Hi Reader, Bookings are now open for my next European painting holiday in 2026, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally share this with you! We’ll be based at Hotel Leone, a beautifully restored 500 year old palazzo. It's now a boutique hotel nestled between the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic coast. Each day, we’ll explore quaint villages, sketch sunlit piazzas and landscapes, and enjoy amazing local food and wine. We’ll paint on location and in the hotel’s private studio, with...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Exciting news! My 2026 painting retreat in France is now open for bookings - just for my email subscribers! ✨ This year’s retreat filled up quickly, and I expect 2026 to be no different. If you’ve ever dreamed of sketching in the stunning French countryside, exploring charming villages, and sharing meals with fellow artists, this is your chance! We’ll spend nine unforgettable days at Perigord Retreats, where our wonderful hosts, Harrison & Katel, make the experience truly special....
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Paint your travels – join me for a watercolour retreat in 2025! FRANCE : June FULLY BOOKED The charming villages, sun-drenched landscapes, and inspiring locations make this retreat an absolute dream… and it filled up fast! With full days of sketching, exploring, and painting on location, this retreat is always an incredible creative adventure. Drop me an email to be added to the waiting list. MORE DETAILS ITALY : October Golden light, rolling hills, and historic streets—Tuscany is...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Imagine spending a week painting in beautiful Tuscany! I’m excited to announce that I’ve been invited by the Steinberg family to host a painting holiday on their beautifully restored property, Hortulanus, this October. Located in the Seggianese region in Tuscany, it’s an absolutely gorgeous place in the perfect location. Overlooking Castle Potentino and opening its gaze on the pretty village of Seggiano, Hortulanus is a tranquil paradise of beautiful gardens and century old olive...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, This summer I've been fascinated by the meadows around my home. The grass is high and full of texture and colour that changes week by week. To capture this I could paint lots and lots of lines and marks, then paint the flowers with gouache, but it's more interesting and fun to use splashes, scratches and salt to create the texture. Read on... Pass the salt One way I enjoy adding marks and texture to my watercolours is by adding salt into the wet wash. I don't use anything fancy,...
10 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Today on Patreon I created a Rustic Buildings Series. This group of watercolour tutorials takes you right through from the beginning with skills lessons, then 2 intermediate lessons, an advanced one and finally a guided challenge to do on your own. Here's what's in the series... Skills : old wood & corrugated iron (video) Skills : stonework & brickwork (video) Intermediate : old door (video) Intermediate : a barn in a meadow of summer wild flowers (step by step) Advanced : sunlit...
11 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, My retreat in France for next year is now fully booked, so now I'm excited to announce a new painting holiday in Portugal. 5 wonderful days in the charming Monsaraz region. The village of Monsaraz is charged with history. It is one of the oldest settlements in southern Portugal, dating from pre-historic times. We'll explore the town, painting on location, and fill our sketchbooks with wonderful memories. I'll be teaching in a dedicated studio as well. We’ll have fun sketching and...
11 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader It's the second anniversary of my Patreon today. It feels rather momentous and I'm grateful to everyone who supports me in this way. 🥂🥂🥂 I've added new content added every week, and there are now over 120 posts - video tutorials, step-by-step lessons, guided challenges and detailed articles answering common questions. To celebrate this anniversary, today I've put a free lesson - join me in painting this very pretty summer lighthouse. I explain everything in detail, so you can easily...
12 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader June is for France! I can't imagine it any other way. I'm just back from guiding 10 days in southern France, sharing my love of painting outdoors with a small group of people. Enjoying the charming countryside, vibrant local markets and beautiful, medieval villages, we immersed ourselves in the beauty and culture of this enchanting region. Our days were filled with inspiration, creativity, and laughter. We captured so many memories in our sketchbooks. On my blog today I share...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read