When I first started painting, I created a collection of work and then took commissions based on those pieces. Every time an order came in, I’d feel two things at once. Excitement, and a little voice saying, “Oh, now I’ve actually got to paint it again.” As artists we want to create work that excites […]
The Minute You Get Comfortable, You Go Stagnant Read More »
I’m working on a new body of work at the moment. Abstract landscapes, mostly in oils, and a lot of them are light. I filmed a little studio session while I was working on one of them, and I found myself talking through everything that goes on in my head while I paint. “Does this
“Does my painting look good?” is the wrong question Read More »
Join my free workshop on 29th September 2026 Balance in a painting doesn’t mean symmetry. A lot of painters hear the word balance and assume both sides need to match, but that’s not it at all. Matching sides often make a painting feel static and flat. Balance is something else entirely. Think of a seesaw.
The Tiny Change that Fixes an Unbalanced Painting Read More »
I spent years thinking more technique was the answer. More brush skills. More colour knowledge. More hours at the easel. I truly believed if I just kept painting, kept practising, everything would click into place. It didn’t. When I first started painting it was exciting. Properly exciting. I’d found this thing I loved and I
Technique Won’t Improve Your Paintings. This Will. Read More »
The biggest frustration I hear from students is around colour. Muddy mixes, lack of contrast, not being able to get the right green, but quite often it’s not the colour at all, it’s the marks. I’m decorating my bedroom at the moment, and I wanted something calm for the wall. A bit of a Monet
The Simple Change That Makes a Painting Feel Alive Read More »
When I first started painting I didn’t know much. That’s the beauty of learning a new skill though, there’s so much to learn. I’m still learning now and you never really stop. I had no idea how much there was to take in, but I was so keen it almost became an obsession. Over 20
What Does It Actually Mean to “Read” a Painting? Read More »
After 14 years of teaching, the question I get asked most is this: “How do I find my style?” It’s the biggest goal most people have when they start painting. And this post might feel a bit controversial, or leave you thinking “oh, that’s disappointing.” If I created a course called “How To Find Your
Why “finding your style” is the wrong goal Read More »
I remember the day I sold my first painting on my own website. Before that I’d been selling on eBay for about four years. The listings finished on a Sunday evening because that was the best day to do it. I was much younger then and I’d often be out on a Sunday, so I’d
What 20+ Years Selling My Art Has Taught Me Read More »
I get asked this a lot. Where do you start? What’s the first mark you make? The truth is there isn’t one way. I know that’s not the answer people want, but it’s the honest one. Where you start depends on the painting, what it needs, and what kind of artist you are. This isn’t
Where Do You Even Start a Painting? Read More »
I was searching for something on my computer and stumbled across some old paintings I’d done way back in 2014 and before. It was a lovely reminder of how things change, where you’ve come from, and how much I love, and have always loved, painting the sky. I’m always telling my students to keep hold
A Blast from the Past! Read More »
I got back from Tunisia yesterday at 2am, thanks to a flight delay, for my sister’s upcoming 50th birthday. It was just me, my mum, my two sisters, a family friend and my niece. A small group, a lovely few days, and a camera that barely left my hand. I always take a lot of
A Weekend in Tunisia, Painted in Light Read More »
Like many artists, I’m obsessed with light. I’ve always been drawn to capturing the way it falls across a scene, those gorgeous warm pools of sunshine and the cool shadows that sit alongside them. It’s one of those things that, once you understand it, everything changes. I recently painted three country scenes, two of which
Painting Light in Acrylics & Oils Read More »
One of the questions I get asked a lot from students is I have this photo I want to paint, where do I start? Obviously I help guide them in the process, it’s every artists goal to paint from their own inspirations, you see something and want to capture it. However until you understand all the
One Simple Habit That Will Improve Your Painting Fast Read More »
I took this rather chaotic photo on a recent trip to the Sea Life Centre with my children. It’s busy, it’s colourful, and it’s a bit of a mess. Tropical fish darting all over the place, competing for attention. The kind of scene that is wonderful to look at but can be a bit daunting
Simplification in Painting Read More »
Sir David Attenborough is one of my favourite people on earth. If I ever get asked that dinner party question, you know the one, who would you invite if you could choose anyone, my answer is always David Attenborough. Without hesitation. I grew up watching his programmes and have been inspired by his work ever
Painting Underwater: A New Series Inspired by Sir David Attenborough Read More »
Today I want to talk about something that came up again and again when I asked you what you struggle with most — and it wasn’t composition, or colour, or knowing where to start. It was confidence. That feeling of not being good enough. And I want you to know: you are not alone in
You Are Not Alone in This Read More »
Today I want to talk about something I honestly think is one of the fastest ways to improve your painting skills — and it’s something I talk to my students about all the time. Let me start with a little story. When I first started painting, I painted big. And I still do from time
The Quickest Way to Improve Your Painting Skills Read More »
On a Q&A call with my Vibrant Visions students this week, someone asked a question that I thought was worth sharing more widely — because I suspect a lot of artists have the same assumption sitting quietly in the back of their mind. We were talking about leading lines — how artists guide the viewer’s
You Don’t Need a Path — How to Lead the Eye Though Your Painting Read More »
A simple concept — but one that has a huge impact on your paintings. Today I want to talk to you about something that is going to have a real impact on your work — and it’s one of those things that once you understand it, you start seeing it absolutely everywhere. Some of you
How to Create Visual Excitement With Colour Read More »
Painting Tips & Mindset Why Most Artists Start a Painting in the Wrong Place If your paintings ever feel stiff or overwhelming before you’ve even started — I know why. Free Download Get the guide that goes with this video — From Copying to Creating: 5 Steps Towards Art That Feels Genuinely Yours Get the
Why Most Artists Start a Painting in the Wrong Place Read More »
One of my absolute favourite subjects to paint is the sky. Always has been. When I went travelling when I was younger, I spent most of my time with my camera pointed upwards. I have hundreds and hundreds of photos of skies, taken all over the place, and I still look back through them for
Painting Dramatic Skies — and Why I Can’t Get Enough of Them Read More »
So today I thought I’d do something a little different and just paint and chat while I show you what I’m working on. I love these kinds of sessions because it feels a bit more real, a bit more like we’re just in the studio together with a cup of tea. Which, by the way,
Overlaying Acrylics with Water Soluble Oils Read More »
I’ve been busy painting portraits over the past few weeks and I absolutely love it. There is something about working in a series that gives you a real deep dive into a subject, and portraits are no exception. When it comes to painting portraits, or any subject really, it’s never about copying what you see.
