I was thrilled to hear this week that my diptych 'In the detail' has been selected from 450+ submissions to be shown in the Chaiya Art Awards exhibition 29 March - 8 April 2018.
The UK’s newest theme based biennial art award has a top prize of £10,000 and this year’s awards will be held at London’s prestigious gallery@oxo located on the busy South Bank Riverside.
The exhibition theme is:

Here are the words I submitted with my piece:
"In each act of kindness, each spark of inspiration, every expression of forgiveness - God is in the detail.
In our creativity, in unexpected provision, the symmetries of nature – God is in the detail.
The smile of a stranger, giggles of a toddler, the beauty of birdsong – God is in the detail.
The design of your fingerprint, the intricacies that hold the universe in perfect balance – God is in the detail.
He is all around, in each moment, waiting for us to see him in the detail."

I had a fantastic time at Arbury Primary School last week and wanted to share with you what I've been up to.

Each year the school spend a whole week studying an artist and one of their paintings. This year they took it a step further - they invited the artist into the school to paint the picture in front of them. That artist was me!

My picture was called 'Take my hand' and was inspired by one of their favourite songs 'Right to be Loved' by Song Academy. I started painting the picture on stage in their assembly, projected onto the screen with all 450 of them singing along! I worked on the picture all morning as classes took turns to take a closer look and I invited each child to draw a circle round the edge. Here is the video (using a different song for copyright reasons).

Once finished, my painting was hung along with other examples of my work in an exhibition in the school entrance. I created a montage of some of the layers used in the picture to aid follow up written and art work.

Next I visited each year group to introduce myself properly. I showed them my tools and materials, they asked me lots of very good questions, and I planned with them the pictures we would create later in our workshops.
I gave them the titles of Happy, Love, Peace, Kindness, Excited, Thankful & Hope, and they decided which colours, shapes, lines and marks would suit their theme. 

Each year group (60 children) collaborated on a giant painting which they created in 6 groups of 10 that worked on 6 layers over the course of an hour, using the same techniques, tools and materials I use.
1. pencil lines & squirting paint 2. squeegees & handprints 3. sticker stencils with sponges
4. shape prints 5. sticker stencils with sponges 6. pencil lines & squirting paint

I videoed them at work from above and created mini timelapse movies for them, set to music like mine.
Links to these are on the school website side menu bar here

We ended up with 7 big beautiful paintings each measuring 1.5m square.

I provided suggestions of cross curricular lessons that teachers could do during the week in response to my visit and was thrilled to hear of the extra work I inspired - a couple of boys choreographed a dance, children discussed what colours different emotions would look like, one class bought a canvas to paint together, another responded using batik. Parents were talking about art activities developing at home throughout the week, and even some of the teachers were prompted to start painting in their spare time!

I was definatley in need of a rest by the end of the week, but it was such an encouraging & rewarding experience

Every year the school participates in 'Take One Picture', a National Gallery project aimed at encouraging school pupils to interact with and be inspired by art. In the last few years they have studied Renoir, Hokusai, Klee and Seurat. This morning the teacher reminisced with the children about these pictures concluding with "and THIS is the picture we will be focussing on this year" - showing a blank canvas! "I'm showing you a blank picture because it's a picture that hasn't even been painted yet! In fact it's a picture that is going to be painted right in front of you all here in school!.. Not everyone will have heard of this artist yet but one person in this school knows her very well" Esme (my 6 year old) puts her hand up "It's my mum" she says and stands up in front of the whole school, fit to burst with joy!

So I will start my week (after half term) by painting on top of a giant canvas on the school stage in front of 450 people, with an aerial view projected onto a large screen. Every pupil in the school will take it in turns to come onto the stage, look closely and make their own mark on my painting.
Once completed the painting will be displayed in an exhibition of my work in the school entrance hall and I will edit a video of it's creation for the classes to use. The week will include a 'meet the artist' session where I will take my materials to each class, discuss my approach and answer their questions, and an 'artist workshop' where each child will contribute to one of 7 large collaborative pieces created with me using my techniques and concepts.
I have created a sheet of ideas for teachers to develop the themes of my work in a variety of curriculum subjects throughout the week (from poetry, to dance, history to maths and science). The week will conclude with a school exhibition of the work the children produce in response to meeting me and my artwork.

I don't know about you but my summer was so busy I'm only just now catching up with things, just in time for half term! Although David's Tent happened on the last weekend of August, it's now in October that I've got round to sharing about it with you. Better late than never as they say. I had a fantastic time in this, my 3rd year, and thought you'd like to hear about it.

In my last post (part one) I shared about my preparations for my very first Cambridge Open Studio weekend – well it's been and gone, so it's now time to tell you all about the event it's self... how it looked, how it went and whether I'll do it again!

First we had to turn our home into a gallery space – this video makes it look a LOT easier than it was!

