‘Pet Portraits with Personality’ is a new one-day workshop that I will be teaching at the beautiful, newly refurbished Studio at Micklem’s Farm in Berkshire, in November.

Painting a big ball of white fluff isn’t easy!! 

I have always found it curious how people say “oh I’m really not a ‘hat person’”, it seems you either are, or you’re not, with no in between! Me- I love a hat! 

…”I swear this cat could have got the world record for meowing”…

A painting for my sister’s birthday of her loyal companion ‘Baxter’. We have so many lovely memories of him over the years.

Submission, Process and reference pics for portrait of ‘Dame Mary Beard’ for the last of the lockdown ‘sky arts portrait artist of the week’ live shows. I’ve learnt a lot from these 5 portraits and its been so much fun to be a part a part of a global artists community during this time.

My submission for ‘sky arts portrait artist of the week’. This week’s sitter was the TV and radio presenter Clare Balding

...I think you spoke for many of us ‘artistic introverts’ when you wrote recently: ‘I really appreciate having an avenue to think without language’.

My submission for ‘sky arts portrait artist of the week’. This weeks sitter was the actor / singer-songwriter Will Young.

It’s a bizarrely intimate experience to sit for 4 hrs and study someone’s nostrils, ears and lips in such detail! You feel like you’re invading their privacy somehow! I hope I caught something of his intellect and inquiring mind. 

The idea is to post a collage of yourself surrounded by your art. 

This one started in a wonderfully wacky way... but I managed to reign myself in!

The legend that is: Mr Porkpie! A natural model... well-groomed and carries himself with poise and confidence. He knows his best angles and how to use them.

It was really interesting to see how a black schnauzer would turn out compared to a white one.  And how they look next to their original photographs.

I’ve been putting off painting Freddie because he’s all black and I had no idea how to tackle him. 

I consider it a great compliment that people are prepared to put their faith in me to produce a painting of their beloved pet when neither they nor I really know how it’s going to turn out! That’s what makes it exciting in a way as both the artist, giver and receiver.

I was rebelling against the feeling of oppression and having just completed a commission where I had to reign myself in, I was revelling in the fact that I could approach this one exactly as I wanted!

‘Seeing red’ is this week’s Instagram artdare theme... and this painting of a foxhound seemed very fitting.

I never thought I’d be posting a montage of dogs’ noses that’s for sure! But these are crazy times we are living in!