So that's that then ....

Not exactly the end of an era but I have taught my last class in my studio in Manchester and it was a good one to end on - my 5 day Colour Your Palette - sharing my space with three wonderful colour enthusiasts!

I taught my first class on the 2nd September 2018 so just over six years ago. Despite two heavily disrupted Covid years, 348 students have attended my workshops and the workshops given by 12 incredible guest tutors. Not 348 separate individuals as a lot of students have attended more than one workshop. I have welcomed 221 different people into the studio with one individual attending 9 different workshops, one attending 8 workshops, one attending 6 workshops and a good handful attending 5! My lovely, lovely, ‘repeat offenders’ know who they are and I am grateful for all the friendships I have formed over the last six years. I am particularly grateful to those early students who took a risk on me and went on to spread the word - I couldn’t have done it without them!

Special thanks to my bestie Ruth Brown who twisted my arm and got me started on this path, to Tracy F for beating the drum early doors, to Hilary K and Julie B for the editing / proof reading skills and keeping me sane during lockdown, to my favourite builders (father-in-law Bernard and son Joe) for the Bog Shed, the Bus Shelter and the somewhat more substantial than we initially thought Porch and to Ruth and Joe for being the best show buddies a girl could have xxx

It has been quite the journey ….. along the way I have written three books and developed two extensive online workshops. I’ve lost count of the numbers of talks I’ve given and the number of workshops I’ve taught away from my studio. Surprisingly I have managed to make the odd bit of art but not nearly enough to still the ideas buzzing in my head.

And so I move on to a new phase in my life. One in which the move to Scotland happens quickly and without stress (who am I kidding?). One which I continue to teach but less often, in other studios and community centers here and, occasionally, abroad. One in which I still do one or two shows a year. One in which I still run my online shop. And one in which my focus can be on making art.

Although I might take a few hours off and sip the odd glass of gin before getting started ……..