January 2024

January is never going to be my favorite month of the year, ever but this one really did start off particularly poorly. We lost a very important family member - my Nana, the matriarch and lynch pin of the whole family. As a consequence my mom, spent the start of the year at my Nana’s bedside and the rest with my poor Grandad as he adjusted to this catastrophic loss.

In mom’s absence, I decided I would accompany dad on his morning walks. I have never felt so inspired. I really am blessed to live here in the Scottish Borders. After passing through a few fields of green we found ourselves face to face with what can only be described as a geological beauty. You can see all of the different layers of rock. I simply had to paint it! I started with an under painting to make sure I got the proportions right and it was compositionally sound, my main aim is always to take the eye on a journey up and through the painting, I think the line of the river and rock top does achieve this. next I blocked in a rough colour pallet. I decided to tackle the painting from the top to the bottom so I started with sky. Once that was dry, I painted in trees. Then I collaged the rock face using gelli printed papers I had made specifically for this painting. I then neatened up the rock face adding value with shadow and highlights. I then painted the river with a series of washes until I was happy with it. Next I dotted the grassy area to give it texture and give the painting depth. Even dad says it has come out ‘canny’ so I am taking it as a success.

I have just completed the ‘picture book course’ with the Good Ship Illustration. It has been good to have something to keep myself busy this month, as you can imagine. I have loved every second of it! There have been interviews with authors, illustrators, agents, publishers and the amazing good shippers. Just by working my way through the course I have come up with 3 picture book ideas and written out a list of agents and publishers I intend to approach just as soon as I have got them ship shape and ready to go.

Also this month I have had the pleasure of popping into Linkim Court, residential housing in Eyemouth, and working with the tenants on various arty projects. We have had workshops on alcohol inks, mixed media still life, black and white mark making and marbelling so far. I love working with Emma Jones at the Wee Blue Press, Allanbank Arts and the BHA (Berwickshire Housing Association) to deliver these workshops. It has been so much fun working with a lovely bunch of people, getting mucky and trying out new ways of making arts and crafts. Next week is sketchbook making and I can’t wait.

February 2024

Well well well we made it to the end of February and what a month it's been! Going into February I had every intention of immersing myself in drawing, illustration was to be my bread and butter for the entire year. It was a good plan, solid, watertight. It was all working brilliantly….

But it seems the universe has a wicked sense of humour. Imagine my surprise when, in a Cinder's will go to the ball style twist of fate I got a phone call from the organisers of the Border's Art Fair, somebody has pulled out, will I be able to stand in at this short notice? How short a notice? Two weeks. HELL YEAH I WILL! Thank you universe.

This is fabulous news. I had applied as I do every year. In my geographical area it is one of the two biggest art events of the year. My application had been rejected. I had taken it on the chin, this was not my first, or my last I'll wager rejection. In fact I am aiming high this year, I am aiming for 100 rejections actually, alas that is a story for another day.

Just before Christmas I had resigned myself to the realisation that perhaps painting wasn't my calling. I was sick to death of selling and peddling, I wanted the experimentation and fun that the world of illustration offered. I then allowed my family to raid and pillage paintings. So I now have an art fair in 11 days and depleted stocks. Panic stations. I have had to hit the studio hard. But the most interesting thing is that the time spent looking and drawing and thinking has made me a much better painter in my eyes. It seems almost easy as if the paintings are painting themselves! Cinderella is going to the ball and with new stock she is proud of! Crazy days. I will let you know how it all pans out.

In other news, my 8 week block of workshops at Linkim Court residential housing in Eyemouth for Allanbank Arts has come to an end. It's bittersweet, I mean it could not have ended at a better time given the time constraints detailed above, but I really have had the best time, I could quite honestly do that job forever! I got to work with Emma Jones from the Wee Blue Press, there isn't anyone I would rather work with to be honest. The ladies were such a good group, they’re artistic, enthusiastic and downright hilarious! We’ve had such a laugh. This month we have done some monotype printing, sketchbook making (this was great because we got to use some of the beautiful papers we made in the first 4 weeks) and we made and decorated clay objects. The lovely ladies at Allanbank Arts are going to try and get some more funding so we can go back soon.

And that lovely people is a wrap for February, it's been emotional, not as emotional as January but emotional never the less. May you all have a lovely March, I will be back to let you know how I get on and what is occurring.

Thanks for reading!

Much love

Helen x

Here's one of my new paintings ‘morning light on the Cheviots’ and I would like to introduce you to my newest character Dave.

March 2024

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

April 2024

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.