Nature Based Art
I am an artist and designer, living and working in Northumberland. I create nature based art using ink and watercolour, mainly in small concertina sketchbook journals. I provide workshops which mainly focus on how to create nature journal ands provide tuition on drawing techniques, painting and observing nature.
What a stunning piece of artwork produced by one of the students from the North Shields Library
I focus on the individual to ensure that they are not copying my work but developing their own voice and creative style which they can take forward and develop themselves.
I mainly run workshops, but also take on commissions to create illustrations and special projects across the north east and Cumbria. I am also running activity holidays coaching how to create and keep a nature journal going.
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.
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.
An example of the simple “chapbook Journal” I use when teaching Journalling.
