April Sketchbook Pages

Plus a few interesting links and other bits and bobs

Is the blossom actually bigger and more glorious this year, or have I just become one of those people who stares meaningfully at trees now? Hard to say, maybe I’m just noticing it more because it’s on my morning tea making commute…

We’ve had to move into my studio, you see -my peaceful, creative bolthole- because our brilliant builders have descended on the upstairs of the house, where they’re doing the kind of major work that involves phrases like “structural integrity” and, “yes, that rotten beam is holding up the house”.

LEFT: Our new studio bedroom in the garden RIGHT: Our actual bedroom!

We’ve put this off for ages, mainly because we knew it would lead to a total upheaval and what I can only describe as a psychological confrontation with the contents of our attic, an attic we’ve not managed to get into for many years because the structure below was so unstable we were scared to put any weight on it.

On top of this cheerful mayhem, I’ve been mourning the loss of my dear Coco, who died just as all this was beginning. She was my furry sidekick, always there, an old soul with smiling eyes. Her absence is huge and I’ve been floating through these strange days of Easter and attic decluttering feeling like someone forgot to switch me fully on. I created a Picturey Obituary for her because she is in almost every householdy family drawing I have ever done. Thank you so much for your kind words and lovely lovely responses to this project xx

But even in the weirdness, the usual things help—drawing, walking, poking about in the garden like a slightly eccentric Victorian botanist. Small, solid things. Things that don’t require a skip or a crow bar or lengthy mental wrangling over whether to keep a cardigan I haven’t worn since 2007.

Join in with my current practice: ideas & workshops

Spring Flower Sketching: I’m trying to draw the spring flowers quickly (tea break sort of timings) and limiting my decisions when it comes to materials…just a pen or pencil with the option of adding a bit of made up colour later in the day (or the reverse, adding colour first then drawing on top).

Walking in Westonbirt Arboretum

If you like the idea of some quick and exciting drawing exercises, do join me next week for Sketch and Illustrate Spring Flowers (Thursday 1st May 7-9pm BST)

P.S I going to be using a dip nib and ink for some of this class, it’s not compulsory, but if you have one, and fancy a bit of instruction, dig it out!

Little Boxes: I often fall back on this- working small, scribbling tiny drawings in my sketchbook and diary. These are very small stories but collectively they come together to form a bigger narrative almost effortlessly which is a bonus. This is a really accessible practice if you are overwhelmed by a blank page. These little boxes could be collaged, painted, feature colour experiments or ephemera, it’s an endlessly useful format. This workshop helps if you’d like some more tips…

Floral ‘Zines and Mini Books: I like making tiny pocket books in the evenings, cutting out scrap paper drawings and sticking them onto found and folded papers. These are nice to photocopy and send to friends or pop in a sketchbook pocket to add an interesting interactive element to a journal. I’ve got lots of ideas to share with you in a new workshop for the end of May which compliments the Sketching Spring Flowers class perfectly. Booking link to follow in the next newsletter!

Colori Flori Summit 2025

**Early bird Registration is now open for this lovely event!**

It’s the Colori Flori Summit this May and I’m delighted to be taking part as a teacher! This is a brand new, two-week long online event focused on colours and florals taught by myself and 13 other amazing artists who have each shared an exclusive lesson for the summit. In my lesson, I’m creating a teeny, tiny pop-up Witch’s garden, the limited colour palette adds to the mystical nature!

Each of us have prepared and recorded a video lesson for the summit, using a specific #coloricombo limited colour palette of their choice. In each one, techniques and processes in water based media are demonstrated in easy to follow steps. I like to think of this sort of thing as a Spring retreat from home with all your favourite art materials around you! Click on the link for more info and sign up:

Spring Reading and Watching

I have just started The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing and love it. A memoir recording the restoration of a garden, it’s a beautiful mix of nature, history, and quiet rebellion—like a love letter to gardens and what they stand for. Thoughtful, hopeful, and the kind of book that you want to retreat within and linger a while. If you like this, also try The Jewell Garden by Monty Don,

I’m looking forward to reading The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager and wonder if it might be like one of favourite reads, The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild, such a clever and intriguing book about the life of an 18th century painting. History, Crime, Romance, it’s got it all!

I’ve enjoyed watching The Art of Gardening on YouTube about the creative residents of Hornby Island where wild gardens and the culture of being in nature are celebrated. From ornamental gardens to food forests, Hornby residents do it all.

Leaving you with a view of my washing!