I've been so excited, waiting to share this news with you, so I'm delighted to say that my art has been used for a very special bar in the Pure Chocolate collection. It's a collaboration Pure Chocolate, (a bean to bar, eco-friendly and ethical , family run, Jamaican artisan chocolate company) and the Worthy Park Select Rum. These creative chocolatiers have soaked their cacao beans in aged run for a whole year, before processing them for the chocolate - no wonder it is a Special Edition bar. The rum flavour is subtle and mellow and combines perfectly with the chocolate, with an added extra texture element, from a few cocoa nibs.
The original painting is acrylic on canvas, using a somewhat blocky style. To do justice to both the cacao plant and the beauty of the well-established, Worthy Park Estate, I included both cocoa pods, just as they grow right on the tree trunk, and sugar cane in the field behind. The gentle rolling hills of Worthy Park with the White Egrets flying across, provide the backdrop for the main character. Working in the still life elements of rum barrel and glass on my neighbour, Jannette's verandah, I then painted the girl from some images of my daughter, to create this island beauty, enjoying her rum in the middle of a field.
I just love how the painting has been presented on the chocolate box, with the black white and gold branding of Worthy Park and the gold lettering of the PURE logo.
These special edition chocolate bars are now on limited release, between now and Christmas, across Jamaica, Holland and coming to London very soon. I was delighted that my daughter was able to go and meet with Wouter and Rennae, co-owners of Pure Chocolate, at the Specialty Food Fair in Olympia, London two weeks ago. Here she is with Rennae - almost sporting the same cheeky grin!
I hope you get the chance to try this amazing combination in the Special Edition Rum Bar!
This Yellow-billed Parrot was painted from a great photo taken by Wendy Ann Lee, scientist, photographer, birder, game keeper and proprietor of the Seven Oaks Sanctuary for Wildlife, in Runaway Bay, Jamaica.
Wendy is passionate about rescuing both species of these parrots, endemic to Jamaica (this and the black-billed), which are protected under law. However, it is a long uphill road in educating the public and keeping the young birds out of the hands of unscrupulous pet traders.
I painted the parrot, both because its beauty and friendly look appealed, but also to raise awareness of the important work that Wendy undertakes, pretty-much single-handed. I am donating 50% of the proceeds to her Sanctuary and if you feel inspired to do the same, you can contact Wendy by email at
<sos-wildlife@cwjamaica.com>
or make a donation through Paypal.com with that email as her account information.
or follow her FB Page: Seven Oaks Sanctuary for Wildlife, Jamaica
I am happy to say that I was invited to lead an acrylic painting workshop, using Wendy’s lovely reference photo, at the SAA HQ in Newark, on August 15th, 2019. The session was also live-streamed across the UK to the SAA's 46,000 members.
SAA members can watch the workshop replay from the website.
This painting image is now available on several different gift items and on different print mediums - I'll continue to give 50% of profits to Wendy, to support the upkeep of the rescue parrots. I know they will be grateful for any support you can give.
Here is a wonderful article, written by financial journalist, Ricky Browne, about Sir Christopher Hohn. It features my painting ‘Treehouse View’ and a little about Hanover Charities, that Sir Chris Hohn has supported so generously over the years.
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