“EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE” SOLD … and how appropriate it sold just hours before my online art sale closed. Just hours after one of the most varied days of my week. Sometimes people wonder what I get up to in my studio. And sometimes they wonder why I’m not always painting. And why I’m not always in my studio. Well, here’s your answer. Here’s a glimpse of what can happen in a day in my life. This was my Friday. Swipe left to find out more… …And yes, it encapsulates pretty much everything you can imagine! Time in Nature. Time in my studio. Time in my community. Time with friends and strangers. Thank you @ladytalkmatters and @catchtrust for inviting me back to another session with these amazing young women. Thank you @awss for all the amazing work you do with the dogs and cats of our region who need another chance in life, and whom we as humans also have the privilege to care for. And what a beautiful place we live in. Thank you @landtscap for hosting such a beautiful 70th birthday celebration for AWSS ❤️

Sometimes an artwork lets you know when it’s done. And it pays to listen. I’m not always very good at listening and have been known to take a work ‘too far’. This initial layer was just that… until I paused and it whispered that maybe I could just leave it be. I think it’s ready now to find its new home, don’t you? Will add it to the Available Art catalogue tomorrow. Unless of course one of you pops me a DM first! I promise I’ll listen 🤗

Time for a tea break?… …we’re nearly half way through my annual week-long online art sale. If you’ve not yet made time to look at all the original artwork available at a discount (20% off, just for this week) maybe make that cuppa now and gift yourself a few minutes of browsing. Once the work is sold, it’s sold. Gone. For good. That surfer one I posted two days ago? Gone. NB: These are all original once-off works. No two are the same. You get to own the only one. Pop me a DM if you’re struggling to access the link in my profile to Available Art.

It’s another mellow Monday moment here is Stellies and, whilst I let some base layers dry on my next big project, here’s another mini mellow moment I captured on canvas. Dawn redwoods at dusk (2026) Oil on canvas Available (and 20% off just for this week only🎉) Imagine it’s -10° Celsius and the river is frozen, the last warm embers of sunlight fading fast on the distant hills as the sun sets. Not really the ideal time to sit on a frozen bench for a pose. Hence the little happy dance through the trees to warm up. You’re welcome 🤗

*SOLD!* An Early bird catches the worm And early birds catch the waves 🌊 This piece (in the first slide) is already reserved… … I’m not for sale🤪 (see second slide) but this mid-winter dip in the ocean this morning was priceless For those who were sleeping, my annual online art sale is now on… (check the link is in my bio to see all my available art)… …and runs for just 6 more days before my prices return to normal. You snooze, You lose.

🇿🇦 H a p p y M a n d e l a D a y !🎉🥳 For those of you who’ve been following me for a while you know what this means. The late, great Nelson Mandela urged the next generation to step up and make a difference. So now, every year on July 18th, (Mandela’s birthday), people around the world are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to volunteer in their communities, support charities, or perform kind deeds for others. Many of you who know me know that I volunteer in my local community a lot more than just 67 minutes a year. But I know that, for many people, they don’t have the flexibility or struggle to make the time to volunteer on a regular basis. And, many people want to help but just don’t know where to start nor how to get involved or find service opportunities. Let me help you use some of that 67 minutes to help me help others AND I can help YOU too by gifting you the opportunity of buying my art at a discount for one week only through my annual online art sale. COMMENT: 67MINS to get a link to my available art catalogue. Or you can find it in the link in my bio 😁 When you let me know what you want to buy, I’ll reserve the art for you and apply a 20% discount. Once your payment comes through, the artwork is gone, it’s gone. I remove it from the available art catalogue. And I’ll order a pack of reusable period pads on your behalf so it can be donated to a girl in need. Just one week only. Just 67mins of your time. (Max!) Make a difference.

Throwback Thursday - to three weeks ago - when the Portrait Award opened its doors to the public. It was such an amazing week - a week to remember, for the rest of my life. And, if there was just one disappointment, it was that I could not get my hands on an exhibition catalogue (I gather there was a problem with the printing process). But we have been assured that they will be available to collect in a week or two. In the meantime, you can pre-order them online at the NPG website. You can also vote for your favourite painting in the exhibition (either while you are there or also online - see link in my bio). Speaking of pre-orders, I’ve spent the best part of a week trying to work out a way to get postcards and fine art prints of my work made for you (and me!) to have as another souvenir to remember this amazing occasion. Yes. This makes me very happy indeed! 😁 Link to pre-order in my story today 👆

P O R T R A I T A W A R D P O S E S Two weeks ago today… …I got to see my painting “The Age of Adolescence” for the first time in months. Hanging at the @nationalportraitgallery as part of the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award exhibition. It was, for many of us artists, the very first time we have ever had our artwork selected for this prestigious Award. For those whose work has been selected before, they were exceptionally patient with our (my) exuberance and childlike excitement. Forgive me for once again reliving the moment. It is still sinking in. And I’m not sure I’ll ever ‘get used to it’. I simply wanted to share the huge emotional high I experienced when I first caught sight of my painting. Of course, there were many more highs of that week. Meeting wonderful artists. Making new friends. Seeing my family share in my excitement and wonder. Seeing the way in which the public - friends and strangers alike - connected with my work and that of my fellow exhibitors. These are moments I will cherish forever. PS Stay tuned to the end and you’ll see my twin and I pulling our ‘favourite childhood faces’ when anyone asked US to pose for a portrait. They’re classic, don’t you agree? Just a shame that in nearly all the photos of us between the ages of 3 and 7 years of age we chose the exact same poses 🫣 🤪

REPOST from the lovely @james_nicholls_art who helps give you the low down on all the essentials about the Portrait Award @nationalportraitgallery Featuring interviews with @artinturmoil @frances_bell_paintings and @tania_rivilis …as well as a selection of the portraits on show. (See if you can spot my little girl lurking like a shy teenager in the short video)🙂