#56: Three Portraits, One Submission
After weeks in the studio refining and reworking three very different portraits, I’ve finally submitted my entry for Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year. Each piece represents a different aspect of my practice right now — from the expressive colour of What I was and what I’ve become, to the vertigo-inspired …and the world keeps on spinning, and a monochrome portrait of Olivia Colman that returns to the foundations of my work.
#55: A Self-Imposed Deadline
With one week left before my self-imposed deadline for Portrait Artist of the Year, the studio feels focused and deliberate. After a turbulent process, my main portrait is finally settling — and alongside it, a quick black and white study of Olivia Colman has reminded me where my work began.
#54: Stabbing the Painting with Creativity
A week into adding colour to my black and white portrait, I’ve realised just how intense the push and pull can be. Every brushstroke feels like a risk — like I’m sacrificing detail in pursuit of something looser and more expressive. This post is about that uncomfortable middle stage, hitting a wall, stepping away, and coming back with fresh eyes.
#51: A Christmas Thank You — and Looking Ahead
As the year comes to a close, I wanted to pause and say thank you. This has been my first full year working consistently from the studio, and the support I’ve received along the way has meant a great deal. In this post, I reflect on the year just gone, finishing my submission for the HSFK Portrait Award 2026, and looking ahead to what’s next in the new year.
#49: Finished for Saltaire — and Already Brainstorming the Next Chapter
After finishing and submitting my three paintings for the Saltaire Gallery Winter Show, the studio feels different — quieter, but full of possibility. In this post, I reflect on completing that chapter and turning my focus toward new ideas for the upcoming HSFK Portrait Award 2026 at the National Portrait Gallery.
#35: Back to the Studio – Finding Quiet After the Show
Holmfirth Artweek has come to a close, and I’ve returned to the studio — quieter, messier, and full of possibility. In this week’s post, I reflect on the shift from public display back to private process, and the quiet clarity that follows the buzz of an exhibition.
#22: The Space Around the Painting: Why the Studio Matters
The studio doesn’t just contain the work — it shapes it. In this post, I reflect on the mood, movement, and small rituals of my workspace, and how the space around the canvas quietly becomes part of the painting itself.