September – Coming soon

Northamptonshire Open Studios, Art Windows, Group Show

There’s plenty to discover and enjoy for art fans and collectors in the Northamptonshire and South Leicestershire region throughout September. I am delighted to be part of this exciting event which runs across the county. I am delighted to show my work, alongside my friends and artists, Derek Brittan and Greta Paradine Palmer at Pippins Nook Studio in Great Bowden on the first weekend, 2nd and 3rd. Great Bowden is a lovely village just outside Harborough with two cafes and a post office, not to mention a popular pub! Plenty to enjoy if you like art or not! Bowden is a hub for local cyclists so I am looking forward to seeing you over the weekend.

Derek, Greta and I are longstanding members of Harborough Artists Cluster, which is an informal collective of about 30 artists working in Harborough and its nearby villages.

On Saturday and Sunday September 17th and 18th, from 10am/5pm, the group will welcome visitors to the Market Harborough Theatre to view the wide range of their inspiring, artworks, including paintings, glass, textiles, mosaic, photographs, collage and more.

Admission is free. Refreshments will be available.
All of the high quality art work on display will be available to purchase

This year,many of the artists exhibiting work at the theatre, will also be taking part in Northamptonshire Open Studios from the 2nd to the 25th of September.

Brochures, with a map will be available in the Harborough Library to enable people to plan their visit to artists working in their studios in South Leicestershire and venues across Northamptonshire.

Cycling Art, Pastel, Fabulous Finish! by Maxine Dodd

The meeting of the shirts, watercolour, pen and ink by Maxine Dodd

Cycling art, Tour de France, watercolour pen and ink painting, All the people of Yorkshire by Maxine Dodd

Pop-up show – Art in the bike room – Rockingham Forest Wheelers open days

Celebrating 50 years in the clubhouse

Sat 16th – Sun 17th July 2022

11 Ashley Road, Middleton, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 8YP, 9am – 4pm

Hello and welcome to Summer!

I am delighted to invite you to the clubhouse of Rockingham Forest Wheelers cycling club where I am showing paintings and drawings in the bike room as part of the club’s anniversary weekend celebrations. The club has a proud history of achievement in cycle racing and in the organisation of cycle racing. Many of its members regularly compete in time trial racing, road, cyclo-cross, mountain bike and track races. For many members though it’s all about the regular weekly social club riding and social nights in the clubhouse throughout the year. There’s something for everyone.

The clubhouse has been home to RFW since 1971. It has great, newly refurbished facilities, including a cafe, the static bike room, club rooms and a super collection of cycling memorabilia, which you can enjoy and discover over the weekend.

It’s a privilege to be part of this anniversary event and very exciting! I am so looking forward to meeting you and learning more about this longstanding club. You can read more about the weekend’s events, including rides, children’s activities and more on the club website here.

If you want to enquire about any pictures or have any queries in advance, please do get in touch, email is easiest maxine@maxinedodd.com

Here is a preview of some of the paintings on show… See you there!

Brad waits for the Time Trial, by Maxine Dodd

Rockingham Forest Wheelers Anniversary weekend

Cascading green – Sold

Tour de France 2014: Stage 7 – Épernay to Nancy

Cascading Green was made from Stage 7 of 2014’s Tour. It was one of the longest stages and passed through some lovely towns and villages by the river Moselle. The peloton rode past this lovely house with tumbling bougainvillea and a cascade of green on the trees lining the road.

It was so pretty, I had to paint it!

Poster for Maxine Dodd exhibition at Oundle

Solo Exhibition – Cycling, Oundle

Celebrating ten years of drawing and painting Tour de France

23rd – 29th April 2022 – Canon Gallery, Oundle, nr Peterborough

Hello and welcome to Spring! I am delighted to invite you to my exhibition, ‘Cycling‘ which opens at the Canon Gallery in the lovely town of Oundle, near Peterborough this weekend. Believe it or not, I am celebrating my tenth year of drawing and painting the Tour de France, which I did for the first time in 2012 – what a fantastic year 2012 was? It has been a wonderful time to see the sport develop and grow in popularity in the UK and I have enjoyed watching from the sidelines with my pen and watercolours, recording these great races and emerging cycling stars.

It will be great to have work on show in a gallery once more, especially after the hiatus forced upon us all by the pandemic. Oundle is a popular destination for local cycling clubs and groups, so a great location for this show. The Canon Gallery is in the heart of the town and will be open from 10am – 5pm every day – Sunday, 10am – 4pm and I will be in the gallery every day to welcome you. There will be around 25 framed pictures plus mounted and portfolio pieces which are fresh off the drawing board. All the paintings and drawings are available to buy.

