Painting in gangs... I have discovered a new love: Plein Air Painting. Unfortunately if you set up an easel outdoors you attract an expectant crowd so it is much safer to paint in gangs. I thoroughly enjoyed two Jackson's Plein Air Days, at Glyndebourne and Scotney Castle with a couple of students. I am a bit of a novice to painting outdoors with heat and curious flies so my attempts have so far been very underwhelming. I am teaching myself to think of everything as just the

This is my least favourite time of the year so I thought I would ease my students back in with lots of layering and concentrating on more traditional techniques. Then hopefully Spring will awaken our art chakras and we can get back to chucking about the salt and sprinkling on the pastels. In the meantime, I have really appreciated slowing down as I am naturally very impatient. I chose a fried egg as a challenge for the more advanced groups and I genuinely never realised how

I love the summer so I shall shed a small tear as we head into autumn and then the frenzy that is Christmas. However, it does allow for...

How to stay inspired when you are not going to class... So my top tip for an arty summer is to acquire a tiny sketchbook. I accidentally...

Quinky birch trees with watercolour & soft pastel A very therapeutic way to spend your day is messing about with mixed media, in this...

If you fancy creating a handmade Christmas card then here is a very easy idea, although the concept of easy is constantly up for discussio

This is how I want to feel everyday. Lightly skipping through a day filled with sunshine and without a care in the world. Getting out my pen