Tim Saunders

Landscape painting in all weathers

“I enjoy battling against the elements,” reveals Colin Willey, the British plein air oil painter, who finds that painting in the landscape adds valuable qualities to his work.

MyCarryPotty review

My little daughter Harriett has just started potty training. It’s a testing time for even the most patient of parents. You might have spent time fitting a new nappy and then little one says in the sweetest way imaginable: “Daddy, go wee wee.” You can’t ignore them because that will affect their confidence. But it can become frustrating especially when the potty is nowhere to hand.

This week’s road test

Infallibility is a dangerous feeling and often results in disappointment, I am told.

Artist Phyllis Wolff goes international

A renowned British colourist now plans to take on the world.

British botanical art helps forget global recession

“My paintings of flowers are very cyclical,” says Sean Curley, the British oil painter. “They go in cycles of popularity and as people become really fed up with the global economic situation they look for something that cheers them up - the beauty of flowers makes them very happy,” he explains.

This week’s road test

“Added emotion, character, improved proportions and stance.” That’s how Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer, describes the new Cee’d Sportswagon in comparison to its predecessor.

Valentine’s travel feature with photos

How are you going to woo the love of your life this Valentine’s?

This week’s road test

America is renowned for its enormous Cadillacs and other notorious gas guzzlers. It is not associated with small, efficient hatchbacks.

This week’s road test: Marquis Majestic 180 motorhome

At Christmas we wanted to spend a relaxing time together as a family. My wife Caroline and I planned to whisk her parents away to the Cotswolds for some quality time with little Harriett.

The Cotswolds at Christmas

Christmas is a time to relax and so I was determined that was actually going to happen this year. I booked a cosy cottage in the Cotswolds at Homeaway.co.uk and surprised my family by announcing that we were going on a festive break. It meant that Caroline’s mum and dad, Lin and John - who really are doting grandparents – could spend some quality time with little Harriett. A couple of hours after leaving home near Southampton we arrived at the sandstone coloured Candlemas Cottage nestled in the quaint village of Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire.

Mitsubishi Outlander road test

Winter has arrived, there’s a good smattering of frost and ice in the early morning and it seems to get much darker much earlier. This is the time of year when 4x4s really come into their own.

Citroen DS3 road test

Style, practicality and speed.

New year road test: Chevrolet Orlando

Did you know that the people carrier concept was introduced over half a century ago?

This week’s road test

Small car, low price, poor quality. That is often the bleak prospect facing car buyers and when I bought my Ford Fiesta it was certainly the offering.

Sear Mii road test

Aren’t computer games a great escape from reality?

Mazda 2 road test

Who Stole My House? is a great children’s book that my little daughter and I enjoy reading together. It tells the story of a snail who takes off their shell to have a bath and then forgets where they’ve left it. A common problem, you can imagine.

Skoda Citigo road test

The Skoda Citigo arrives after I reluctantly return a Maserati GranTurismo and a Volvo XC90. Driving two cars in one week is tough in terms of writing about them, which is not for the faint-hearted, I can tell you.

The new ‘Killer Shark’ Automatic Watch

American surfers Corey Lopez, Sage Erickson and Luke Davis and stylish wakeboarder Melissa Marquardt have all come into contact with Sharks. Thankfully we’re not talking about real man eaters but a watch of the same name that stands out from the crowd in much the same way as its namesake.

Volvo XC90 road test

The Volvo XC90 is Sweden’s answer to the BMW X5.

Maserati GTS road test

If Bentley and Maserati can experience double digit growth during recession, just imagine what could be achieved during more affluent times. Well, there’s good news because according to the Office for National Statistics, the double dip recession is over in the UK after GDP hit one per cent in the third quarter. Yes a whole percentage point folks; that will make the swelling ranks of the unemployed feel better then.