day itself but the rehearsals are as good, if not better, to get a sense of the parade - without the crowds.

Very happy to write that I'm having a solo show of my Indian work in September at Piers Feetham Gallery 11-15 September. Further details coming soon! 

​Back in In my studio after 3 incredible weeks painting in Rajasthan. Back home, it seems weirdly quiet and grey as if the colour and volume buttons have been turned right down.
One English couple last week described India as the greatest show on earth and I couldn’t agree more. It’s got such spirit!
It was both a delight and frustration to explore the extraordinary, delicious and unexpected clashing bright glorious colours that pop up everywhere. The extremes and contrasts make this a beguiling and fascinating place to get out your easel and go! The light is consistent but everything else is up for grabs.
​The noise, joy, smells, frenetic activity and contrasting peace.

​​Why India is a great place to paint:
Consistent and beautiful light
Incredible sunrise and sunsets
Clashing colours
The unexpected - always keeps you on your toes!
The spirit
Health and safety goes out of the window
Sense of humour
You live in the present

​More work coming up!

Very happy that I've got Monastery Gardens, Nice in this year's Pastel Society Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries - 20 Feb - 11 March (Mall Galleries SW1A 2BN) 
You can view the show online:  https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/pastel-society-annual-exhibition-2018#block-views-exhibition-content-block-2

​

I'm delighted to write that my pastel of Albert Bridge has been given the Agnes Reeve Memorial Award for a painting of London at the Chelsea Art Society this week!
​This wonderful exhibition runs until Monday 30th October, Chelsea Old Town Hall -  see below for details 

It's proving to be a very busy autumn getting ready for lots of shows. There are also some commissions and I've been on the Chelsea Embankment.  
Chelsea Art Society opens next week http://www.chelseaartsociety.org.uk
​

This year has gone unbelievably fast and it seems strange to be writing this in my studio in september!  I'm going through all my work from the last few months for exhibitions.  I'm happy to report that my work has been selected for the RSMA show at the Mall Galleries.  All the shows are listed on my homepage and if you need further information, please contact me. 

Work this summer has been spent teaching and I was plagued by an annoying problem with my painting hand.  All mercifully sorted now but it gave me chance to really look, stare and garner new ideas for the next collection of work. No bad thing.
I'm back to pastelling - yippee! I took a last minute decision to go to Nice again - the colours were superb and quite changed from May.
​More work coming up!

One of the problems I have found being a full time painter is that one needs to be able to be a wizard at social media and a bit of an expert at web design.  
I cannot pretend that I have mastered anything like the skills I ought to have.  I'm very much taking baby steps here but happy to announce my new Cornwall page is up with all the work I produced during that wonderful trip with the Chelsea Art Society near Sennen.  I'm also trying to do a daily instagram @louisediggle, often about my work but mainly the material that inspires my work.  
​Any comments gratefully received!

I'm back in my studio and just unpacked all my work and hung it on my wall to have a good look at it all.
The grey, cloudy, rain-threatening day is in marked contrast to the incredible weather we had there. The turquoise sea and white sand were almost tropical. The light was extraordinary - we were in the far west in Sennen and the sea seemed to surround us. The light dazzled and fizzed and enveloped the landscape - it was easy to see why painters flock there.

More work to come next week. In the meantime I am showing with Sarah Samuels Fine Art in Chester to 2nd July.  Further details are on:
​http://www.sarahsamuels.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sarah-Samuels-Summe-Low.pdf