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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Are you putting pressure on yourself to “find your style” as an artist? After 20+ years of painting, I’m here to tell you why you need to stop rushing and start embracing the journey instead. In this video, I share why: ✨ Your artistic voice develops naturally through play and experimentation ✨ You don’t need
Stop Rushing to Find Your Style – Why the Journey Matters More Read More »
Vanessa’s Incredible Journey I wanted to share the story of Vanessa. Vanessa joined my weekly in-person class around 9 years ago, and we worked this out the other day because I was pregnant with my eldest Sienna when she joined, and she’s going to be 9 in November. When Vanessa first joined, she had very
From Dining Room Table to Dream Art Studio Read More »
I’m currently away with the family on a little trip to Newquay, and I wanted to share something magical that happened yesterday – all because of a simple two-minute sketch. Here’s the thing about taking photos: you snap, you move on, and somehow the moment slips away faster than the tide. Those photos sitting on
Two Minutes That Will Change How You See Everything Read More »
Last night we had so much fun inside my Brush Flow community, painting along together live. We took on Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields with Cypresses — such a bold, beautiful piece full of life and movement. Now, I know what you might be thinking — why copy a master painting? Isn’t that just copying? But
Inside Brush Flow: Painting Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields with Cypresses Read More »
This week I decided it’s been a while since I painted outside – and there’s nothing quite like it.I got my pochade box out and stepped into the garden. When we moved into our house just before lockdown, our garden was nothing but mud. I had so much fun ‘painting’ it with colour – planting
Step Into the Garden with Your Paintbrush Read More »
Here are two close-ups from paintings I’ve recently finished. I wanted to take a moment to talk about mark making — and why varying our marks is such a simple but powerful way to bring more energy and life into a painting. If we keep everything the same — same brush size, same direction, same
Variation in Marks – Why It Matters Read More »
I’ve just finished a new abstract landscape and I wanted to share a little bit about it with you. It was inspired by all the playing and exploring I’ve been doing lately for my new mixed media workshop inside Brush Flow. I’ve been encouraging my students to experiment — and push the boundaries a little.
New Abstract Landscape Read More »
It’s half term here this week, which means my usual long, quiet painting sessions in the studio have been swapped for snack duty, sibling refereeing… and a whole lot of “Mum, I’m hungry” (honestly, do children ever feel full?!). So instead of trying to squeeze myself into my studio and feel frustrated about not having
What Would it Look Like if Painting Felt Easy? Read More »
Now, I’ve always been a bit of an experimental artist. I love pushing the boundaries of colour, trying out new marks, and diving deep into the joy of play. But I’ll be honest with you… I’ve never really been a dedicated sketchbook artist. I mean, I’ve bought every sketchbook under the sun—big ones, tiny ones,
To Sketchbook or Not… That Is the Question Read More »
Yesterday was one of those quiet little gifts of a day. My eldest went off to her first football match with her dad — full of excitement and team spirit — while I took my youngest down to the beach for a bit of calm. It was just the two of us, the soft sound
Just a Little Glimpse – The Art of Cropping Read More »
Every now and then, a painting just needs a bit of space. In this video, I’m revisiting a piece I started a while ago but didn’t quite finish at the time. Rather than rushing it, I gave it time… and now I’m ready to bring it back to life with some fresh eyes and a
Giving a Painting a Second Chance Read More »
Let’s talk about something that every artist goes through – the messy middle. You know that part. The beginning feels exciting – you’ve got this clear vision, you’re feeling inspired, your brush is moving effortlessly and it all feels full of promise. But then… somewhere in the middle, things start to feel wobbly. The magic
The Messy Middle of a Painting Read More »
One of the most exciting parts of painting is deciding where your focal point will be. It’s the heart of the piece—the place where your viewer’s eye lands first and lingers the longest. Sometimes, it’s obvious. Other times, it takes a bit of thought. In this painting, the drama of the sky was calling to
The Power of Sky and Light: Capturing Mood Read More »
One of my favourite things to do before diving into a new painting is to sit and spend some time working out the colour scheme I’m going to use. I don’t paint ‘reality’ when it comes to colours—you’ve probably guessed that by now! Some subjects just seem to come alive with unexpected colours, and it
Colour Confidence: A Simple Hack That Makes Painting Easier Read More »
This is one of the trickiest questions when it comes to painting: how do you actually know when it’s done? It’s so easy to keep going, adding more detail, tweaking this and that—until suddenly, you’ve lost that fresh, expressive quality and everything feels overworked. Sound familiar? I’ve been there plenty of times. But over the
How to Know When a Painting is Finished Read More »
We’ve all been there. You sit down to paint, brush in hand, but nothing flows. The colours feel dull, the ideas feel forced, and the excitement you usually have just isn’t there. Creative blocks happen to us all, but they don’t have to stop you from creating. Here are some ways to push through and
10 Ways to Push Through Creative Blocks Read More »
As we conclude our journey through the Elements of Art, we’ve explored Line, Shape, Colour, Value, Texture, and Form. This week, we’re diving into the final element: Space. Space is the element that defines how objects relate to one another and to their surroundings. Mastering space allows you to create depth, balance, and perspective, transforming
The Elements of Art: Exploring Space Read More »
As we near the conclusion of our journey through the Elements of Art, we’ve explored Line, Shape, Colour, Value, and Texture. This week, we’re focusing on an element that brings three-dimensionality to art: Form. Form transforms flat shapes into lifelike creations. Whether you’re drawing, painting, or sculpting, understanding form is key to making your artwork
The Elements of Art: Exploring Form Read More »
As we continue our journey through the Elements of Art, we’ve explored Line, Shape, Colour, and Value. This week, we’re diving into a tactile element that adds richness and dimension to artwork: Texture. Texture can turn a flat surface into something that feels alive, engaging the viewer’s senses and creating a deeper connection to the
The Elements of Art: Exploring Texture Read More »
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