My First Open Studio
On Saturday 13th June 2026, I held my first ever open studio event. It was a test exhibition, opened up mainly to close family and friends. The day was truly special for me.
I've always loved the idea of an open studio: the chance to bring people much closer to the practice itself, and to the space where the painting happens. There's something quite different about seeing work in the garden studio where it was created, rather than on a gallery wall. A more personal, unguarded way to share it.
It was the first time I'd brought the last seven years of work together into one space, and seeing it all at once let me trace how much my style and technique have grown since I first started painting. It was amazing to hear such positive feedback, and to notice what resonates with people, the favourite colours and palettes they're drawn to, the formats and sizes that catch their eye and the pieces they could instantly picture hanging on their own walls.
It was fascinating to realise just how much I've experimented over the seven years. I started out working purely with palette knives, and have moved towards combining palette knives and brushes, using canvases and paper. I also tried working with textures for a more heavy-bodied finish and went towards more liquid, soft body paints. I've experimented with themes too, with more abstracted landscapes and now exploring shapes and forms. Still, similar threads have worked their way through each piece as I've gone along.
It was also the perfect opportunity to talk more about my process, how my studio is set up, how I like to work, and when I actually paint. I had so many wonderful questions about the techniques and mediums I use, the time that goes into each piece, and my approach to finding inspiration. Those conversations were one of the real highlights of the day.
And it was simply a joyful event. The weather was windy but refreshing, so we spent the day out in the garden, soaking up the atmosphere. It left me feeling genuinely inspired and full of fresh motivation to keep painting, along with new ideas for commissions and for the sizes I want to work at. Sharing it all with the people closest to me brought out a different, more personal side of the work, and it's one I'd love to share again.
My thanks to the family and friends who came along to support it. It's given me the confidence to open the doors a little wider next time.
