Painting of the Window and Ceiling Arches of Pershore Abbey, Worcs.
Trust is the Theme for the 2019 DAC Touring Art Exhibition

I’m thrilled that my painting “The Window” has been selected to go on tour alongside other artists work for the themed “Trust” Art Exhibition this year of DAC, Disability Arts Cymru

The painting I decided to submit, “The Window” just seemed to jump out to be put forward because of the difficult times we have had this year, losing my lovely Mum In Law.  I painted this a few years back based on the internal architecture of Pershore Abbey near my parents’ home. I loved the arches and the way the light was falling between the pillars and coming through the window, so accentuated them to portray my own sense of what spirituality is, and the trust that through a “window” we carry on into a next life.

 Hand painted floral clay hearts
Making and painting clay hearts is so enjoyable

I’m really enjoying the physical aspect of making my own clay hearts. It gives me the freedom to choose my own shapes and sizes, and I can say that I’ve made them literally from start to finish. I’m using air dry clay and it has been a challenge to roll the clay smooth enough to make a good painting surface for detail work. I also wanted the hearts to be delicate and thin rather than thick and chunky, which posed a challenge to stop them curling at the edges while they were drying, so they were turned over regularly and kept from drying too quickly. When they are dry, even though they are thin, they are surprisingly tough.

Art Doodle Sketches of Trials of Life
The simple act of art doodling in a sketchbook can be very therapeutic. Sometimes pictures convey emotions more than words can.

Where does the time go when life just takes over? January disappeared into the ether while I lay comatose under the duvet suffering from flu. February threw curve balls left, right and centre.

Rushed hospital visits, tests and scans, not all mine, but family too. It really wakes you up from dreamily going through life. There is a saying that when life throws lemons at you, make lemonade. But sometimes, making lemonade is extremely difficult. Playing ball is difficult too!

 Art Doodle 2019 New Year Celebration

The last several months of 2018 have been challenging. My health confined me, and for a while it was comforting to rest up and recuperate. It’s difficult, well almost impossible to be inspired when I’m feeling ill and in pain. But I am beginning to feel more able now, and no longer wish to be in confinement. It is time to throw back the curtains and once again say “Hello World!”

 Creating a Garden Is Like Creating a Painting

Gardening Is Like Painting, The Spade Is My Brush, The Flowers Are My Paint and The Ground Is My Canvas

They say gardening is great for mental health, and it definitely is. It has helped me to pick myself up, dust myself off and re-evaluate what is important in life.

Art, painting wise, has been a bit of a barren few months where I seem to have lost my way, maybe because I found myself in a situation that was unsustainable. The decision to put my brush down for a few months has actually helped me to re-evaluate not only what is important in my life, but also the direction I wish to go, and how I measure things in the future. Sometimes lessons get learnt the hard way, and from people you least expect.

Close Ups of the Painting "I Am Woman"
My painting “I Am Woman” is in the Disability Arts Cymru Annual Touring Exhibition, and I am delighted it has been selected to tour around Wales with 25 art works by other artists.

The theme this year is “On The Edge”, and I chose my subject based on the fight for equality of women, and how even though it is 100 years since we were allowed to vote, we are still on the edge in many areas of the modern political and economic world. It is a statement and a celebration of I Am Woman.

Artist Residency days at the Exhibition "The Invisible World"
The “Invisible World” Art Exhibition is a joint collaboration between myself as painter and Susan Zeppellini as ceramicist, and is well underway.

Thank you to each and every one who came and supported our launch event. It was great! But it doesn’t stop there. The exhibition continues until 1st September 2018 at The Workers Gallery. Each Saturday from 11.30am to 2.30pm we are in residence at the gallery for open and informal chats about our work with sketchbooks and images to hand that show progression of ideas to the finished art works. Our last Saturday, will be on the last day of the art exhibition, on 1st September.