A Happy Canvas

I'm writing this with a cup of Rooibos in hand, gazing out at vineyards, olive trees, and mountains, as I take a little break with my parents and my sister— the only person missing is my brother Sam. It's peaceful and beautiful here, and I’m reminded of the beauty of just being—which feels a lot like painting for the pure joy of it, when you're fully in the moment.

Since my brushes are on holiday too, I wanted to share a little moment from last week, instead. I donated a painting, Tomorrow’s Keepers, to the Kay Mason Foundation, and it raised £3,040 at their gala in London. That’s almost enough to fund a full year of education for a child in South Africa!

I was a little nervous to attend the gala, and so I decided to paint something for myself—a dress. I wanted to stand out, make some connections, and most importantly, have fun, so I hand-painted a sunflower design that was big and joyful.

The dress wasn’t for a series or a project; it was just something I wanted to do, something spontaneous and creative. And you know what? It worked! I met some amazing people, and I got to paint simply for the pleasure of it, and to remember that anything can be a canvas... even me.

I’ve also got exciting news for next week! If you've been following my nature nudes, you'll know that I’ll be releasing three new figure paintings in my newsletter on the 3rd of April, 2025. Which is next week! I can’t wait to share them with you.

Until then, I’m off for a run around the lemon and olive trees to find some inspiration for my final painting of the series. Wish me luck—it’s hilly out here.

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