Notes from Northumberland
The story of a self-taught illustrator and designer living in England’s most northerly county
Warm up your walls - my Mid-Winter Art Print Sale is here!
As the winter chill stretches endlessly before us, now is the perfect time to cosy up your space with some artistic warmth. And what better way to do that than with my Mid-Winter Art Print Sale?!
What preparing for Christmas looks like in our house
I really enjoy the run up to Christmas, as I’m a natural list-maker and organiser. I love getting cosy at home with the wood burner on and the smells of Christmas baking and cooking, or venturing out into town or to local events with twinkling lights and good company.
Introducing: My Coastal Birds of North Northumberland Collection
Regularly spotting so many coastal birds is the inspiration behind my newest collection, celebrating seven species that can often be seen here. The collection features detailed watercolour and pen illustrations of Arctic Terns, Brent Geese, Cormorants, Eider Duck, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper and Puffins.
Top 5 car-free days out from Berwick-upon-Tweed: For Nature Lovers
With coast and countryside literally on the doorstep, Berwick-upon-Tweed makes an ideal base for exploring a wide range of natural habitats and - as a car-free family - we’ve made the most of the excellent rail and bus connections to get out and about a bit further afield.
Bloody Geranium - the county flower of Northumberland
You can tell I'm a fan of the Bloody Cranesbill, as I included it in my logo - I wanted to demonstrate that a lot of my work is inspired by the natural environment of Northumberland and that I tend to draw detailed pen illustrations - and this flower answers that admirably.
Behind the scenes: Creating my ‘A herring is the fish for me’ collection
Did you know that that infamous breakfast dish - the kipper - is a smoked herring? But why did I choose a herring as the inspiration for my latest artwork?
All the things I thought about when deciding to sell my illustrations as prints and gifts
We all need beautiful things, made with care for people and the planet, and thoughtfully curated