May sunshine and flowers

After a long and dreary winter and a delayed spring, it seems that summer has taken us all by surprise. Now the days are long and lazy, the older I get the more I want to slow down and take time to smell the roses. 

This year I decided to introduce some lupins into my garden, after being inspired by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I have been careful to include some organic slug deterrents which I hope will be wildlife friendly but keep the slugs away. They are made from woollen pellets and are said to make an itchy and scratchy hostile environment for slugs and snails... we shall see!

Work has been focussed on creating images for Victoria Magazine, this month the theme was France and so I enjoyed painting summer garden images. You can find a new print of the garden cat in my Etsy shop Acornmoon, link in my sidebar.

It has been a time for long country walks, wild flower spotting and listening to bird song. The bluebells have been spectacular this year.

I even managed to complete a new miniature portrait of our granddaughter. Watercolour on Kelmscott vellum. It was a labour of love!

Spring Gardens

I know I promised a giveaway in my last post, forgive me for my prolonged absence, the giveaway will happen soon when I have caught up with myself.

It has been pleasant to spend time outdoors to enjoy the delights of spring. We have made several journeys, the first being up to Scotland to Gatehouse of Fleet, where we stayed in a small hotel by the river. The hotel was a great favourite of Dorothy L Sayers and I am told she wrote Five Red Herrings there. We travelled to nearby Kirkudbright and met up with Ruthie Redden, it was a great treat to chat with a fellow artist whom I met via this blog. There is so much to see in the hometown of Jessie King, there are art galleries a plenty, in fact Ruthie was busy preparing for a family show at The Harbour Gallery when we met.

We revisited the house and garden of E A Hornel, the garden was looking particularly splendid and we enjoyed strolling down its many paths. Broughton House has a rear view which overlooks the river whilst the front garden is in the town, so it has the best of both worlds. I pictured myself living there, well, we can dream... 

Shortly after our scottish trip we took another journey, this time down to London where we saw more botanical treats. This time at the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace where we saw an exhibition of Maria Merian's Butterflies. It was my first ever visit to the gallery and I was delighted to find this exhibition as I have admired this artist's work for many years. The exhibition runs until October, if you love exquisite detailed paintings of insects and plants combined with fabulous design skills, this exhibition will not disappoint.

Our native bluebells have been splendid this year, in between the very many showers, we managed to enjoy several walks through our nearby bluebell woods. It always amazes me that so few people know of their existence. Two years ago we scattered our little dog's ashes in a quiet corner of the wood so it is always something of a bitter sweet experience to return. This year however I did feel his determined, self assured and inquisitive little spirit walking alongside.

Last but not least, I received a copy of this lovely book by Ann Benson- "A History of Coton Manor and its garden". Ann used a modified image of my artwork on a special bookplate and she very kindly sent me a copy of the book as a gift. Ann told me that she and her mother enjoyed visiting Coton's Bluebell Woods and both enjoyed the therapeutic atmosphere. Sadly I don't live near to Northhamptonshire but I am enjoying reading all about it and it is already on my wish list. You can make a virtual visit here on the website.

Next time I write I will tell you all about a wonderful workshop I took with a Persian Miniature Painter, bye for now.

Moody Blue.

Maybe because the weather turned cold again, maybe because memories of loved ones past took hold and became overwhelming, my mood this month has been blue.



These are the times when nature soothes and lifts the spirits. I walked in fields of blue, through great swathes of bluebells and forget-me-nots which carpet the woodlands around my home.



and of course nothing on earth keeps a person more grounded than walking with a dog.



There have been lots to keep me busy in my studio, cards and prints to make and post, new paintings to begin and artwork to scan. Listing a new item takes almost as long as its creation followed by the photo shoots. I have to confess to enjoying playing around with the later. As a child I always wanted a shop of my own and am having great fun with my online version.



Last but not least, I have been in the process of making some of my children’s books available as digital applications and have become a creative partner with Auryn Inc. I hope to see the first title “White is the Moon” available soon and am excited about the new opportunities this partnership may bring. Auryn have some beautiful titles on their list, my absolute favourite is “The Little Mermaid” as told by Hans Christian Andersen and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. Auryn’s version has the most beautiful underwater effects complete with splashing fishes and rippling waves. You can download a short free version just to try out, you will be amazed at how very lovely it is.

Bluebells and Barthomley

It is so hard to stay indoors when the bluebells are in bloom. For a brief spell, before the leaf canopy gets too dense, sunlight dances on the woodland floor and the bluebells take center stage.



This little woodland is only a mile or so away from our home but as yet, remains an area of great tranquility and natural beauty, despite being so close to the town. As you can see we took Ted for a walk over the May Bank Holiday, as usual he chose his walking stick with great care and attention. (Click for a closer look.)

The weather was bright but cold and before too long the rain started in earnest, there was only one thing for it, we headed for the pub where a roaring fire awaited us. You can see more of this old inn in Barthomley which dates back to 1614 here. It is the sort of pub where dogs are welcome but we decided to take Ted home first as he had got rather wet in the rain, he did not seem to mind too much as he snuggled into his new blanket.



The water colour illustration above is taken from “A Book of Days” which sadly is now out of print.

Bluebell wood

I had plans this week to paint bluebells, as you can see they are at their best right now. Sunday was so mild and pleasant, walking through our local wood with birds busy nesting and bumblebees humming. Everywhere great drifts of bluebells as far as the eye could see.

Instead I am painting holly and poinsettia for a client in a hurry. These are the joys of being a freelancer, still, where would we be without Christmas? So whilst I am away please feel free to wander through our little wood, but please don't tell anyone else because it's our secret!