#33: The One I Didn’t See — and Someone Else Did
One of my paintings, All That Glitters is Gold, is currently hanging at Holmfirth Artweek — a piece I haven’t even seen in person at the show. But this week, someone messaged me to say they had… and that it meant something to them. That small moment reminded me why I do this.
#32: For the Wall or For Myself? Making Art with Eyes on It
As Holmfirth Artweek approaches, I’ve been thinking about the shift from making work just for myself to preparing it for public display. This post explores that balancing act — the tension between private instinct and public sharing — and why I think both sides matter.
#31: The Waiting Room: After the Hand-In, Before the Show
The paintings are in, waiting patiently to be hung for Holmfirth Artweek. With the making behind me, I’m reflecting on this in-between moment — that breath between completion and being seen — and the quiet anticipation of sharing work that feels like a real turning point.
#30: After the Rush: Letting Go and Looking Back
The paintings are finished, varnished, and sent off for Holmfirth Artweek. Now, in the quiet after the deadline, I’m taking a much-needed break — and reflecting on what it means to complete a body of work that challenged me in all the right ways.
#29: Wrapped, Ready, and Real: Varnishing and Preparing for Holmfirth Artweek
This week in the studio has been all about the final layer — varnish. As I get ready for Holmfirth Artweek, I’ve been experimenting with matt and gloss finishes to give each painting its own distinct voice. This post is about that final act of care — and what it means to let the work go.
#28: What I Bring Into the Studio (That Has Nothing to Do with Art)
I walk into the studio carrying more than just my brushes — there’s mood, memory, music, tiredness, joy. In this post, I reflect on how the invisible parts of life shape the work, even when I’m not trying — and why I’ve learned to let them in.
#26: The Good Studio Days / When It Just Works
Some days in the studio, everything just clicks. The colours land right, the brush moves with ease, and the process feels less like work and more like something you're lucky to be part of. This post is a quiet celebration of those rare, golden days — and why they matter.
Life Leaks In: How the Rest of My World Shapes My Work
I used to think the studio was a space apart from everything else—but life has a way of leaking in. In this blog post, I reflect on how moods, moments, and the everyday shape my process as a painter, sometimes in quiet ways, sometimes not so quietly at all.
The Challenges of Reaching Out to Well-Known Figures for Portraits: A Reflection
Reaching out to well-known individuals to be part of my portrait work has been one of the most unexpectedly emotional parts of my creative practice. What began as an exciting idea—connecting with people whose faces are recognized by many—quickly turned into a lesson in patience, vulnerability, and persistence. In this reflective piece, I share the unseen challenges behind every carefully written message, the silence that often follows, and the resilience it takes to keep asking anyway. It's not just about creating art—it's about navigating the invisible barriers that surround it.