AS MIDWINTER APPROACHES and the nights draw in, it’s time to sit comfortably and contemplate the passing year. INSTEAD THIS YEAR I decided to paint and decorate our flat for the first time in a decade. The process of clearing, cleaning and repairing set me thinking about ghost stories and the cycle of loss and renewal at year’s end. It started by my wanting to freshen up the bathroom which had gone a bit mouldy around the edges and continued into my children’s bedroom, which I had been gradually taking over as my own. Both my children have well and…

Greetings from the Isle of Lewis – RSA Residencies for Scotland I’m now in my final week of my artist residency on the Isle of Lewis as part of the RSA Residencies for Scotland. I’m writing from a cozy house near Stornoway on a blustery Monday afternoon, after nearly a month of sunshine. Over the past four weeks, I’ve been creating new paintings and conducting research in the landscape and at a family home in Sandwick. I’ve also connected with the local art community, attended some fantastic exhibitions, a concert, and met some inspiring artists. It’s been an amazing month,…

Last week, the sun was shining in Scotland, and everyone seemed to be out enjoying it. I took full advantage, spending three days painting in the landscape at Limefield House, a Georgian mansion near West Calder. In October, I was commissioned by Limefield House to create work about the ancient yew trees on the property—some more than 1,000 years old. They grow in a strange promenade (no one is quite sure why), winding through other striking trees like Monkey Puzzle and Canadian Redwood. The commission is wonderfully open—simply to make paintings—which has felt like a dream come true. Over the…

Painting project to capture ancient yew trees At the end of 2024 I was delighted to receive a commission from Limefield House, a Georgian property outside Edinburgh, to create paintings inspired by the yew trees on the grounds. Limefield Mansion House built in 1805 is steeped in history and surrounded by trees, monkey puzzle, Canadian redwood and a promenade of yews estimated to be at least 1000 years old. The yew tree project is to create two large paintings but in the process I will develop a body of work including paintings, drawings, photographs and possibly time-lapse video. I want to…