Noticing nature

Iam passionately in love with two things – nature and art. If I am not outside exploring the wild spaces of Suffolk, I am at home painting and sketching. For a long time, I thought these two parts of my life were disconnected, separately jostling for my attention.

But now, I have come to see nature in a whole new light and have realised that my love for art and nature are heavily intertwined. When I look closely at the formation of tree bark or watch the way birds flutter around my bird feeders, I take these experiences back with me to my drawing desk. Then as I look at a blank piece of paper in front of me, images emerge. My focus is on the brush and paint, as I capture the essence of the natural world through my art. The next time I step outside, I notice the delicate lines of a cobweb, the streamlined silhouette of a swift or the many colours in a reflection on the water. Inspiration for my next piece is already forming in my mind.

Each interaction with nature informs my art, and my artistic eye gives me a whole new perspective on what it means to be connected to nature. I have learnt to appreciate the everyday, casual encounters with wildlife, as opposed to just the rare and exotic.