Shadows on the wall

Shadows on the wall

I love ivy, and I love shadows, so I had to draw these pretty heart-shaped ivy leaves and their dark shadows cast on an old wall.
Pumpkin or squash?

Pumpkin or squash?

Whether squash or pumpkin, this rather splendid and very heavy specimen was a welcome gift which will probably become soup. However I couldn’t take a knife to it before drawing it. I love it’s solidity, the thick stalk, the ridges of the sections, the speckled flesh...
Who invented paper?

Who invented paper?

It is unlikely you will recognise what this drawing depicts. It’s actually part of an incredibly delicate and fragile wasps’ nest found in our attic. It’s made of a kind of paper which the wasps make from timber. This little piece looks like a tiny bowl, curling round...
By the Ebble

By the Ebble

We are lucky enough to live by the beautiful chalk stream, the river Ebble. I found a peaceful spot today to enjoy it, and make a sketch. The water wound its way between banks full of foliage, dried stems, seed heads and ivy. By I’m told there are otters on the river....
Looking at the back

Looking at the back

The more you look, the more you see. Sometimes it’s difficult to know when to stop drawing. I’m calling it a day with this sweet pea. I often think the back of a flower is as interesting as the front. The star shaped calyx, the bend of the stem and the delicate...
Keeping vampires at bay

Keeping vampires at bay

This one might be a bit divisive, but for  those of us who love it, garlic is definitely a delight. I wouldn’t want to be without hummus, or a garlicky tomato sauce, and garlic is said to have lots of health benefits.  In the markets in France, there are...