I’m writing this blog post whilst at my last arts and craft market of the year, because I really want to get a post on my website before Christmas arrives!
The beginning of 2018 brought sadness and grief for my family, with the declining health and eventual death of my granddad. He was wonderfully kind and generous in spirit, a green-fingered and nature-loving man from rural Oxfordshire. His tales about encounters with wildlife were very entertaining and his knowledge about plants and animals was astounding! I found it very hard to concentrate on work for a while, but Spring tarrived and with it came new energy and optimism.
After a long, cold winter, Spring very quickly turned to Summer, an especially hot one! I absolutely loved the summer and even now whilst standing out on the Promenade in Cheltenham, I can still feel warmth in my bones from the summer sunshine. Much of the summer was spent working on trade orders for shops and galleries, and occasionally I went out and about to shows and events. I started making work for Christmas in June, and during the heatwave I could be found in my studio making snowflake decorations. Show and exhibition season began in September I have been out and about more than ever before, so I’m looking forward to a break over Christmas! It won’t last long though, as I will be exhibiting at Top Drawer in London in just a couple of weeks and have loads to do before then. I am also planning shows and events for 2019, so please check back again for news about shows I will attend. All that’s left to do this year is to thank everybody who has supported me along the way, and whether I have met you or not, it’s amazing to know there are so many people out there who like my work enough to buy it and allow me to continue making full time and really live the dream!