In this post, I share the completed results of my first large-scale acrylic and mixed media paintings on wood panel. It's been both challenging and exhilarating to scale up my contemporary botanical painting. Inspired by wildflowers, seed heads and shifting coastal light, I reflect on process, materials and the joy of letting paintings grow intuitively from layered colour, texture and mark-making.

Over the cold winter months, I’ve been exploring mixed media botanical drawing as a way to capture the vibrant forms of garden flowers. Using a combination of charcoal, coloured pastels, ink washes, and collage, I’ve been able to carve out delicate flower shapes while keeping a sense of depth and context in the background. This approach allows me to study each bloom closely and experiment with colour, light, and texture in ways that traditional methods sometimes can’t.

I’m exploring bold, large-scale abstract botanical paintings, stretching my practice from printmaking to expressive garden-inspired work. From Rosebay Willowherb to Alliums, I’m balancing recognizable floral forms with abstraction, playing with light, colour, and mark-making. These works-in-progress capture the thrill of growth, risk-taking, and creative discovery.

I’m excited to share a new series of Lindisfarne Castle monotypes, exploring a single composition in multiple ways. Inspired by the changing dawn light on Holy Island, Northumberland, each print captures subtle shifts in colour, reflection, and atmosphere. Through repetition and translucent layers of ink, I explore how one subject can reveal endless moods and moments, from still waters to shimmering sunlight on the sea.