At the end of August, I had a conversation with a retired illustrator and mentioned that I had been invited to illustrate a children’s book myself. He told me that “the first page will take you ages – and the following ones will come much more easily.” How very right he was!

Varnishing a finished painting provides a protective layer but the process of adding the finishing touches feels way more than just that! I will chat through some of the ways I like to work and share some insights into how to go about it. First, here’s some information to guide you.

I have found that my most successful paintings are those where my focus was most clear. Let me explain why this is important.

But before I explain, I would just like to mention that’s it’s 4 am in the morning and there’s a blackbird singing as the sun comes up on this June morning. Although I was having trouble sleeping it feels like the perfect time to be writing this!