It’s not always easy getting on my bike in the morning, and certainly not after a long day at work, but 10 minutes in I know I’ll feel better. The potential to see wonderful, beautiful and occasionally really surprising things is much greater when you’re in the environment, not looking at it from behind glass. This is alongside the A50 dual carriageway near the M1 roundabout.

Once a year I work as a dogsitter in a tiny Austrian village, out of season. There’s nothing to do but climb mountains, and nothing gives you perspective like a mountain.

Fantastic memories away from everything together, I feel better when on the beach!

I really enjoy taking close ups, I love the texture’s

I love it when life shows me something unexpected, a nice surprise.

I feel better when I walk on a beach and absorb the beautiful scenery.

I always feel better when out with Tony!

Visited an art studio in Birmingham and thought what a great view of the sky. I love to look out of windows and admire the beautiful sky

Taken at Rutland Water I picked up a pretty stone. It was shaped as an heart. I smiled took photo and thought I have love in my heart

Always makes me feel better being here

A place I feel at home

Flowers always bring a smile to my face and make me feel better

Natures gift!

painting of my friend Tim in his studio as part of my series of artists in their studio’s

This painting reflects the inner peace of mine with melancholy. I feel better when I paint, especially the Chinese meticulous style. The Chinese meticulous style is a painstaking process which helps me focus and meditate. Often the painting is a reflection of my mood at the time. I hope you don’t just see the flowers in a night’s mist, but you are also immersed in the atmosphere.

I combined the traditional Chinese ink and pigments with wax, chalk paint and oil. The process of exploring these media together was challenging. However, the outcome was very satisfying. I feel better when I test out my crazy ideas–watching ink soaking into the chalk paint and stroking scrumptious oil flowing on wax–and I feel even better when get some unexpected and beautiful results! This painting raises the questions: is the armchair waiting for someone? Has someone left? How would you feel when you sit in a such scene? I’ll leave the audience to meditate over it.

Enjoying nature and time outside

Time in distant lands, exploring beautiful views always makes me feel better!!!

Holiday by the sea, I feel better when remembering the relaxing times!!

#ifeelbetterwhen I am surrounded by nature. This was taken from a hide at Center Parcs – I felt so at peace sitting quietly and watching the animals. My friends call me Snow White because I love being surrounded by the wildlife and will happily handfeed anything that is willing to come to me – it really grounds me and makes me appreciate the beauty of nature.

#ifeelbetterwhen I am behind my sewing machine. In this case, I was sewing together fabric patches to make a baby quilt for a friend. The process of taking pieces of fabric and turning them into something lovely and unique is immensely satisfying, and I love the reaction from recipients who know that whatever I have made has come from the heart and my affection for them.

Going to sleep when its dark and waking when its light. Hot chocolate and marshmallows by the camp fire. Warm and snug in a sturdy canvas tent. The thrum of the rain on canvas. Watching the sunrise with a good cup of coffee. No electronics. No clock watching. Choose your view. Unwind. Switch off. Escape.

Relaxing on the bench!

Home is where the heart is

I feel better when out at the beginning and end of the day and able to capture the beauty of the sky.

I love to create and make using my amazing hands. I love to bring something from my mind in to my hands

Barn Owl quartering the fields around it’s Barn

Sandwich Tern returning to it’s nest

When my focus is absorbed in Painting and sketching I feel better!

Painting flowers lifts my mood and always helps me to feel better