What becomes visible when time gives us enough distance. There is a particular moment that sometimes happens when you are walking in the hills. You have been climbing for a while, head down, watching your footing and aware only of the ground immediately ahead and the effort in your legs. Then, without quite intending to, […]
On Carrying Something Heavy Across More Years Than You Expected. You know the feeling of a winter that has gone on too long. Not the beautiful part of winter, the crisp mornings, the early dark that makes the indoors feel warm and deliberate. The other part. The part that arrives in February when the cold […]
On Going Still When the World Carries On. Think of still water. Not the dramatic stillness of a frozen lake in winter, though that is part of it. The quieter kind, a pond on a windless afternoon, a harbour at low tide, a puddle on a grey morning that reflects the sky so perfectly you […]
On the Moment That Changes Everything Without Announcing Itself. Have you ever noticed how the most significant moments rarely arrive with any warning? There is no change in the weather. No particular quality of light that tells you to pay attention, that something is about to happen that you will carry for the rest of […]
On Dreaming, Knowing and the Life Lived Between. “We were them once.” An old friend said that. We were standing watching a group of young university students, full of noise and laughter and the particular kind of confidence that doesn’t yet know what it doesn’t know. And in four quiet words my friend said everything. […]
On What We Remember, What Happened and What the Distance Between Them. Imagine you are standing in a landscape you knew well a long time ago. A place that mattered to you. You have a clear picture of it in your mind, the colours, the scale of it, the feeling of being there. Now imagine […]
On Feeling That Travel Further Than We Do There is a particular kind of wondering that arrives quietly, often when you least expect it. You are going about an ordinary day, perhaps making tea, watching rain move across a window, walking a familiar road. and something surfaces. A feeling that belongs to another place entirely. […]
Between Two People – Connection, Distance and the Thread that Holds. Think of two points on a map. A long distance between them, perhaps a city, perhaps a country, perhaps an ocean. On paper they are simply coordinates, separate and unrelated. But draw a line between them and something changes. Suddenly there is a relationship. […]
Have you ever watched a season change and felt, just for a moment, that you were standing in two times at once? Here in the UK, you don’t even need to wait for a new season. A single summer’s day can do it. The morning arrives warm and generous, the kind that makes you believe […]
A series of abstract paintings and reflections on the spaces we all live between. Introduction Take any two points. They could be moments in time, then and now. They could be two people, separated by distance or years. They could be the person you were and the person you have become. They could be a […]
I finished the fourth painting. I wrote the fourth post. All bout the ‘Still Missing One Piece’ abstract painting series. Then, out of curiosity, I placed all four paintings side by side. I wanted to see whether, together, they hold a different story. Another journey. Something I hadn’t intended, but which had emerged anyway across […]
The fourth and final painting in the ‘Still Missing One Piece’ abstract art series. This is part 4, the final post, of the Still Missing One Piece abstract painting series. If you’re new here, welcome. You might enjoy starting from the beginning: Part 1: Missing Puzzle Piece: An Abstract Art Jigsaw Story We All Know, […]
The third painting in the ‘Still Missing One Piece’ abstract art series. This is Part 3 of the Still Missing One Piece abstract painting series, a collection of paintings. Each one is a separate story, the same ongoing search. If you’re new here, you might enjoy starting with Part 1: Missing Puzzle Piece: An Abstract […]
The second painting in the ‘Still Missing One Piece’ abstract art series. This is Part 2 of the ‘Still Missing One Piece abstract painting series. A collection of acrylic paintings, each one a separate story. The same ongoing search. If you’re new here, you might enjoy starting with Pat 1: Missing Puzzle Piece: An Abstract […]
Part 1 of the ‘Still Missing One Piece’ Series. You are almost there. Just one piece left. The table is covered in sorted shapes. The ones you sorted by edge, by colour, by that slightly obsessive system only you fully understand. The picture has slowly come together over hours, maybe days. You have defended this […]
Between November and December 2025, I uploaded four short YouTube videos showcasing my abstract paintings. Why did I make these DIY art videos? Honestly, I’m still not entirely sure. Curiosity, I suppose. That irresistible urge to try something new, even when you have no idea what you’re doing. This isn’t a tutorial or how -to […]
I set out two paint pots on my studio table. One black, one white. Two colours. Two voices. Two absolutes staring at each other across the workspace like opponents waiting for the bell to ring. Life keeps pushing us into either/or choices, doesn’t it? Yes or no. Stay or go. Light or dark. Right or […]
