‘The Giant Artichoke’. A commission in watercolour and ink on paper. 100cm x 70 cm. The largest painting I have ever done!

I didn’t realise that the lady who gardens this allotment was there - but when she did appear she asked if i’d like some for my dinner! - yes please!

"Start with a whisk and end with a broom" John Singer Sargent.

Here’s my finished piece after the days painting at the 'Plein Air' Event held by @warwickshireopenstudios today @charlecotepark in Warwickshire. Painting outdoors is very different to painting in the comfort of your studio!

I’m excited to have got a piece through to the final of the ‘Broadway Arts Festival Open Arts Competition’ at ‘Bretforton Theatrebarn’ in October 2023. The abstracted piece was inspired by the painting of some wildflowers on the Cornish Costal Path.

I couldn’t not use colour on this one. The red rhubarb was intense and the leaves shiny and almost bubbly! 2 colourful water butts collecting the rain water from the roof above and daliahs/ sunflowers the size of dinner plates behind.

Back at the allotments :) today it was the pumpkins and nasturtiums that caught my eye. I loved the shape of the massive pumpkin leaves and the fine pale twisting stalks of the nasturtiums.

I’m in my element here sat among the veggies and the flowers…give me ‘greenery’ over ‘beach and sea’ any day of the week!

An abstract piece framed behind non-reflective ‘artglass’ - well worth paying extra for. The bottom image is the painting from which the abstract evolved.

Highlights from my month as ‘Artist in Residence’ in the ‘LSA Artroom Gallery’ in the centre of Leamington Spa. It’s been great getting to know all of the other artist volunteers- what a wonderful community we have there!

The LSA Artroom is a community gallery in the center of Leamington Spa. There are approximately 100 works by 100 different artists on display at any one time, the exhibition and theme changes every month.

Pre-mixing a combination of colours that are not necessarily what I see, but what I want to use. I’ve been wanting to work in corals and olive greens for ages now and never found the right flower/ leaf combo…

A nod to the old Dutch masters!
‘At the turn of the 17th century, Netherlandish artists such as Ambrosius, Bosschaert the Elder were among the first to produce paintings that exclusively depicted flowers.

Peonies in my favourite vase - set up across the room on purpose - I figure if you can’t see the detail you can’t paint the detail!

I painted all five of these this week, experimenting with different colours and marks each time. I set up the still life across the room next to a sunny window to get some lovely shadows. It’s so nice to finally see some sunshine!

I painted these flowers as I normally would but wasn’t happy with the finish, so I distressed it by rubbing it back then ghosted over some of the edges and the background.

I always think that Hellobores are just as beautiful as orchids, but far less ‘show-offy’!

A great honour to be invited to talk about my work and demonstrate live. As a creative introvert I’m far more comfortable expressing myself in paint than I am in words, so I was really proud of myself for stepping up to the challenge.

A really enjoyable day spent life drawing and painting under Neil Moores tuition at Spencer’s Yard, Leamington. Our model was a circus performer and could hold the most fantastic poses!

Loosening up for spring!