Hello everyone!

Spring is here and its so wonderful to see the landscape coming to life. This is one of my favourite times of year for painting. After months of incarceration I can get out and paint in the field.

Painting plein air brings the immediacy of an environment into a painting. It gives the work an organic quality and vitality, capturing the essence of place. The painter becomes a conduit between the landscape and the painting.

After initial painting outside, the work is brought back to the studio to develop. It is here that I begin to create ‘a version’ of what I originally observed. Becoming consumed with colour and surface and letting the painting intuitively lead me, I take risks with colour and form, always seeking something fresh and unexpected. I have never forgotten a student saying to me on a painting course “you’re just making things up”. She illuminated for me the essence of my practice. All my landscapes have their beginnings in observation, and then they take on a life of their own.

Speaking of wonderful places to "make things up," I'm incredibly excited to announce my Artist in Residence for a Year at the breathtaking Yorkshire Arboretum! I'm honoured to be spending 2025 immersed in this stunning garden of trees, capturing its beauty through the changing seasons. The culmination of this year-long project will be an exhibition in 2026, and I can't wait to share my interpretations of this incredible space with you.

And for those of you eager to join me on this artistic journey, I'm delighted to announce two new painting courses for 2025:

Apple Tree Path

Fruit Bowl with Flowers

1. Landscape Painting Course - The Yorkshire Arboretum (6-7 October 2025):

What better place to explore the art of landscape painting than amidst the inspiring beauty of the Yorkshire Arboretum? Join me for a two-day immersive experience, where we'll delve into the techniques of capturing the essence of a place, both outdoors and in the studio. Find all the details and booking information on the courses section of my website.

2. Funky Florals - Huttons Ambo (28-29 June 2025):

If you're looking for a more free-spirited approach to painting, join me for "Funky Florals" at Huttons Ambo! This course is all about unleashing your creativity and exploring the vibrant world of abstract florals. We'll be experimenting with colour, mark-making, and paint techniques, drawing inspiration from vases of flowers and our own imaginations. Expect a fun, energetic, and freedom-enhancing weekend! Details and booking are available on the courses section of my website.

I hope to see you either in the studio or amongst the trees at the Yorkshire Arboretum!

Happy Painting!