New Paintings and the Summer Solstice
18th June 2025
Afternoon / 2025 – acrylic on canvas, 60 x 50 cm
A Summer Pause
As the summer solstice draws near, I wanted to pop in and say hello. I hope the year has been kind to you so far.
Lately, I’ve been quietly painting, travelling at a slower pace, and enjoying the seasonal changes. When I pause to reflect, I can see how my art has evolved since reconnecting with my practice last year. I painted over my early canvases but took photographs of each one as a personal record. It’s interesting to look back at these miniature time capsules.
My confidence in my artwork has grown. I’m learning to embrace the imperfections and trust my instincts – knowing when a painting is complete, or when I need to take a break altogether. My time away from the canvas is very important to me, and keeping my creative well topped up with inspiration is a must.
I view creativity as a journey, and currently, I don’t have a destination in mind. After years of working towards creative goals – writing, photography, blogging and video-making – this creative freedom feels great! I hope to remain curious, motivated, and excited, and that’s all I could wish for.
Rain / 2025 – acrylic on canvas, 45 x 35 cm
Life in Oxford
Outside of my modest home studio, I’m still an avid bookworm. The libraries are my favourite places in the city, along with the galleries and museums, indie coffee shops, green spaces, and charity shops. I’m currently embracing a low-buy year and challenge for sustainability and to save a few pennies, so the charity shops have been extremely handy!
As we enter the second half of the year, I’m committed to staying on this soul-aligned path, being grounded and grateful while appreciating the beauty in life’s simple things. Peace, presence and purpose are my words for the season ahead, while I release the mental clutter I no longer need to carry. Well, that’s the plan anyway!
Thank you for visiting – wishing you light and joy this solstice, and best wishes for the summer season.
If you’d like to keep in touch, I have a mailing list on Substack and occasionally share photos on Instagram, where I recently posted images from a family trip to Devon and Cornwall.