A N D I
The new word of the day … for me! Art Nature Design Illustration. For a while I have been focussing on nature based art .. and I still am .. but this has widened organically to encompass illustration and commissioned work. So I am creating and involved in creating public art commissions, nature trails and designing for Sense of Place.
I am based in Northumberland and much of my work is to respond to nature and I do that in a number of different ways including creating nature based art, teaching nature journalling and taking on commissions for various projects including public art. My workshops focus on how to create nature journal ands provide tuition on drawing techniques, painting and observing nature.
I focus on the individual to ensure that they are developing their own voice and creative style which they can take forward and develop themselves.
A typical spread from one of my nature journals.
My own work is personal - creating nature journals from observations - but also adding my own feelings and thoughts - sometimes poetry, lyrics and quotations, both original and found - into my journals. My aim is really just to notice nature and the beauty of the natural world speaks for itself. I am also interested in architecture and take every opportunity to draw in the urban environment. I am currently engaged in my own personal pilgrimage of drawing cathedrals throughout the UK. I will be creating a new section on urban sketching and will be using the same approach that I adopt for nature journalling.
So much nature to encounter and unfold.
My journals are continuous and record a journey - usually with my dog, Jess - which when I look back at them offer not only a useful scientific record but also a visual and immersive prompt. When teaching journalling I provide a background, as well as all of the materials needed to create a beautiful little journal and help to tease out the unique voice and style of drawing that is innate in everyone. Recently I lost my dog (she was 14) and this has profoundly altered how I engage with nature. Gone is the Moleskine Japanese Accordion journal - and coincidentally this seems to have been discontinued by Moleskine - to be replaced by my new All Purpose Sketchbook (APS). I will be posting my new methods for APS soon so please check back when you can and see what this is all about.
An example of the simple “chapbook Journal” I use when teaching Journalling.
