Permission to pause…
“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for a moment.” ― Georgia O'Keefe
My modus operandi is to create and to be a prolific artist - it's my life’s work. I usually paint daily and often turn artworks into designs for fabric and wallpaper. Exploring new ideas for online courses or for collaborative design projects are also priorities and I like to experiment with various techniques and processes with the aim of incorporating them into courses, retreats and workshops. As a curious creative I never get bored! I relish a challenge and I love to explore alternative options and new ideas - this is an integral part of my adventure as an artist.
But this summer I became aware that… sometimes you simply need to press the pause button!
I have a tendency to do too much, but over the last month or so the pace of things changed for me when I realised a little breather was required, I needed to give myself some space. With my husband Niall away on a motorbike trip to the Himalayas, I was really looking forward to this brief period without much on the agenda.
It felt like I’ve been busy for ages, with one project following the next. During July I taught in a beautiful location in Portugal on my tenth retreat. It was a lovely experience in a beautiful venue, with outstanding support from the organisers and hosts there. And a wonderful, energetic group of creatives attended from around the world. After I returned home the time felt right to stop and just be in the moment, to reminisce and to reflect for a while.
I enjoyed the long calm Summer days and shifted my focus to dreaming instead of doing, and pondering possibilities and ideas to help decide what I want to focus my energy onto in the coming year. It’s amazing how indulgent it can feel to potter around the garden, to read and to binge watch some of the movies on my wish list, long lunches and walks with friends and our two dogs, getting back into a yoga routine and taking time to think. During this time I enjoyed doing small sketchbook drawings and playing with small scale doodles and layering of colours instead of working on bigger paintings, simply because it felt right and it suited my calmer state of mind.
(Watch this space, I’ll be sharing some of the creative ideas I came up with in a future newsletter.)
A Ten Year Milestone
This September marks ten years since I launched my first online course back in 2015. What started out as a plan for a single course in response to requests has turned into a big part of my art practice. I love helping people form stronger connections to their own creativity and to expand their knowledge of concepts, techniques and processes. I relish developing courses with an emphasis on out of the box thinking and all my courses still include an element of the Creative Leap Method™ I first introduced in 2016. Over the last decade I’m fortunate to have been able to create loads of courses which thousands of students have found valuable. This year I also curated the popular Colori Flori Summit involving fourteen artists over two weeks and I have new plans for Colori Flori in 2026. More on this later.
Explore Abstracts I is back
This chunky, six-week long course was first released in 2023 and is now offered once again as a scheduled, ‘live’ course running from 6 October until 16 November. All lessons in this course are pre-recorded, edited to be delivered in easily digestible portions and comes with closed captions. Registration opens on 6 September with a super special 20% Early Bird discount offer valid until 13 September (or longer if you’re a contributing Coloricombo subscriber). Register interest here to get a special reminder when registration opens.
Make Time for Art
September is here, the days are getting shorter and it is a good time to think about ways to incorporate creativity into your program. Let me help you with some ideas.. In addition to my longer, deep dive courses, I also have a selection of mini courses that are just perfect for dipping toes and exploring possibilities. For the next week I have a special offer of 20% off all listed course, valid until Monday 8 September at midnight PST. Use the code SEPTEMBERTREAT20 for a 20% discount on all courses.
Read on to see details of all the courses on offer.
Art Retreats & Other Plans
Spending time making art with a tribe of kindred spirits is a wonderful and very special way to explore creativity - it is a way to experience inspiration on a whole different level.
In September I’ll be in Perigord in south west France where I will lead the art program on a leisurely ten day retreat which will include daily excursions to beautiful medieval villages and the surrounding areas: I can’t wait!
My first retreat of 2026 in Italy is focussed on colour moods and still life and is now fully booked. I’ll be announcing plans for another retreat towards the end of the year in India where the emphasis will be on printing, pattern and design.
At the moment I am also looking at the possibility of offering a week long workshop in early Summer 2026 closer to home, here in England (most probably around Henley-on-Thames). This will be a different kind of event from the art retreats. If you are interested in finding out more please add your details here.
What’s on Offer?
Not sure which one to pick? Let me tell you more about what’s on offer.
Explore Still Life 1
Explore Still Life 1 consists of four modules, each with very different approaches to making still life paintings. They are Feminine & Floral, Contrast & Details, Textures & Tones and Mono Printing. This is a deep dive course exploring different acrylic paints along with a variety of acrylic mediums and mixed media.
Imaginarium
A fun three module course that will help to stretch your imagination and show ways to discover new ways of drawing and creating by using my Creative Leap Method™.
Lessons cover a wide variety of subjects, such as Azulejos Tiles, Cacti, Crowns & Cakes, Fungi, Gemstones and Letter Trees.
Natura
My Creative Leap Method™ is used extensively in this drawing focussed course inspired by nature. The three module are titled Botanica, Bestiola and Oceanum and will inspire you to create paintings informed by the nature, insects and the underwater world.
Arboretum
Arboretum is all about trees, colour and creative processes. Play and explore with water based media on paper. The Creative Leap Method™ is used extensively with handwriting and the shapes of numbers as a basis for many of the lessons.
Colour Collage 1
This course is a game changer, a course about collage, thin layering and acrylic painting techniques. If you have ever been interested in ways to explore painted paper collage to create complex layers with control then this one is for you.
The three modules, Red, Blue and Yellow contain exciting lessons such as a pressed flower collage, Sashiko inspired mark making, stencil printing and Acanthus drawings using carbon copy paper.
Mini Courses
These are five day courses, ideal for dipping of toes and trying out new ideas. Here's what's available:
Four Seasons - A packed mini course with trees as subject for four projects
Sunset Trees - A masterclass to compliment the Four Seasons course
Creative Circle - Let's explore colour and round shapes and make an expressive wreath
Let's Paint Cats - A fun course and a must for lovers of felines
Fabulous Fish - A great way to explore shapes, colours and creative techniques
Imaginary Butterflies - Always a favourite to explore colours and shapes in creative ways
Beautiful Blues - A shorter masterclass using aquarelle crayons and a limited colour palette
Paper Vases - Create 3D sleeved paper vases using watercolour, gouache and acrylic ink.
What Will You Get when you register?
Instant access to all course content, valid for twelve months from date of registration.
All my courses are pre-recorded and edited with detailed instuctions and subtitles. They are self paced, so you can dip in as you please and do it in your own time. The 20% discount is valid for a Limited Time Only.