Lessons from the Chelsea Flower Show
Yesterday, I expected to learn gardening lessons from the Chelsea Flower Show as I embarked on a captivating journey through its flowers and trees. Gardening is one of my passions. Some days I’m torn: turn left to the new greenhouse, or right to my deliciously…
From pulp to perfection: The art of making watercolour paper
The art of making watercolour paper is complex. I recently wrote about learning to make watercolour paint. I can’t claim to have gone on a paper-making course (although, that really would be bloody amazing!) However, I have done a bit of research to learn more…
Acrylic painting workshop with Georgia Mansur – Day 2
The 2013 Acrylic painting workshop with Georgia Mansur continued in the same inspiring vein on Day 2. If you’ve arrived here without reading about the first day of this workshop, this is where you can find it. There was even more information to absorb on…
Workshop with Georgia Mansur – Day 1
In the summer of 2013 I went to Suffolk to do a workshop with Georgia Mansur. I didn’t know much about her, but my artist friend, Mita Higton was organising a workshop for Georgia and I thought it would be good fun to have a…
Testing My Handmade Paints
In 2015 I made my own watercolour paints. I do these sort of things out of sheer curiosity. I wanted to know how they were made in order to learn first hand, what makes watercolour work. Then I had to start the process of testing…
Making watercolour paint
When I started painting, I never would have imagined I would be tempted into making watercolour paint. It all started with a visit to an art shop in Venice where the enticing rainbow display of pigments in the window tempted me inside. Just look…
A studio wishlist
There’s more on a studio wishlist than just paint and supports – those are the obvious things. But they aren’t the only useful items for a studio. Some of the indispensable items in my studio are a bit less obvious. Because of this, I keep…
Inspired by Wild Places
I haven’t always been inspired by wild places. For many years, I was much more interested in the delights that a city can offer. Life was busy, buzzing and noisy. There was no time to think, it was all a whirlwind of people and action….
How to Loosen Up Watercolours
The advice I am asked for most often at my Open Studios is how to loosen up watercolours. This year’s Cambridge Open Studios was no exception. ‘Do you teach?’, and ‘I wish I could paint looser watercolours’: the theme was repeated in so many questions….
Why artists create
There are two ways to think about the question of why artists create: What leads someone to pick up a brush and get started? What drives someone to keep creating artwork? There are different reasons for everyone. Here’s what it is for me: Why artists…