A finished painting is the result of a journey involving many twists and turns. I generally carry a sketchbook and pencil with me when travelling or …
Art Residency – Hebrides
Scattered off the west coast of Scotland, the Inner and Outer Hebrides islands are both rugged, and stunningly beautiful. Imposing grey cliffs drop …
“Poldice Reimagined”
There is no one way to start a painting. This movie shows how my 120 x 40cm oil painting "Poldice Reimagined" began it's life outside on location …
Ugly art
There's a man in heaven with ugly wounds in his hands, feet and side.This shocking, stunning painting was part of the Isenheim Altarpiece painted by …
Studio assistant
Print day in the studio with superb studio assistant granddaughter Queenie. I inked up the plate. Queenie (aged 9) ran each of the prints through the …
Wheal Maid linoprints
I’ve always made prints, mainly linoprints and monoprints. This year, after some strong encouragement from various printmaker sources, including my …
First layer
When starting a painting I work fast. I might even set a time limit. Using basic colours thinned with turps, I avoid detail. The aim: to get the main …
5 x 5 = 25
Today I made 5 drawings in compressed charcoal on A4 sized charcoal.I allowed myself 5 minutes for each drawing. Total time spent = 25 …
From kiln to cup
I take my role as kiln technician for daughter Holly’s pottery kiln very seriously. It sits in our studio - a classic Cromartie kiln from the 80’s. …
Drawing makes me look
Up early for walk and draw in beautiful Cornwall. We walk through life and we don't see. The world is both beautiful, or ugly spoilt. The more I draw …
Sketch in Luang Prabang
Few things beat a lazy hour with a coffee, cinnamon bun, and a book (or a sketchbook!) on a cafe balcony in Luang Prabang, looking out over the Nam …
Rediscovering lost sketchbooks
Raising five creative daughters, most of whom spent much of their early years with a drawing instrument in their hand, meant one thing. My sketchbooks …