Hi everyone,

Long time, no post. Since my last daily painting post, a long time ago now, I haven’t really been writing to you much. I’m sure, if you’re interested, you’ll have been following my monthly newsletter (click if you’d like to sign up) instead but I thought I might resurrect my blog with occassional information for you and tips for artists.

So let’s kick off with how I’ve been working through this 2021 lockdown so far. Well, as my father-in-law is very ill, I’ve been in his home town of Kirkby Lonsdale, in our care bubble. Out of the comfort of my studio, I’ve been embracing ‘how to work with what you’ve got’. My late mother-in-law was a collector, boy, was she a collector! Almost worse than me! She has two shelved alcoves full of china (and much more elsewhere!) and I’ve found that one of the shelves, adjacent to a north light window in the dining room, casts a rather gorgeous shadow so I’ve enlisted it as my set-up stage. I scour the house for interesting bits and nip down to the town florist for my ‘click and collect’ pre-ordered bounty. I put on the radio and I’m away. I’ve been in my January experimental zone, trying hard to loosen up and exploring greys and whites. It’s so good to make time to really study stuff.

All the paintings made in this period to-date are now on my website. I’m sure I’ll be adding to them if these restrictions carry on – let’s hope not for too long. If you’d like to see them you can click here.

I hope you are all coping with all the restrictions – it’s grim for so many people. If you are a home-schooling parent, I take my hat off to you and wish you all the best. You’re doing brilliantly, don’t be a self-critic, you didn’t sign up for it and you’re doing the best you can. Give yourself a pat on the back instead.

Stay safe, healthy and happy. x

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