Wilmslow Art Trail 2016 in Pictures

This past weekend has seen me sat in a pub for three days. Not unusual for some, you may think, though this past weekend I've been in with the good folk at Brewhouse and Kitchen who have been my host venue as part of Wilmslow Art Trail, where various artists and craftspeople have taken over venues across the normally sleepy town...

To be honest, I'd never done such a thing and had no idea what to expect- my paranoia of being on display and in the public eye with other professionals in a place new to me made me all kinds of productive! I hadn't painted on a canvas in probably 10 years, but I did. I knocked up some screen printed cushions from an older drawing, I'd been meaning to for ages. I launched my new A to Z Wall Hangings, I'm very excited about. I painted my heart out on wooden blocks and got out of my jeans and into a dress, for heavens sake!

The feedback and encouragement from everyone who came to see my work along the trail was just fantastic, and I feel like I live in Wilmslow a bit more now, which is nice. Thanks so much to everyone who came along and said hello, and of course to those who organised the event and to The Brewhouse for having me!

S x

Mural Artworks & all change

My poor, neglected blog! I can only apologize...all is well over here, I've had my head down keeping busy and we've since moved to Wilmslow, Cheshire after Lionhead Studios, where my partner worked was closed down. After being entirely stumped having just settled into Farnham quite nicely, thank you, It's luckily turned out to be a change for the better. I'm a firm believer of 'everything happens for a reason', (I have to be!) So now I'm here, enjoying walks in the green Cheshire countryside and the awe-inspiring Peaks, and everything wonderful Manchester on our doorstep has to offer...I want to go to North Wales, I want to go to Yorkshire, I want to go to Cumbria...so much of the North to explore!

I'm still settling in and keen to get back to business! I've been creating and photographing lots of nice new work for my online shop, thinking about Wilmslow Art Trail in October (and Christmas, gulp!) and finally adding the mural work I've done earlier this year to my website. Hook me up if you've any recommendations in the area or if you'd like one of my murals for your very own- I'm dying to do some private commissions for kids bedrooms and cafes and schools and such! 

Until next time, 

S x

p.s. I'm over on Instagram, follow me there for a more regular correspondence! 

Cream Teas & Good Causes

A date for your diary! I'll be bringing my art & wares to the Cotswold Farm Gardens near Cirencester, Saturday 11th July for National Star's Summer Cream Tea & Crafts Fair, 11-4pm. It'll be lovely to see you there in this beautiful spot, for a very worthwhile cause. 

All money raised will allow National Star to continue working with people with disabilities, enabling them to live their lives independently and to the full.

Advance Tickets – £7 (includes entrance & cream tea)
Tickets on the day – £8 (includes entrance & cream tea)

(You can also buy your tickets in store at Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre)

http://www.nationalstar.org/event/cream-tea-and-craft-fayre/

Hope to see you there, S x

Project: The A-Z of Gloucestershire at Gloucester Services

I've been back at Westmorland's Gloucester Services on the M5 working on an illustrated A-Z of Gloucestershire for the restaurant area there. They interviewed me last week about the project over on their blog...

How did you begin the design process with the A-Z?

I worked with Westmorland on creating an A-Z of 'their Gloucestershire', including local landmarks, species and charities they work closely alongside. I wanted the designs to be simple but informative so they'd make a real impact from a distance in the services, and not too obvious- conversation starters! My designs start as hand-drawings, which I then place together and visualize on my laptop. The designs are finalized and I've now been busy on site painting them onto the walls of the cafe. Working on a project about home in Gloucestershire was a real pleasure, and cured a little pang of homesickness as I started the design work for it whilst I was still over in Finland!

There's no rest for the wicked, I'm onto the petrol station and butchers over there this week! You can see and hear about the rest of my mural work here. Will keep you posted...