Crown Studio Gallery Rothbury

29/08/2026

The heather is fading around Rothbury, and the landscape taking on a more autumnal look.... This is Bickerton, looking across the river towards Hepple in the Coquet Valley. The River Coquet meanders its inexorable way down past towns and villages until it meets the sea at Amble. https://crownstudiogallery.myshopify.com/products/hepple-village-original-painting

This is one of my all time favourite vistas.

A symphony of warm greens, this painting is of The River Coquet as it meanders its inevitable way down the Coquet Valley. Weaving past small villages- Alwinton, Harbottle, Hepple, and Thropton it grows larger and more staid all the way until it reaches Rothbury. Then it continues eastwards, growing....

28/08/2026

My original painting of The Cup and Ring Stone at Lordenshaws.

I created this some years ago, but of course it's a timeless classic. I have this image as a print in the gallery.

27/08/2026

Today's crop of amphorae coming out of the kiln.

Only two more to go and the entire set will be complete.

23/08/2026

Rothbury casts a surprisingly long shadow!

On Thursday I had an experience that I'm going to remember for a lifetime.

We were down in Essex for a few days with the entire family, staying in a fabulous Tudor holiday house. Late that afternoon, there was a torrential downpour of much needed rain. But we noticed that our hosts, who live in the next house, were out and some parcels had been delivered for them and left out by the gate. As these were only wrapped in cardboard, and obviously not waterproof, it was clear these would be damaged. So we quickly brought them into the "boot room" of our house for shelter.

We had already established that our host was a children's book illustrator, originally from the North East so very much of our world. And when she came to collect her delivery later, she got chatting to my husband Graham Taylor AKA PottedHistory and PottedApprentis who explained to her what he does and added that we were from Rothbury.

"Oh, Rothbury!" she exclaimed. "There's a woman called Lynda who has a shop in Rothbury, who does lovely paintings of Bamburgh Castle".
"Yes." agreed Graham. "That's my wife. She's in the kitchen."

I don't think she could believe him at first. But in she came and we had a good chat about how we used to exchange messages on Twitter in the good old days when it was a friendly place to be.
Imagine her even remembering my name after all these years!!!
Sometimes life presents coincidences that an author just wouldn't get away with when writing fiction!

18/08/2026

Rothbury, nestled in the valley, surrounded by fields of gold.

16/08/2026

After a very pleasant family celebration, the Gallery will reopen Saturday 22nd August.

16/08/2026

The Coquet Valley is looking beautiful at the moment. Glowing with golden fields full of stubble and straw bales. The hills are purple with heather. A real feast for the senses.

We've even had some rain to dampen things down bit.

13/08/2026

I've just completed this small painting, Dunstanburgh Dawn.

10/08/2026

And out they come!

10/08/2026

Looking good!