There’s a moment, just before you commit, when doubt creeps in. A few weeks ago, I was in my studio with six blank archival cards laid out before me. I made a decision that felt both reckless and necessary. I would paint with black only. No white to rescue me from mistakes. No new beginnings […]
Black and white abstract paintings strip away the emotional noise of colour, encouraging us to engage with something more fundamental: the raw interplay of light and shadow, the weight of silence, the pulse of contrast itself. They hold a deeper meaning because they refuse to tell us how to feel. And perhaps that’s exactly why […]
Ever stood in front of an abstract painting wondering, “What does this mean?” or “How do I choose the right piece for my home?” You’re not alone. Over my years as an abstract artist, these are the questions I’m asked most often. These 50 abstract art FAQs cover everything from understanding the fundamentals of non-representational […]
Many years ago, when I was still young at the beginning of my art journey, I showed my work to my uncle, who was a professional artist and calligrapher. He asked me: “So are you a painter or an artist?” At the time, I laughed it off. Weren’t they the same thing? But the question […]
Sometimes the most meaningful lessons emerge from the messiest moments. I’m sitting in my studio this grey Monday morning, looking back at canvases scattered around me, remnants of what’s been quite an interesting year of painting. There’s oil pastel dust under my fingernails (again), a palette knife waiting to be cleaned and that familiar ache […]
This blog post is about my abstract oil pastel series I called “Learning to Let Go”, which I made earlier this summer. There’s something liberating about holding a broken piece of oil pastel in your hand and realising you don’t need to throw it away. In fact, it might just create something more interesting than […]
A few weeks ago, with the start of summer here in the UK, I began my usual summer gardening routine. That day, kneeling in my son’s garden, I found myself not just battling stubborn weeds but having my perspective shifted entirely. As I pulled the greenery out by the roots, I paused. What lay beneath […]
How to Look at This Series Before we begin, here’s a simple way to explore my new abstract painting series, ‘Mirrors and Windows’: Take your time: Don’t rush. Let your eyes wander slowly over the canvas and notice where they pause. Notice your feelings first: Before trying to “understand” the paintings, pay attention to your […]
“Do we live vertically or do we live horizontally?” “Is there such a thing as vertical or horizontal living? A couple of peculiar questions popped into my head whilst I was wrestling with why I never feel quite right painting in horizontal orientation. My preference has always been to paint in a vertical format. Why? […]
The Colour That Lives Between Worlds Have you ever noticed how purple feels different from other colours? It’s not quite the calm of blue, yet it’s not the intensity of red either. Purple lives somewhere in between, like a deep breath that holds both stillness and energy. In my latest oil painting series, Purple Between […]
A few weeks ago, I began the journey of writing my personal memoir. As I wrote, I found myself drifting in and out of different periods, with some memories arriving vividly and others fading like distant echoes. This unpredictable nature of memory was what inspired my mixed media artwork What We Retain, What We Forget. […]
The other day, I came across a comment that really got me thinking: “Why don’t you like your art being criticised? Surely it helps you grow?” I couldn’t help but wonder: Can just anyone criticise art without proper knowledge? Or is it simply a matter of casual opinion? That raised a rather bigger question: What […]
A few days ago, I attended a brilliant hands-on workshop about framing your art at Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery. It’s right here in the heart of Redcar, Teesside, in the North East of England, and if you’ve read my recent post “Art Gallery Destinations UK: Discover Hidden Gems“, you’ll know I’m becoming quite fond of […]
When most people think about art gallery destinations UK, it’s usually the big names that come to mind. Places like London, Manchester or Edinburgh. But if you fancy something a bit different, something that feels a little more personal and full of local character, there’s a whole world of hidden gems just waiting to be […]
Let me ask you something. Have you ever looked at a painting online and thought, “Hmm… nice colours,” then moved on? But later, when you saw it in person, it hit you in the chest? Like suddenly, the painting was speaking and the photo had been mute? That difference… that shift… it’s all about texture […]
Selecting the perfect abstract art for your home can be both exciting and overwhelming. As someone passionate about artistic expression, I understand the questions that might be swirling in your mind. Should it reflect your personality? Should it evoke calm, energy or inspiration? Should it complement your décor?
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