watercolours, paintings, pictures, greeting cards, art prints, bookmarks

Castle Hill at Christmas This view of Castle Hill looks up Ashes Lane towards Victoria Tower on the summit. The red door of the farm serves as the focal point of the picture, whilst the footsteps of the lone walking figure lead the viewer into the scene. By the look of the clouds, there is a lot more snow to come!
Castle Hill from Ashes Lane Castle Hill is the site of an Iron Age hillfort, later fortified by the Normans who constructed a motte and bailey castle. This picture, with Catterstones Farm in the foreground, shows Victoria Tower, built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, and the old Castle Hill Hotel, now demolished, which can just be seen over the brow of the hill.
Castle Hill from Park Lane Park Lane runs from Hangingstone Lane near Berry Brow, all the way up to Ashes Lane near the hill summit. The leaning telegraph post is actually a lamp-post, but I preferred to use “artist’s license” to change this.
Deer Hill from Park Lane The saddle-back of Deer Hill sits high above the villages of Meltham and Marsden. This view looks south-west from Park Lane (near the summit of Castle Hill), across the lower reaches of the Holme Valley. The village to the right of the picture is Netherton; the village in the far distance is Meltham.
Emley Moor Mast The Emley Moor NTL transmission tower, near Huddersfield, stands 330m (1084ft) high - the UK's tallest unsupported man made structure. The existing concrete NTL tower was completed in 1970, replacing the previous tower which crashed to the ground in March 1969 in extreme weather conditions. This view of the mast is from Farnley Tyas, a village that also overlooks Castle Hill.
Fenay Lane, Almondbury The village of Almondbury was, during medieval and Tudor times, a much more important settlement than Huddersfield, situated beneath the protective gaze of Castle Hill. During the Industrial Revolution, Huddersfield grew in size because the mills needed its ready water supply, and Almondbury became just another suburb of the town. This picture shows the Memorial Cross, and looks beyond ‘Taste Fine Wines’ down Fenay Lane, which eventually leads to Kirkburton.
Honley Village This is the centre of Honley, and the Post Office (on the right) makes it the hub of the village. The cobbled street leading up the middle of the picture is Church Street, and leads to St Mary’s Church via the Allied Pub. The shops to the left of the picture are Gert’s Garden florists, the hairdressers Stylish Thoughts, and an Italian restaurant, the Trattoria.
Lindley Clock Tower This fantastic structure is located halfway between the centre of Lindley and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, opposite St Stephen’s Church. The clock tower was built in 1902 by James Nield Sykes, J.P., local mill owner and public benefactor. Standing 83’ tall, the tower was built, as stated in the inscription, “for the benefit of the inhabitants of his native village”, and, according to local tales, to ensure that his workers arrived at the mill on time!

Magdale, Honley This old dam is on the way to my studio at Armitage Bridge, and is well-known in the area for its quaint cottages and peaceful location. It always has a holiday atmosphere about it. This picture shows the area at the back-end of the year – most of the vegetation has died, and winter is approaching.
Sid’s Café, Holmfirth This is “Sid’s Café”, made famous in the BBC series ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. Soot-blackened, the cafe nestles in the valley bottom amongst other old buildings, including Holmfirth Parish Church,on the left, and Beatties café behind the tree.
St Mary’s Church, Honley There has been a church on this site for over 500 years, and the present Church dates from the 19th century. Next to the church, in the Parish Rooms, there is an excellent second hand bookshop, known as ‘Old Peg Bookshop’. You approach the church up a quaint cobbled street, Church Street. In recent years a Christmas street market has taken place here at the beginning of December.
Thurstonland in Winter The church and houses can just be identified under their blanket of snow, as you follow the road that a few undaunted motorists have taken down into the village. Thurstonland sits along the same ridge of hills as Castle Hill and the village of Farnley Tyas. Emley Moor Mast is just ‘out of shot’ on the left-hand side, whilst Holme Moss is further round to the right.
Woodsome Hall Golf Club This beautiful (reputedly haunted) 16th century building is normally hidden from the road, situated as it is down a long drive and surrounded by its golf course. The present hall was mainly the work of Arthur Kaye, on the site of an earlier dwelling which dates back to 1086 A.D. It remained in the Kaye family (and subsequently the Earls of Dartmouth who married into the family) for over 560 years. It was leased to the Golf Club in 1922, and finally purchased by them in 1939.
Castle Hill from Honley
Deanbrook from Upper Hagg Road
Emley Mast from Thurstonland