Looking at art that interests you can help point in a direction that becomes a personal style Have you ever looked at another artist’s work and thought, “Wow, they have such a unique style — I wish I had that”? It’s an oddly persistent question. And if you’ve created art for any length of time whether as an amateur or professional, it’s one that hums along in the background while you’re drawing, painting, scrolling, comparing. Everyone else seems to have a style that you can

When a signed Banksy “Girl with Balloon” sold for £239,000 at Christie’s, it wasn’t just headline news — it was a reminder of why limited-edition prints hold such enduring appeal. Once available for around £150, that same artwork now symbolises what collectors have long known: rarity, authenticity, and emotional connection can turn a print into something extraordinary. There’s something quietly magical about a limited-edition print. It bridges two worlds — the intimacy of ori

It can seem like the well has run dry, leading to feelings of anxiety, desperation and panic. But these emotional responses only serve to...

From the Lake Poets and the Romantic movement to the Impressionists and contemporary painters, our bucolic landscape has consistently acted as a powerful creative muse. But what drives this impulse? Why is there such a strong motivation to recreate in art something that already forms our everyday habitat. And while it is true to say that we now live in urban settings, it is also possible to argue that these are mere interruptions in the natural landscape and that we are calle

London is a global capital of creativity, finance, and cultural exchange. It has long been a pivotal player in the art world. Despite many challenges facing the planet, it is reassuring to learn that London’s art ecosystem is thriving. This resilience is highlighted in the prestigious annual report from Art Basel & UBS. As we bask in the findings from The Art Market 2025, here are five key reasons to be cheerful for British creatives: 1. UK reclaims number 2 position in the w

You've invested in a new, original work of art and whether it's intended to be a statement centrepiece or a small pop of creativity in a corner space, you want it to look a million dollars. Not everyone will be fortunate enough to have the services of a friendly interior designer or art consultant to call on, but fear not, there are some best practices you can adopt to ensure you're making the most of that mini Monet. 1. It's all in the layout Resist the urge to start hammeri

Every new year starts with good intentions — a resolution to do this, that, or the other. And this need to ring in the new at the same time as we collectively show the old the door, and perhaps give it a little shove on the way out for good measure, serves some (particularly in the world of commerce) well. It's a good time to join a gym (if you own a gym) or lose weight (if you have a diet book out) or spruce up your wardrobe (take a trip to the sales). But, if you're like me

If you've been toying with the idea of buying art, perhaps even musing about building a collection, you are not alone. But having...

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom — Aristotle You might have come across this philosophical nugget, but phrased...

It is not every day you get the chance to have your art appear alongside a whole roster of artistic luminaries — not to mention other celebrities and dignitaries. Yet, as I write this, that is exactly what is happening. My paintings are presently hobnobbing with the creations of, among others, Hurvin Anderson, Maggi Hambling CBE, Patrick Hughes, Anne Desmett RA, Russell Tovey, Kenneth Draper RA, Barnaby Barford, Craig Jefferson, Fran Giffard and Winston Branch. fundraiser: th

Art, as I’ve mentioned before, is good for you. Not only does it provide a number of different routes to a state of wellbeing (see my...

It doesn't take too long online to find a blog listing the best paintings that you simply must see in whichever art gallery in the world....

Imagine this: you spent your life working for the post office, never having earned more than £23,000 a year. You lived for 50 years in a small one-bedroom flat with your spouse, a librarian. You never travelled and most days ended with a TV dinner. You had no formal art training, but you did have a passion for the subject, particularly contemporary works. The little money you earned, you spent buying inexpensive pieces directly from artists. It became all-engrossing to the po

We all want better health, to feel less stressed, more content and just plain happier. Yet the pressures of modern life seem to conspire...

Tom Hanks, in the guise of Forrest Gump famously decreed that life was like a box of chocolates. It has been the lot of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists since their radicalism shook the nineteenth century art establishment to become associated with that statement of the twee — chocolate boxy art. Pretty pictures of life in pretty colours. All very acceptable, all very easy on the eye. Slap another Monet on that biscuit tin, a Renoir-themed pack of toiletries. But th

There are two paintings hung next to each other on the wall. They are by different artists, but otherwise are the same size, of a similar colour palette and both in an abstract style. Checking with the gallery owner, you find they are also the same price. You are in the market to buy art, but only have the budget and space on your wall for a single piece. You like them both, but one of them stands out. The painting that appeals most is by a successful artist, but one who has

Every now and then the well of inspiration for creating art runs a little dry. Or so it seems. Although it doesn’t feel it, this is a natural state. In fact, it’s also a desirable one. It would be nigh on impossible, not to mention exhausting, to carry on at full artistic pelt indefinitely. Without those pauses, lulls or down times, there would be far fewer insights and much less reflection. But how do you climb back on the creative saddle and begin to build up into a gallop

If one of the purposes of art is to take the commonplace, hold it against the light and show it from a different perspective, then Cornelia Parker appears to want to make sure it's been blown to smithereens, flattened or otherwise rendered useless first. At Tate Britain's hugely entertaining retrospective of her work, the abiding sensation of her great set-piece installations is one of curiosity. She has an almost obsessive interest in the mundane detail of our lives. But wh

"If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail." It's a great phrase, isn't it, and one that says a lot about the need to be organised in order to achieve success. But while it might be appropriate for business, sport or some areas of personal development, I find there is one pursuit where careful planning doesn't produce the right results. A field where not only does having a meticulously worked out plan fail to guarantee a great outcome, it actively hinders it. And that's not

What it is Here's where I select one of my artworks and talk about it in a little more depth, with the aim of explaining why I'm highlighting it, and provide greater detail about how it was created. This is the choice for March and early April, an exuberant piece on premium quality box canvas that appropriately seeks to capture the spirit of spring. It was created in acrylic paint and mediums using a range of mark-making techniques. The palette includes titanium white, mars b