After listening to me moaning on for weeks about the constant rain, today , at last we have some beautiful sunshine, I have just had coffee with my dear friend at a local garden centre and marvelled at the glorious Mid Devon view.... As I sat waiting , I looked around me, relaxed, happy and hopeful, well my coffee was on it's way.  This is life , I thought, not striving to go to exotic places or waiting for the next big thing , life is in the here and now, and taking joy when it arrives. I can get anxious worrying about life, my kids, my health, the world, but actually life is a series ..read more

To my mind if there is a flower that best reflects the hedgerows of Devon it is the wild primrose, they are everywhere when they bloom, and a beautiful and welcome sight they are. Spring is definitely springing in my little corner of the world, despite the ever constant rain the primroses radiate their own sunshine from the hedgerows  I realise as I write these blogs, how British I really am, always talking about the weather, and the effect it has on me. On my recent walk I snapped some crocus Tulips in flower           But this week I wanted to co ..read more

Here we are in April already the clocks have gone forward and here in the UK we have an extra hour of daylight. Spring hasn't felt very spring-like though with day after day of rain and or drizzle. But we must grab our chances when the sun does appear. Despite the weather, we had a lovely Easter with family around, music at our village concert. My eldest playing Jazz with friends he knew at playgroup. So good to see the young people they have all become, such a lot of joy and talent on show. My week has been a weird one, clearing up after Easter I got a call from the hospital, a cancellation ..read more

I can't lie, I really haven't had a lot of time this week to think about blogs, busy days with my eldest home from university and my daughter working on her own art projects. Then my big exciting trip to London yesterday , a real treat to see so many watercolours in one place , and mine among them.   Who knew Jon Snow was a a keen watercolourist, ( for those of you not in the UK he used to read the news on Channel 4 ). So instead I shall rehash an old blog, and hope some of you find some time over the Easter break to give it a go.   I think Spring is my favourite time of year. How ..read more

Today on World poetry day and yesterday was International day of happiness. I though I would share some of my poetry and my happiness in pairing it to my work with all of you I am also taking sanctuary in my studio, reflecting on my paintings, musing over what I have done and how it came about....   Me, in my rather messy studio, surrounded by the stuff that makes me happy. Wow, I had no idea, that some fun times at the beach and my lack of body confidence would resonate with so many of you . A few of years ago I began painting my swimming ladies, just for fun and for a change ..read more

Hi , I am sitting in my little studio in my garden at the back of my house. The weather for the past couple of days has been dreary and light levels have been low, it doesn't really help to lift your mood. However we must do what we can. For me my most valuable asset is my location, I can get straight out into the countryside, I see that glimmer of light, those glorious sunsets , it is a pleasure to walk up my lane. Soak up the views and see the colours. This photo was taken earlier this week, it was a real treat to watch the sun go down over the hedgerows. I love hellebores, they are so unas ..read more

Today I am sharing with you all the blog I wrote a couple of years ago, but it is very apt for today. My village changes little, and yet I find something new in it everyday , I think we are all looking at the small changes we see everyday and rejoicing in them. It is right to acknowledge how tough things are just now, everyone has their own experience and each one is different and valid. I take a lot from my daily walk , which treads the same path everyday and yet somehow manages to offer something different.  So for all I have lost I have gained the joy of really looking, and seeing, an ..read more

So today is a day we don't see, very often a day we wait 4 years for. I read these words from the amazing poet Donna Ashworth this morning and they resonated.   Leap… Without this extra day once every four years, we would eventually lose our seasons as we know them. This day exists solely to keep us in track with the sun and I love that thought. Chasing light to stay right. Whatever you do today, look for the light. And whilst we are doing that perhaps we can take a little leap in the direction of the sun too. Reach for something shiny you’ve been afraid to feel deserving of. It’s all abo ..read more

 As it rains again, so the ground is that's already wet gets wetter, I am sitting in my studio contemplating my next painting We walked by the river yesterday in full flow  we also saw the beauty of nature, some amazing fungi little daffodils, poking up through the soil , bravely showing us brighter days are ahead. I thought about what to put in my blog this week and, I thought I would start a small series of blogs about some very simple techniques. They took me a while to work out but  made life much simpler for me as a watercolorist. I must admit most things seem complicated ..read more

Anyone else fed up of this dreary weather, it's warm here for February but still very grey and wet . I try to get out when I can, here the river was in full flow My cat isn't too impressed and is spending very unproductive days in her favorite spot   We have just had Valentines Day, so many people excited and happy to share a day with a loved one, others sad as they remember love they have lost. Supermarkets selling red roses and heart shaped chocolates, I was fascinated to hear St. Valentine was also a saint of bee keepers , so obviously he was a good man I spent most of yesterday in ..read more