Tidying, cleaning, hanging, labelling…. and this was the result…

Many people were disappointed not to be able to come so I created a couple of videos

I was only able to do the 1st weekend and was concerned that all my effort would be in vein if no-one knew about my event, so I worked hard with advertising and it really paid off.
I actually felt it had been worth taking part in this years Cambridge Open Studios before the weekend even arrived due to all the exposure and contacts I made. I was on Cambridge 105 radio, in the Cambridge News and Cambridge Independent newspapers, in Cambridge Magazine (p129) & got to paint live at 2 COS promo events, not to mention social media!

I have also really enjoyed joining this community of artists, finding a new group of people who I can support and encourage in their artistic endeavours (even those who've been successfully doing this for decades need encouragement), it's been so easy and enjoyable to bless other artists.

As for my little weekend I had 161 visitors, took a good number of sales and have 40+ people to add to my mailing list. Particularly exciting were all the potential projects I've been invited to do or made contact with: from community arts, to ArtBNB, artist in residence and workshop opportunities, to performance art invitations.

INTERACTION
I loved inviting people into my home, talking about my work and hearing their feedback. I was excited to see all my work together, it was evident that I've developed my own style and voice for myself. Everyone commented on the vibrancy of my colours and the repeated use of circles!

Here are some of the wonderful comments in my visitors book:

• conveys a sense of total freedom and joy
• inspired, joyous, unique, exciting, an explosion of colour. So uplifting!

• I especially loved the happiness of each painting.
• So lovely to be able to feel the emotions and hope behind the pictures
• absolutely awesome work! Love it!! I feel so inspired – thank you!
• a very colour happy space, thank you for inspiring creativity!
  

I've certainly learnt a few things

1. I thought I was an organised person but I ran out of time (despite pulling an all nighter)! I didn't get titles on pictures until my Private View was over. I gave up on neatening the edges of my work and varnishing canvases and I only managed to mount 1 or 2 pieces rather than the 20+ I had hoped to make available for purchase
   
2. I ran out of change to give people on day one
3. I had a rota of helpers so that I could be down the garden in my studio some of the time and this was a life saver
4. Although I was terrified doing a radio interview it really helped me to get used to talking about my work. This aided me in knowing what to say to people during the weekend. In future I think I'll write myself a script as if preparing for an interview by way of getting my head round things again!
   
5. I did a Private View on the Friday night for invited guests which was a really good way of warming up to the weekend – a gentle but celebratory start.
6. It seems to make a difference having a bright colourful thumbnail in the guide book – many people mentioned that it had stood out to them. Also the fact that I had crochet as well as paintings made me a bit different and maybe stand out from the crowd
   
7. It was a lot of work for just one weekend and although it will be a challenge with child care we think that 2 weekends would be better.

YES I will DEFINATELY do it again. I'm utterly exhausted but it was such a rewarding experience!
I'm already thinking about doing a Christmas one!

This will be my first year taking part in Cambridge Open Studios and I thought you'd like to share in the experience. In part one I'll talk you through what I've done to prepare (publicity, artwork and exhibition space) and then part two will be the event it's self (how it looks, how it goes and whether I'll do it again!).

I started filling my artist page on the COS website and making plans to maximise my investment in this adventure. I was limited to only doing 1 of the 4 weekends, as my 3 daughters all have birthdays spread across July but  I decided that 1 is better than none and I'd just have to try and make the most of it.

Because I paint live regularly, I create a lot of paintings, so I have no worry about having enough work to exhibit. Infact my challenge will be working out where to display it all!  A few weeks ago I got all my pictures out and spread them around the downstairs of my house, working out a plan. This helped me to think about practicalities of lighting, hanging, furniture, the state of the windows, signage etc. I then had some decisions to make about what and how many prints to get made. I am keen to provide visitors with a good range of price options so that my work is accessible in some way to everyone. When only exhibitting for one weekend and not having done this before it's hard to know what number of prints to get made up. I have decided (rightly or wrongly) this time to provide examples of each size and to take orders rather than spending a fortune on what might not be sold.

• I have had a few pictures scanned professionally and made into limited edition giclee canvas & paper prints by PhotoArtGB, having my huge floor pieces professionally photographed by Focus 5 Photography before being printed
• The rest of my work I've photographed myself and will get some poster prints made by Plan-it Reprographics. I've also used Hello Canvas to print some of my digital art and Vista Print to make some postcards
• I've purchased the tools to have a go at learning to mount my paper pieces and aim to varnish all my canvas paintings.

I still have a lot to do to get ready and I'm sure there will be things I learn through making mistakes this time, but I'm actually really excited about taking part in my first Cambridge Open Studios!

This Saturday I did a LIVE ART demonstration at the Town & Country Show (Parkers Piece, Cambridge), as part of the Cambridge Open Studios publicity stand. A select few of the 350 artists taking part in COS this year were there with me handing out guides and balloons, while I got to play with paint in public! Actually it wasn't until I arrived that it dawned on me that I'd not only be watched by passers by but would also be observed by the other artists (who seemed fascinated with my techniques and process)!
Next to where I worked I had one of my completed pictures on display and also the video of the BIG LIVE ART I did in town the previous Saturday playing on my ipad.

