What piece are you most proud of selling, and what story does it tell?

I remember selling one of my peacock prints to a lovely man at a local art market. He was looking for something special for his sons who had just moved into his own home. He saw the peacock and loved it. He walked around the market and came back for it. I was overjoyed at how he was pulled back to it among so many beautiful pieces and it was the first print I sold to someone outside of my friends and family group.

7 LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM 7 YEARS IN A CREATIVE BUSINESS

A gorgeous gem of a beach tucked out of the way of the wind but seconds from the cafes, bars and shops, King Edward Bay is the perfect place to visit for families with small children that like to wander. Give them space without worrying that they’ll walk out of sight.

So called because it stretches about a mile Longsands is great for a decent leg stretch and you get the awesome scenery to go with it too. It’s a popular beach and can get really busy at a weekend - especially when the sun comes out. It’s popular with families, students and dog walkers alike and the area surrounding it has a lot to offer. Read on for some of my favourite picks.

Whitley Bay is a glorious part of the world that offers incredible sea views, independent shops and eateries and family entertainment by the bucketload.

The sea air is intoxicating, the family atmosphere is heart warming and the work they have done to reinvigorate the town and promenade area over the last 20 years has transformed it from a dilapidated hen and stag do venue to a celebration of all things local and northern.

Read on for some of my suggestions of fabulous places to visit on a day out in Whitley Bay and see my top picks.

Towards the end of 2023, I was working away on a new print and now it’s time to tell you the story of how it came to life.

Tumbling is a celebration of the wild waves of the North Sea. I went to stay in Beadnell and we were greeted with Storm Babet. Some people may see this as a time to hide away and stay cosy but I’m not one of those people. Instead I collected my sketchbook and watercolours and headed out to explore.

On the face of it, art could be considered a pretty wasteful occupation however, I aim to operate low waste systems.

I do this by recycling test prints and misprints into collages and cleaning my tools using vegetable oil rather than harsh chemicals as well as being very careful about the materials that I choose in the first place.

My prints are designed to last - I’m not into fast fashion and wasteful interiors. Find out more…

Our first planned stop in Barcelona was Sagrada Familia - perhaps the ultimate collaborative project. The brain child of Antoni Gaudi and continued by various, sometimes controversial, architects, this impressive ongoing build is full of story and details and designed to represent all people and creatures.

It blew our mind that it only opened as a working church 13 years ago. My favourite part of it was the stained glass and how the colours spilled in and moved around with the changing light.

It’s that time of year again - time for the new Christmas collection.

This time I’ve gone for a gorgeous jewel green with copper print and edging.They’re classy and understated - classics that will last you years and years.

Made from a 10cm plywood base, hand painted and handprinted then finished with twine, these beautiful ornaments are hardwearing and beautiful - perfect for homes with children or pets (Last year one of my customers’ trees was knocked over by their dog and the ornaments were completely unscathed - the tree was a little worse for wear though!).

Over 150 artists and celebrities are coming together lead by Sarah Graham to make a real difference to people battling mental health issues. Find out how!

What is ‘Samarivans’?

Artist Sarah Graham, who is heading up this amazing project, is very open about the fact that The Samaritans have supported her through some very dark times as she’s battled Bipolar disease. She has now be episode free for 4 years (at time of publishing) and thanks The Samritans for their support of more than one occasion.

Buying a piece of art is a very personal process. You may have fallen in love with an artist’s style but have something particular in mind that they haven’t shown on their website. That’s where commissions come in!

Commissioning a piece of art (in my case a bespoke Lino print) is a great way to get EXACTLY what you want. It costs a little more but nobody else will have it and you will be able to chat directly with the artist (me - a real human) about what you’re looking for in as much detail as you have nailed down.

here’s how it worked with my client, Raymond…

If you’re planning your wedding and wondering what to put on your wedding gift list then this is the article for you. Many of us already live with our other half before we get married and already have the usual newly wed gifts (the plates, toasters and towels).

What you want is something beautiful to remember the generosity of your guests by. Read on for my top three ideas to achieve this.

Gallery Wall for Newly Weds

Bespoke Commission For a Married Couple

Gift Vouchers to Choose Your Own Art

Working on bespoke commissioned linocuts is a really wonderful part of what I do. Creating something truly unique to someone’s brief results in my clients getting exactly what they want and means that nobody else has anything like it. What could be better?

Step into a world where the beauty of Tynemouth Longsands and Whitley Bay Beach comes alive through art, where wavy lines and seasonal colours converge to create captivating and timeless Lino prints. I am thrilled to introduce my latest collection of limited edition Lino prints, inspired by the ever-changing seasons and the rhythmic patterns of the North Sea.

Children are humans NOT numbers on a spreadsheet and I think that the government have forgotten that - so mistrusting of the professionals who actually know what they’re talking about. The Ofsted culture driven by a government mostly run by people who never worried where there next meal was coming from or how their parents would pay for the school trip renders those who control education so far removed from what children need.

From an early age, I loved to create. Whether it was drawing, sewing collaging or any other media for that matter, I have always been happiest when creating.

One cold October (in 2017 I think), I saw an event listing for the Ouseburn Open Studios. I’d seen it before but been nervous to go along (there was the anxiety that I didn’t realise I had in buckets). It was fun looking around people’s studios and getting to see how they were set up but the real lightbulb moment came when we went Northern Print.

I started creating Lino prints as a hobby on my kitchen in January 2018. I’d been a mum for long enough to realise that I had lost sense of what made me tick and needed to do something for myself.

It’s now April 2023 and I’m 5 years into selling my art (something that just kind of happened) and my style has changed massively over that period of time.

Let me take you through this changes…

Decorating the Christmas tree is when I get fully into the Christmas spirit. There have been years when I’ve felt so drained and fed up with work that my husband had bought the tree early because it totally changes me!

Without fail, I always follow the same pattern when decorating the tree (whether it’s the family tree or the one I dress for my launch photos). They are:

• Level the tree

• Lights

• Ornaments

• Topper

I am so excited to show you my new Christmas range because I know you’re going to love it and it will fit so well with your existing ornaments collection.

It’s clean and luxurious with a combination of white and copper!

There are many different types of printmaking - from the crude potato cuts that children do in their early years to more sophisticated methods such as:

• Monotype

• Linocut

• Etching

• Woodblock

My preferred method that of Linocut, although I occasionally dabble in monotype. I get an enormous amount of pleasure from being a Lino print artist and want to share my experience with you.

Before getting into what a reduction print is, let’s make sure we understand the basic form.