Wow, can you believe that summer is already over? It feels like it just flew by! August was a bit of a blur, but I wanted to share some of the highlights with you.
This month was my partner's birthday, and we celebrated in style by having all his family together in Hornsea. The weather finally picked up, and we had such a lovely time catching up with everyone, playing on the beach and swimming in the sea. After the weekend, Ben and I headed to Scotland for a week of galleries and music.
Scotland
On our way, we stopped at Coldingham, a beautiful little village on the Scottish Borders, where a dear friend lives. It was so wonderful to catch up and spend some time together. After a night there, we made our way to Harthill, which is halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, to stay in a family friend's house for the week. We had a blast exploring Edinburgh, and we even got to see the Scottish Women Artists show at Dovecot Studios. I was blown away by the talent on display, and it was so inspiring to see so many female artists challenging traditional perceptions.
Glasgow was another highlight for me. I had never been before, and I was really impressed with the city's character and charm. We visited the Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum, which was absolutely amazing. The building itself is a work of art, and the collection inside is stunning. I was particularly taken by a Rubens painting that I studied closely. I'm using his work as inspiration for my own paintings, so it was a real treat to see his work up close.
After our visit, we hopped on a tour bus to see more of Glasgow. It felt a lot like Leeds to me but with its own unique vibe. We even got off the bus to check out the Glasgow School of Art, where they were having an MA degree show. It made me nostalgic for my own graduation from art school last November.
A new chapter
Towards the end of our trip, we had a relaxing day at the house, reading and drawing on my iPad. We went for an evening walk around a quiet wood, and when we got back to the house, I received some incredible news. I was offered a permanent position at York St John University as an Art and Design Technician! I was over the moon, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. This stability means I can continue to focus on my painting practice, which is a dream come true. I've had such a wonderful time over the summer working at YSJ as a casual temporary position, and I'm so excited to learn from and help the students this September.
We finished off our trip with a visit to the Connect Festival in Edinburgh to see Fred Again.. for Ben's birthday. As always, he put on an amazing show, and we even discovered some new talent that we really enjoyed, like Biig Piig, Kelly Lee Owens, and Rachel Chinouriri.
New energy
When we got back from Scotland, I was on fire! That very evening, I started working on a series of ten A3 size studies for a project I've been thinking about for a while. It was such a great feeling to finally have the energy and focus to begin, and I can't wait to see where this project takes me.
The postcard sale
Thank you to everyone who supported the postcard sale we had at the studio this August. It was a fabulous event and your support is much appreciated.
Our next open event is York Unlocked 7-8 October more news to follow shortly.