I really enjoyed interacting with people as I painted. Dialogue ranged from sharing my simple techniques with children and encouraging them to have a try at home, to giving business advice on an interesting idea someone had, to discussions about potential for my art in community projects, to apparently solving someone's bathroom decorating dilemmas! As well as cool conversations I hope my efforts also result in increasing the number of visitors I get at my Cambridge Open Studios event - on Sat 1st & Sun 2nd July.

I painted 2 pictures over the 3 1/2 hours (adding finishing touches at home), these paintings are part of my Serendipity series (#3&4) and will be on sale in my exhibition in July. I took a timelapse video of my experience so I could share it with you. It's pretty fast moving so if you have any questions about my art process, just ask : )

Here are the finished pictures (acrylic on canvas 16x16")

I will be painting LIVE again in 2 weeks time on Saturday 24th June in Cambridge city centre: from ~1.30pm around Sidney Street creating BIG LIVE ART (a huge floor piece to music) and then from ~3.30pm in the Cambridge Open Studios publicity gazebo in Market Square, working on an easel. Come and say hello!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to make sure you don't miss my future art videos.

This has also been shared today as a guest blog post for 'Science and Belief'

I am repeatedly amazed how powerfully God speaks through his creation. Its vastness and intricacies whisper from God to anyone who will listen ‘I created you, I know your every detail, and love you so much’. In moments when I’ve felt lost I’ve walked by the shore and found that the expanse of the sea awakens a trust and renewed security in the one who is greater than I. At my lowest point looking up and counting the tiny stars in the black canopy above reminded me of God’s sovereignty, and all the happiest times in my life have embraced my senses with special smells, touches, tastes, sounds and sights, handcrafted by our creator God, helping memories to linger.

HOLY OVERSHADOWING, 2016

You, God, shield me on all sides, you ground my feet and you lift my head. Rested, tall and steady. Your blessing clothes your people, what a feast of favour and bliss you give us!
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Psalm 3:3

In this piece I have used shapes similar to seeds, pods and cells which represent a person’s soul or inner self, their potential and their vulnerability. I have used symbolic colours, the contrast between the hugeness of God (blue sky) and our fragility (flesh pink), between the mundane (pavement grey) and the supernatural (sunshine yellow/gold). The overshadowing of God’s holiness is represented by a star constellation-type cloud. This speaks of God’s protection and sheltering. He is our safe place and the lifter of our head.

DUCKS IN A ROW, 2017
The Lord directs our steps, he delights in every detail of our lives. Though we stumble, we will never fall, for the Lord holds us by the hand.
                                                                                                                                                                                                            Psalm 37:23

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt 6:33

This speaks of God being a God of order and detail. As we rest in him, focus on him, trust him, he takes care of everything else. Spend time at his feet, bring your perfume, bring your tears, bring your attention, come as you are.
This painting is inspired by God’s incredible attention to detail within his beautiful and ordered creation. He knows the number of hairs on our head, he calls the stars by name, he saw us in our mother’s womb. The tiny spots of colour and splashes of light reflect the intricacies of his care, creativity and sovereignty. From dust particles that catch the sunlight and blossom petals that fall with the breeze, to the equations and calculations that hold the whole universe in perfect balance.

YET STILL, 2017
Though the cherry trees don’t blossom, the strawberries don’t ripen, the apples are worm eaten and the wheat fields stunted. Though the sheep pens are sheepless and cattle barns empty. YET STILL I will sing joyful praise to God, rejoicing in the God of my salvation. He is my strength.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Habakkuk 3
Even in my disappointment I will praise you, Even in my hopeless places I will give thanks.
                                                                                                                                                Lyrics from ‘Overcomer’ by Lucy Grimble

This painting is about giving a sacrifice of praise. There are times when joyfulness and worship are easy, and times when it’s a choice, a decision. My painting shows ‘bubbles’ of praise rising upwards, one after the other, layer on layer. A pouring of ourselves, a praising through tears (I have dripped paint and wiped it like tears) From the sorrowful cloudy-day greys, to quiet hopes of light blue skies & new-shoot greens, then on to transformation and strengthening joy (represented by the brighter colours of flowers). Blistering type marks symbolise perseverance.


I am particularly drawn to the each end of the spectrum of God’s creation. I wrote earlier about the comfort I’ve found gazing at the sea and the stars, but my other favourite places are behind the macro lens of my camera, lying in the dirt observing raindrops caught in the hairs on a leaf, or poring through my husband’s medical text books at images taken through microscopes. So I’ll end with a poem that I wrote after sketching and meditating on the teeny tiny things that God has made.

MAGNITUDE OF MINUTIAE

Seeing beyond, beneath, behind

Drawing out detail
Calling out the gold
Connections
Paradigm of the lovely

Always more
Unnoticed, untold
Acknowledged and significant
The magnitude of the minutiae
No stone unturned
Extravagant play in obscurity
Intricacy shouts glory, shouts holy, shouts worthy
Intimacy singing songs of love
Passion to communicate
You entered the minuscule
Deepest needs met
Pardoned, made whole
Understood, with purpose
Accepted, adored, aghast
Held in your delight
Embraced in the detail.