Simply Gary

30/08/2026

An old on-location sketch from Yim Tin Tsai in 2018, a small Catholic island just off Sai Kung, where I used to live in Hong Kong.

It was October but still very hot! I sat under the big umbrellas with a cold drink, sketching visitors enjoying Hong Kong desserts and drinks. I used pencil with watercolour, which gives a softer feel than ink fineliners.

分享一幅2018年喺鹽田梓現場畫嘅速寫。鹽田梓係西貢對出嘅一個天主教小島，而西貢亦係我以前喺香港居住嘅地方。

當時係十月，但天氣仍然好熱！我坐喺大太陽傘下飲住凍飲，畫低遊人食港式甜品、飲凍飲嘅悠閒情景。今次用鉛筆加水彩，比起針筆線條感覺更加柔和。

26/08/2026

I’m very excited to share that I’m the recipient of the 2026 Contemporary Art Society for Wales Hibbard Prize!

I’m truly honoured and grateful. The Contemporary Art Society for Wales has already collected two paintings from my previous exhibition and has also commissioned me to create four new urban sketches, all done on location, featuring four different places in Newport.

Together, these six pieces will become part of the Newport Museum & Art Gallery collection and will be on display later this September. It means so much to have my work become part of the city’s collection.

Stay tuned for more details!

好開心同大家分享，我成為咗 2026 Contemporary Art Society for Wales Hibbard Prize 嘅得獎者！

我感到非常榮幸同感激。Contemporary Art Society for Wales 早前已經收藏咗我上一次展覽中嘅兩幅作品，今次亦委託我創作 四幅全新嘅城市速寫，全部都係現場完成，描繪 Newport 四個唔同嘅地方。

呢六幅作品將會成為 Newport Museum & Art Gallery 嘅館藏，並於今年九月稍後展出。我真係好感激，亦都好興奮！

更多詳情稍後公布，敬請期待！



https://casw.org.uk/the-hibbard-prize/

25/08/2026

I finally got the chance to visit National Museum Cardiff and sketch Helios, the magnificent Sun sculpture by Luke Jerram, suspended right in the heart of the museum’s Main Hall. I’ve been thinking about sketching it for some time, and today I finally did!

終於有機會到訪卡迪夫國家博物館，畫下由 Luke Jerram 創作、懸掛在博物館大堂中央的巨型太陽裝置藝術 Helios。我一直都很想把它畫下來，今天終於如願以償！

Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd - National Museum Cardiff

23/08/2026

This morning was my second visit to Pontymoile Basin. Making good use of the beautiful sunny weather, I chose a different angle to sketch the same bridge and the little house next to it. It’s always such a pleasure to sketch here along the canal and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

今朝第二次嚟到 Pontymoile Basin，趁住陽光咁好，我揀咗另一個角度，再次畫同一條橋同旁邊嘅小屋。沿住運河寫生總係令人覺得好舒服，好享受呢度寧靜嘅環境。

22/08/2026

This morning, for the first time, I sketched the iconic Newport Transporter Bridge. Its gigantic structure made it quite a challenge, but the spot where I sketched from gave me a great view of the whole bridge. It was a beautiful sunny day, so I kept the colours minimal with a blue sky and just a few warm tones here and there. I particularly enjoyed capturing the busy vehicles lining up along the road in front of this magnificent structure, as well as the big brown road sign right in front of me on the left of the sketch.

今朝第一次畫 Newport 標誌性嘅 Transporter Bridge。橋身非常巨大，畫起上嚟都幾有挑戰性，不過我畫畫嘅位置可以望到成座橋，視野非常好。今日陽光燦爛，所以我刻意將顏色保持簡約，只畫上藍天，再加少少暖色調。我亦好鍾意捕捉橋前面繁忙嘅車輛，以及畫面左邊、正正在我面前嗰個大大嘅啡色路牌。

20/08/2026

Here’s the finished ink and watercolour piece of Insole Court that I started on location yesterday. The exterior was quite complicated to sketch from this angle, but I really enjoyed capturing this rather fancy building, with all its windows, arches, balconies and towers. It even has a little bit of a Harry Potter feel to it!

呢幅係我尋日喺 Insole Court 現場開始畫、今日完成嘅鋼筆水彩作品。由呢個角度畫建築物外觀其實幾複雜，不過我好享受捕捉呢座有啲華麗嘅建築，咁多窗戶、拱門、露台同塔樓，仲帶少少 Harry Potter 嘅感覺！

19/08/2026

I went to Insole Court to sketch this afternoon while the weather was still warm and sunny. I’ve always wanted to sketch the exterior of this wonderful building, this time on proper watercolour paper rather than in my sketchbook. I managed to finish the line sketch, but it became so windy and cold in the shade that I had to stop. Now I’m deciding whether to add the watercolour at home or return another day to finish it on location.

今日下晝趁住天氣仍然暖和又有陽光，我去了 Insole Court 寫生。一直都好想畫呢座建築物嘅外觀，今次特別用水彩紙而唔係畫簿。可惜完成線稿後風愈來愈大，坐喺陰涼處仲開始覺得凍，所以只好停筆。依家仲諗緊係返屋企上水彩，定係改日再返去現場完成。

18/08/2026

As you might know, I have been running my own adult art classes at St Fagans Village Hall, and our September term is starting very soon!

If you’ve always wanted to explore your creativity, learn new art skills, meet like-minded people, and become part of our friendly creative community, we’d love to welcome you.

Our classes are suitable for both beginners and improvers, with all art materials provided.

Interested in joining us? Click the link below to find out more and book your place:

Hope to see you soon!

Gary

12 Week Adult Art Course: Address: St Fagans Village Hall Plymouth Arms Car Park, Off Greenwood Lane, Cardiff, CF5 6DU Call Gary to reserve your place 07565 277462 : Days of the week and times: Tuesday MORNING from 09:30am to 12:30pm Tuesday AFTERNOON from 1:30pm to 4:30pm Tuesday EVENING from 7:00p...

17/08/2026

**Waterfall Country No. 4**

A studio piece in ink and watercolour, inspired by photographs I took while hiking through Waterfall Country in South Wales. This is the fourth piece in the series, and I’m delighted that it has been selected for the **Cowbridge Open Art Exhibition 2026**. I’m also very pleased that **No. 2 and No. 3 from the series have already sold!**

The exhibition opens today, **17 August**, and runs until **31 August**, with lots of wonderful artwork to discover. If you’re in the area, do pop in and have a look!

**瀑布之鄉 No. 4**

這幅鋼筆水彩作品在畫室完成，靈感來自我在南威爾斯 Waterfall Country 行山時拍攝的照片。這是系列的第四幅作品，好開心獲選參加 **2026 Cowbridge Open Art Exhibition**，而系列中的 **No. 2 同 No. 3 亦已經售出！**

展覽今日 **8月17日** 開幕，一直展出至 **8月31日**，場內仲有好多精彩作品。如果大家有時間去 Cowbridge，不妨入去睇吓！

Cowbridge Open Art