This is the front cover for a story I am writing, about two Japanese Maikos (apprentice Geishas) who have adventures under the sea. Sometimes the shape of Japan is compared to a seahorse. I am in love will all things to do with traditional Japan.

I have been making collages and thinking of starting my own magazine called ‘The Storyteller’, the first one will be about ‘oceans and seas’

Welcoming weeds into my tiny garden, I now have nettles, and apple mint, taller than my little apple tree. It’s a pleasure to sit in the sunshine and see nature re-establishing itself, even in the cracks of the concrete path, like this dandelion. Later the garden will be filled with bees and butterflies, and blackberries amongst the brambles.

During lockdown2020 I have been drawn to things around my house: small, seemingly, insignificant details, that my have caught my eye during these many still moments and, with time to capture and reflect, began to document them with my iPhone camera. Lately, as an aside from that, I have started a series of seeing ‘faces’ within my immediate surroundings. This image I found on the surface of a cooking pot, which had been left to soak on the side of the kitchen sink.

Painting a rainbow for our window, to thank the wonderful keyworkers.

A local family walk for wellbeing and an appreciation of how fortunate we are.

Avenue of trees with a path of daffodils between

A positive from lockdown has been more time to slow down and attend the veg patch. Gardening is great for mental health in itself but with the rise of nutritional psychiatry and the recognition that food really does effect mood, there’s never been a better time to get outside and grow your own!

A mindful sunset walk during lockdown to escape the bombardment of news. Taken from the banks of Hambleton Peninsula, Rutland Water.

A blue painted residential house with blue sky background.

A weedy garden was transformed with a packet of seeds

This is pencil sketch depicts myself, a sufferer of Trichotillomania. The condition is a compulsive hair pulling disorder. Emphasising the rawness and nakedness of the self; this artwork seeks to remove the stigma associated with bald women- the concept of women having long flowing locks has been completely removed and regenerated into a piece presenting a new realm of modern beauty. The initial pencil strokes and lines are retained to emphasise a natural state of womanhood.

Focus on what brings you happiness.

Focus on the bright things in life.

Water colour of the Scottish countryside in Spring. During Lockdown my daughter enjoyed getting out walking and seeing the Lambs

Water colour image

Using wool dyed with things I found on my daily walk, in the garden, around the house and donated by neighbours, I wove my version of my lockdown map

During lockdown, when we were allowed out just once a day. We are lucky enough to live near the River Stort and we used to regularly walk along the canal, and seeing and feeling nature all around me made me relax my mind.

I took this picture at Stourhead National Trust I love the lighting on the leaves and the contrasting and striking blue sky, which allows my mind to grow and float away into the clouds.

Portrait of nurse Nande wearing PPE

Portrait of Giang lying on a floor upside down

What a gift this was. I looked up the meaning and these are often seen in traditions as representing endurance, change, hope, and life. A perfect message for these times – #ArtLiftingLockdown

This scene seemed such a good metaphor for all the things going on at present – a sign to remember the sun is always shining behind the clouds – Rainbows are often seen as signs as positive change – a beautiful scene to witness during lockdown – #ArtLiftingLockdown

This scene seemed such a good metaphor for all the things going on at present – a sign to remember the sun is always shining behind the clouds – Rainbows are often seen as signs as positive change – a beautiful scene to witness during lockdown – #ArtLiftingLockdown

Painted in April during the lockdown this piece measures 20×30 inches and is in oil. Taken from an old photograph of mine I had been planning to paint it for a couple of years and am now pleased with the result.

I painted this in watercolour during lockdown. I took a photo, several years ago of a Kingfisher I saw on a dog walk. Seeing it raised my spirits so I thought painting it might help too… and it did. I hadn’t painted using watercolour for around 40 years and never using any knowledge of techniques so I was very happy with the results.

Painted during the lockdown I returned to this subject after a smaller ..simpler piece I made in 2014. it measures 29×46 inches and is an acrylic work

A connection with nature is important to me to foster a sense of wellbeing. Friendly nature spirits reside in woodlands, and reward those who look after the forest. Ink pen.

The space to dream, the space to create. Ink pen.

Polly the Jack Russell. Doggy friends help keep spirits lifted during the lockdown.

Trees against a gorgeous sunset sky, early spring around the beginning of the lockdown.

I am Polly, my sister hates spiders, I love them. I found this amazing ‘spider mansion’. It had 100’s of baby spiders creeping around inside, protected by a huge web that their mummy made for them to live in.

My grandpa has a shed, if anything goes in broken, it comes out as good as new. He is amazing. He has been spending quite a bit of time in his shed during lockdown. He even fitted an intercom to call grandma for a cup of tea.

This is a photo of a pine cone that I painted during lockdown. Rainbows were everywhere. I decided to paint each edge in a different colour, which made it look pretty. My mum said it make her smile and it is inspiring to have in the house. The close up photo shows all the details of it and I have noticed it changes with the weather. Magical.