Enjoy reading some snippets about my recent events. To read more, sign up to my monthly newsletter HERE
Southwell Workhouse Bicentenary Banner installed!
The commissioned banner is now on permanent display in the exhibition area in the main Workhouse building. It is a wonderfully colourful piece, coloured in by over 200 people in July when I was in residence for the day. Do go and visit to see it in person! READ MORE HERE
Drawing Retreat
I ran my very first Drawing retreat a week ago and we had such a fine time! Based at the amazing Priory House at Long Bennington, the retreat promised people coming the chance to see Carole and Roger Lee’s extraordinary house and be able to draw in the wonderfully natural and charming garden. I provided all the materials, along with yummy cakes, biscuits and hot drinks and everyone had a great time. So many varied drawings were made but also really precious time to just dip out of our busy lives to simply draw observationally. I will be running more so please do use the contact form to be added to my mailing list.
The fabulous drawing in the photo was made by the very talented Lucy Johnson. Check out her work on instagram: @drawingoninspiration
Southwell Workhouse Bicentenary Banner
July 2024
I was very pleased to be commissioned by the National Trust to make a collective art banner with the visitors to the Workhouse. We coloured in a huge three metre piece of printed fabric, which featured a line drawing I had made of the Workhouse. All ages came and coloured in, many people and children getting totally absorbed in the process of making this banner full of hand drawn patter and colour. It will be going on show in the middle of August, in the exhibition space in the heart of the Workhouse.
Letchworth Open Gardens
July 2024
I was delighted to be asked by artist James Willis to join in the Letchworth Open Gardens day on 30th June. I spent the day at the magnificent Scudamore, owned by Mike and Sheryl Hann and drew a big A3 picture of their beautiful house over about 5 hours. It was the biggest en plein air drawing I have done on black paper and I was so pleased with how it came out! I am passionate about these drawings as they have such a freshness and vitality being born entirely in the moment!
Scudamore is a fascinating house built of three parts which range from Medieval to the 1930’s. The garden has been entirely designed from scratch and features some marvellous sculptures made by Mike and wonderfully quirky areas full of natural planting.
The Dandelion Project
June/July 2024
This is the large dandelion installation piece I made for the incredible Dandelion Project exhibition that was at the National Civil War Centre in Newark on Trent. The exhibition featured works of art that celebrate the power of nature, human connection, and creativity. The exhibition was on from Friday 19 April until Saturday 13 July.
The papercut is entirely hand cut with a scalpel and captures the beautiful intricacy of a dandelion and the seeds bursting forth into the air and onto the walls. We are each a seed.
Still Life Drawing Club
June 2024
June’s drawing club was extra special as I invited Kalem from KPH Entomology to bring some butterfly and moth specimens to the group for us to draw. Kalem is very knowledgeable about the ethics of framed entomology and introduced us to some stunning creatures and information about where they are from. The group made some beautiful drawings in a mixture of medium’s from pastel to ink and pencil.
I will be running more of these special events at the drawing club and doing longer Drawing Retreat Day/Afternoons. Sign up to the newsletter to get more information.
BBC Bargain Hunt
Back in 2022 I was delighted to be asked to feature on the iconic show to demonstrate papercutting to introduce people to this wonderfully accessible art. I was over the moon to meet Natasha Raskin Sharp, who is as warm and wonderfully friendly in real life as she is on the tv! I also managed to meet Giles Brandreth too, which was so fab!
Wild Card on LAOTY
I was delighted to be selected as one of the Wild Card artists on Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year in 2021. I met such friendly artists and I was so pleased to have completed my mixed media piece of Compton Verney’s iconic lake.