Dahlias give Durham artists inspiration!

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Walking around Durham after attending a Wedding Fair last weekend, I was entranced by the planting scheme up on Palace Green by the Cathedral. Dahlias in the most brilliant hues of magenta and pink shining like jewels amidst their dark foliage, nestling in a sea of silvery white. I love the way the petals have gradients of colours from cool magenta to warmer pinks all in such luminosity.

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And what are these striking colours? Oh the bold brilliance of those reds! Magenta, pink ... and RED??? Would one wear those colours together? (I may try!) But the red echoes the ruby-tinged centres of the dahlias and turns what could be a clash of colours into a dazzling display. The eye constantly wanders from cool magenta to hot red to dark background and silvery highlights - enchanting!

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The mellow stone wall in the background adds a touch of warm tranquility as the sun slowly goes down, and we walk on, inspired.
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3D Pop up Christmas Cards - an unusual activity for a sunny Autumn afternoon!

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Sitting outside in the mellow September sunshine surrounded by multitudes of 3D Christmas cards is my idea of a distinctive day! It sounds rather quirky and whimsical, but it is actually a very busy time of year for card orders and I'd rather be working outside in the fresh air than indoors.

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Birds sing among the trees - an appropriate background as I pack my Wildlife range of  squirrels, swans, stags and foxes - though it is more rare to see penguins and polar bears here in our North East UK landscape!

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We do have plenty of garden sheds though - both in gardens and allotments ...

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Personally I prefer to leave thinking about Christmas until around mid December - but retailers displays begin very soon, and for those in search of the ideal Christmas card for a loved one, I guess one cannot start too soon. Three-dimensional cards are often marketed as luxury Christmas cards, the kind of 'bring-out-every-year' collectible cards that become Xmas decorations.

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There is a lot of work involved in creating 3D cards. Each card is a highly intricate piece of paper engineering. From the original theme, for instance, a Victorian market encircled by a Christmas wreath, I have to design not just the visual look of the card,  but also ensure the components fit together for it to look good flat in the package as well as fully popped open. The cards are fitted together using tab and slots, interlocking to make a fully three dimensional Christmas card. A fraction of a millimetre out, and it won't stand up!

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Once the paper engineering has been worked out, I work on detailed paintings in water colour - usually 4 or 5 separate paintings for each card, which all have to be scanned and printed, then die cut. And then assembled ...

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The cards featuring Christmas wreaths such as the Whimsical Woodland range or the Traditional vintage style range are the most complicated. The Fairy Christmas Tree was also quite a creative challenge as it has a squarish structure that can be seen from lots of angles, so there has to be a point of interest from each view and lots of little scenes built into one..

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I love to sit surrounded by all the cards. It's like being in a winter wonderland - yet basking in the golden autumn sunshine. I hope it is as warm in December! 

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You can view all the 3D Christmas cards by visiting my Greeting Cards site.

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Durham artists North East UK Ingrid Sylvestre Art
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A Surprise Plant Nursery at North East Wedding Venue Ramside Hall!

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My wedding entertainment work as a caricaturist and silhouette artist takes me to luxury wedding venues all over the North East. One such is the Ramside Hall Hotel in County Durham, which has also become one of my favourite places for eating out.

Having been there hundreds of times, I was amazed last week to discover a gorgeous little plant nursery tucked away in the grounds! How could I have missed it?

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Oh what bliss to wander round in the early evening sun! There is a magical feel to the place.

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Stepping through the tall trees is like entering a fairytale world with thatched cottage, little paths winding over bridges, by a stream and past fascinating groups of potted plants. An enchanting wonderland!

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Glimpses of a round ruby-red flowerbed entice the eye - a jewel among the luxuriant greens.

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Feathery acers drape their scarlet leaves across masses of darker foliage and old stonework.

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Even the rows of plants for sale are as much part of the artistry of the place, blending seamlessly into the overall composition.

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I wander around slowly, revelling in the atmosphere of this enchanting little plantsmans paradise.

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More about Ramside Hall Hotel to follow ...

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 Ramside Hall Hotel grounds photo by Ingrid Sylvestre North East Artist and Entertainer Caricatures and Silhouettes for Wedding Entertainment Parties Proms Conferences Corporate Events Entertainment Northeast UK County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Middlesbrough Teesside Northumberland Yorkshire

Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham

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In the beautiful countryside beyond Durham City a mysterious secret garden is hidden.
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Although overgrown, the flower borders still curve enticingly beyond the weathered stone steps.
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Golden sunlight illuminates the mossy paths, beckoning us to explore beyond rounded bushes and tall trees.

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Framed by foliage, old buildings form an imposing backdrop.
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Incongruous against the seemingly deserted old buildings, a bright blue bus waits ... but no passengers appear.
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Founded in 1808 as a seminary for training Catholic priests until it closed in 2011, Ushaw College is now used by the University of Durham.

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The stone structures in the image below were for a unique sport named 'Cat', played by the priests at Ushaw College.
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Now all is still, with the silence broken only by cawing of rooks overhead and the rustling of leaves as you step carefully through these mysterious and beautiful gardens.

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North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Middlesbrough Teesside Northumberland North Yorkshire Artists English Romantic Landscape Paintings English Painters Illustrations UK Illustrators Commissioned Paintings and Artwork Ingrid Sylvestre North East Entertainment UK Ingrid Sylvestre North East UK Artist.

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 To read news updates on Ingrid Sylvestre's Arts & Entertainment activities, please click here to visit Ingrid Sylvestre News & Events

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