Blog Archive

Making ideas visible

During lockdown I re-read Elizabeth Gilbert’s ‘Big Magic’, one of my favourite books about creativity. It debunks the myth of the creative person as aloof and special, striving for perfection, and encourages an altogether more joyful and practical approach to the process of making and doing. Her phrase ‘living a life based on curiosity rather continue reading »


To Scilly with a sketchbook, and other fragments

When the world seems full of noise and turbulence, anything that is quiet, gentle and creative seems all the more precious. Since last writing, I’ve been to Cornwall for my annual sailing and teaching trip on board Eve of St Mawes (www.classic-sailing.co.uk); I also sailed to Scilly on Eve’s big sister Amelie Rose (http://www.topsail-adventures.co.uk/), where continue reading »


How to catch creative ideas

It’s been an intensive time for teaching this last few months – watercolour courses, drawing workshops, demonstrations, small group sessions, in the studio or to art clubs – and the more I teach, the more I learn. Art techniques, like other creative skills, can weave you a net to catch ideas and inspirations. The better continue reading »