I am so looking forward to meeting you, talking cycling and art and hearing your stories, as it’s been such a long time! If you want to enquire about any pictures or have any queries in advance, please do get in touch, email is easiest maxine@maxinedodd.com

See you there!

Here is a preview of some of the work you will see… some old and some new but all favourites!

Tour of Britain 2021: Stage 2 - Deep shadows

Tour de France 2021 - Stage 4 - Return of the Manx! original watercolour painting Maxine Dodd

Olympics 2021 - Gymnastics: Vault, original watercolour painting Maxine Dodd

Olympic Games 2021 – Vault

Hello! The Olympic Games began in Tokyo last weekend – I confess that I have just been watching so far – taking it all in and resting after the work around the Tour de France.

For the first few days, it almost feels like a bombardment of sport, I rather enjoy the first week, because there is so much variety to see and enjoy. I like the different locations both indoor and outside and it’s these early events that give the viewer at home a feel for the location and how these special games are going to be.

So having taken a breath, I found that I soon wanted to start making pictures so I will post selected things that catch my eye and interest – from the point of view of making art and not necessarily illustrating performances.

Here is the first of these images – which I loved making – The challenge was the men’s gymnastic team event, where one discipline is followed by another so quickly. I made the pictures with several sketchbooks and papers on the go at the same time and moved between them – It was great!

This one of the vault discipline – which was just exhilarating! Lovely to watch and lovely to make – it’s a return to a more abstract approach, which I like. I used the fan brush to indicate the twists and turns as he flew through the air and the watercolour paint helped the image by flowing just beautifully – sometimes, it feels as though I’m there as a bystander almost, just guiding the paint and letting it do its ‘thing’!

I hope you like it too!

Tour de France 2021: Stage 21 – The Arc

Stage 21, Paris. The flag that flies suspended from the arch of the Arc du Triomphe, is a favourite element of the Paris stage, as is the monument at the top of the Champs Elysee itself. It’s great to see the peloton hurtling round this iconic landmark. It’s been a heck of a race this time, so much to take from it, as ever. The only sad sight to see this year for me, a final podium with two riders and two mannequins wearing the jerseys that Pogacar had won but couldn’t put on. Is that a worry? I hope not… I shall be back again next year to find out!

Picture info: Original watercolour with pen and ink on paper

Image size: 20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in)

Tour de France 2021 - Stage 21 - On Wout's wheels, original watercolour by Maxine Dodd

Tour de France 2021: Stage 21 – Wout’s wheels

Stage 21 – Paris, and the one where Mark Cavendish breaks Merckx’s record and wins 35 stages….but sadly the fairytale finish wasn’t to be. The stage began well, but towards the climax, Cavendish became separated from his lead out man, and instead took up position on the wheels of Wout Van Aert. He was side by side with Jasper Philipsen and couldn’t get past. Van Aert took his third stage win with phenomenal strength and Cavendish slapped his bike in frustration, knowing he just missed out.

I was very sorry about it but it was still an outstanding race for them both. Van Aert crossed the line with three fingers aloft. Cavendish can hold three fingers on one hand and four on the other if he chooses, which is wonderful. He won his second Green Jersey, a great souvenir of his outstanding Tour performance. He is the greatest sprinter of all time, it’s official!

Tour de France 2021: Stage 20 – Tadej waits

Stage 20 – Tadej waits to start his time trial. He is in yellow and has been for so much of the race. He has made a remarkable start to his career, raced two Tours de France and won them both, not to mention his other achievements. This view shows just how young he is, but at just 22, he should have the prospect of a great career ahead.
The great thing for me as a fan, is that he isn’t the only one. The performances of Wout van Aert alone, show great strength, Jonas Vingegaard has been a revelation too. There seems to be a new generation coming through who are extraordinarily talented and young with it.
Exciting times ahead…

STAGE 20 – TADEJ WAITS

£300

Original watercolour with pen and ink

Original watercolour, with pen and ink
26cm x 26cm / 10in x 10in, image size

Unframed – options available on request

Purchase

Information

Tour de France 2021: Stage 18 – Pretty Town

Another little study from Stage 18 that I like because of the peloton taking a bend, always love to see it and draw it – This town was attractive too, very French even down to the ‘Tabac’ sign – beautiful!

Stage 18, Pretty town

£150