A writer friend used to swear by his dog. I take my sketchbook for a walk. I often call my walks screen breaks (often, they are) – but they’re all manner of other things too… I come up with ideas on walks that I don’t have at a desk. There’s … Read More
I’m thrilled to be selected for my first ever artist residency, with Tower Gallery, at the extraordinary Memorial Community Church in East London, in a studio built as its projection room. It has views into the church and across to the Royal Docks. Over the Summer I’ll be making some … Read More
I’ve live illustrated the past two Wordstock events by writers’ organisation 26 at the gorgeous Conway Hall Library; this year, I was there as a participant. But draw? Of course I did… I always have a sketchbook about my person, a small thing hand bound from waste. And I use … Read More
My long-range personal project The Colour Trip involves visiting places which have associations with colour. I do some advance nerdery, I explore and I’m open to diversions. It will become a thing. What type of thing will be revealed in due course. But meanwhile, I give you the latest leg … Read More
It was like playing a harp… On a big sketch on canvas, I’d decided to show the way reeds glitter in the light by way of gold embroidery. Cody Dock is a favourite spot for a screen break tea break – so, tea bags for a colour wash. I had … Read More
I bring my design head to my live sketching – I love an appropriate format. So for my meet the artist day for Hello, Petal, my exhibition of botanical work at a café in a park, I made seed packet sized sketchbooks. And they’re made from waste, which is entirely … Read More
A drawing board. As gym equipment goes, it’s a bit unorthodox. But in this, the season of squeaky-clean trainers and good intentions, I’m reminded why I draw when I’m not working on projects: skills need exercise too. I go to life drawing as a dancer does class. It’s difficult. I … Read More
Time travel. It wasn’t what I expected from my free-range Friday. But as I sketch walked my way from an exhibition recce at Springfield Park Café in Hackney, looking for a vantage point I found an information board about the geology of the view. On it was the logo I’d … Read More
Four days, two cities, a wintry beach and nerding out on Delft blue and the House of Orange… it’s been the latest leg of my project visiting places with colour stories. Delving into blue at the Royal Delft factory has turned up a story of resilience, adaptation and innovation. On … Read More
Binding sketchbooks. It’s very Zen. It’s useful (I get through sketchbooks at a rate that’s been described as voracious). And I love a blank sheet of paper. But is it a new leaf? Well, yes and no. I make my sketchbooks from offcuts, dummies and surplus swatches and materials. And … Read More