Three New Portraits and What I Was Really Trying to Say Read More »
Do you dream of selling your art and making a living from what you love? I know that feeling. I’ve been exactly where you are. When I left college, I was riddled with self-doubt. Everyone encouraged me to take “back up” courses, something sensible to fall back on. But deep down, I knew art was
How to Become a Professional Artist Read More »
There’s a misconception that portraits are the hardest subject, but in all honesty they really aren’t. It’s just about looking at shapes, understanding value and layering like every other subject. The same principles you use to paint a landscape or a flower apply to faces too. When you squint at a portrait reference, what do
The Portrait Myth: Why Faces Aren’t as Hard as You Think Read More »
One of the things I love doing most is analysing master paintings. I believe it’s where we can learn the most about light, colour, and the courage to make bold artistic choices. There’s something magical about studying the artists who came before us. The Impressionists weren’t just painting what they saw – they were interpreting
Learn from the Masters: Analysing Anna Ancher’s “Sunlight in the Blue Room” Read More »
Happy New Year! I’m writing to you from my dining room table and I have to tell you, it feels absolutely wonderful. You see, something shifted for me recently. With two young children running around, I can’t always escape to my studio like I used to. So I did something that felt both practical and
Make 2026 Your Creative Year Read More »
There’s something absolutely magical about painting snow scenes. The way winter light dances across a snowy landscape, the subtle shifts in colour, the quiet beauty of it all. Over the festive period, I’ve been playing with some snowy scenes, and I wanted to share what I’ve learned with you. The biggest mistake I see painters
Capturing the Magic of Snow: Tips for Painting Winter Landscapes Read More »
I see it all the time in my classes. A student sits down, excited and ready to paint. They look at their reference image, pick up a small brush, and start painting… details. The highlights on the water. The individual flowers. The texture on a tree trunk. And I gently have to stop them and
The Biggest Mistake New Painters Make (And How to Fix It) Read More »
As we step into the festive season, there’s something wonderful about painting something a bit different. This year, I painted Santa’s boots warming by the fire, and honestly, I had such fun with it. My girls have already declared this one needs to come out every Christmas now! But beyond the festive joy, this painting
Bringing Back the Vibrant: Why Glazing Changes Everything Read More »
In this ‘Studio Chat’ I’m painting a vibrant sunset sky with expressive clouds. The real subject? Permission. Permission to take time for yourself, to embrace the messy stages, and to let your brush move without overthinking every stroke. The Layering Process I started with a bright yellow ground colour, which is something I do often
Studio Chat: Painting Clouds and Making Time for What Lights You Up Read More »
Have you ever stepped back from a painting and felt like something was missing, even though you couldn’t quite put your finger on what? Often, the answer lies in something we don’t talk about enough: mark making. The Repetition Trap When we’re focused on capturing a subject, it’s so easy to fall into a pattern.
The Power of Mark Making: Why Variety Transforms Your Paintings Read More »
My daughter Sienna turned nine this weekend, and honestly, I can barely believe it. Where does the time go? The previous weekend we were sat around the kitchen table doing arts and crafts together, one of our absolute favourite ways to spend an afternoon. I’d decided to do a bit of painting, and she looked
Painting my Daughter Sienna Read More »
Below you will find template downloads for this painting including reference image and a grid drawing template. You will also find brushes and colour used. Brushes Used I am working on a panel size of 8×18 inches and have used the following brushes: No. 10 Royal Langnickel flat, No 1 round & 3/4 Royal Langnickel
Warm Light Landscape Demonstration Read More »
Why Your “Failed” Paintings Are Actually Your Best Teachers I need to be honest with you about something. The other day, I spent a couple of hours on a painting and it was absolutely awful. The colours felt completely off, the composition didn’t work, and everything about it just fell flat. And here’s the thing
Permission to Create Bad Art Read More »
There’s something incredibly freeing about taking a painting you’ve already created and giving it a whole new life. That’s exactly what I’m doing in today’s video, transforming an acrylic painting on paper with the pure, vibrant pigment of soft pastels. I absolutely love working with mixed media because it opens up so many creative possibilities.
Acrylic to Soft Pastel Play: Adding Vibrant Pops of Colour Read More »
I’ve been working on this abstract landscape in my studio and I wanted to share something with you that I do all the time in my paintings. It’s about making your colours really sing. It’s All About Placement When I’m painting, I love adding little accents and pops of colour throughout the piece. But here’s
Make Your Colours Pop with This Simple Trick Read More »
Have you ever woken up just not feeling it? That was me this morning. Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to create finished pieces that we forget the magic happens in the simple moments of play. Today I’m sharing something really close to my heart – how colour mixing can be your creative
Not Feeling Creative Today? Try This Instead Read More »
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