Well 2020 has been quite a challenge! There have been times when painting has been the very last thing on my mind and I have thought I might never paint again, then painting has been my therapy, it has been my distraction and my purpose at times and I am so grateful to have it.

I started the year with the news I had been selected to paint a huge Ram as part of the Derby Ram Trail. I got working on it in early March and managed to get his head completed just before Lockdown. The trail has now been moved to 2021 and I hope to get working on it again early next year.

Mid summer I was commissioned by the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site to illustrate a booklet for children to help them understand the history and importance of this beautiful area. It was fun, challenging and educational to me, I feel like I know so much more about the Derwent Valley. The booklet can be seen here on the children’s guide pages.

I have also been painting coastal illustrations, these have been my therapy. I firstly painted Looe, we went there on holiday last year and the place is so beautiful I knew I wanted to paint it at some point. I also painted Polperro which we also visited last year on a long coastal path walk from Looe. I cant wait to be able to go on holiday again free from restrictions and fear but in the mean time I will keep on painting happy memories.