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….
Paint, Paper and Clay Exhibition
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…
Five Masters’ Iconic Flower Paintings
Five Masters’ Iconic Flower Paintings that debunk the idea that flower painting is only for beginners – and they are just the start. Painting flowers is joyful for so many reasons: the colour, the shapes, even the scent. All aspects are sensory, right down to the…
Letter to a Young Artist
What would you say if you were to write a letter to a young artist (specifically, the younger you)? I loved this question in the interview with Mary from Wonky Wheel of Finchingfield. The article introduces the Uncontained exhibition featuring my floral paintings and Stephie…
How limits improve your painting
It may seem contradictory to say that limits improve your painting. But in my experience, it is a good learning tactic that has worked for me. Limits make you stretch in different ways. For obvious reasons, we call it thinking inside the box. With limits,…
Finding artistic motivation
Artistic motivation is something Michelle Cheyne from Instinctive Living is well qualified to write about, given her expertise in psychology. She has written a guest post for us about the three cornerstones that help us find artistic motivation. ******************** Finding your creative voice can be…
Nine tips for an Artists websites that works
Artists websites are the cause of a lot of soul-searching and stress for many, but they don’t need to be. Here is a guide on how to work out whether you want a website and how you should use it. Should you have a website…