The Welcome Mat

Picture the door of a much-loved house on a sunny afternoon. An olive-green plank door with a small window sits in a wall of pinkish brick and pale stone. In front of it, a bay tree grows in a big terracotta pot. Two green wellies lean against the pot, a green watering can stands beside them, and a coir mat with a diamond pattern lies on the flagstones. A smaller pot of greenery peeps in from the left.

It is painted in oils with thick, visible brushstrokes, the kind you could almost feel with a fingertip. The colours are olive, terracotta, honey and soft stone, all warmed by low sunlight. It is a good fit for keen gardeners, dog walkers and anyone whose boots live by the door. It looks right in a boot room, a kitchen or a porch, or near the door itself.

The tall picture shows the door, the pots and a good stretch of flagstones. The wider formats crop off the lower flagstones and keep the door, the bay tree, the tops of the boots and the mat. The mug shows the whole scene. More ideas for the person who has everything for the garden are in our housewarming gifts.