Welcome to the Paint Box!
Hello! Thanks for stopping by.
Over the coming weeks and months, I will fill this space with beautiful content, from folklore and stories, to moodboards, inspiration and maybe some tutorials! I have called this blog The Paint Box Journal because of its association with an artist tools. Every piece of art made, begins with an artist gathering their tools and materials, collecting their inspiration, choosing their medium and finalising their colour palette. Perhaps your paint box is a tin full of colourful thread, a basket full of yarn or a shed full of woodworking tools. Perhaps it’s a digital library of Procreate brushes, but it doesn’t matter what your paint box looks like or consists of, it’s yours to create magic with, and it’s where we all begin as artists, designers and makers.
What’s in the box?
I’ll start by telling you what’s inside my paint box – the tools and materials I like to use and the inspiration that electrifies me and lights me up. I come from a background in textiles. I love pattern, texture and decoration. I’ve always been a very artistic person and enjoyed painting in my teens, but I was soon introduced to working with fabric and stitch, as an alternative to paint and pencils and I connected with it on another level. I studied textiles and fashion at art school, working in fashion after graduation. For years I’ve been weaving, embroidering and sewing and it has been such a rich and fulfilling journey but I found that there were certain stories I desperately wanted to tell that I couldn’t fully articulate through thread. I began to crave the simplicity of drawing and painting again. I didn’t have the space or the means at the time to experiment with new paints, sketchbooks and canvases, but I was very interested in organic looking digital painting and fortuitously a friend of mine was getting rid of an old iPad so gave it to me for a small fee. I downloaded Procreate, some arty brush packs and I was hooked. Not a particularly romantic story, but I had this whole new outlet for my creativity which I loved. It was portable, clean and efficient which was perfect for a new mother, constantly on the go with a young baby. I could just throw it in my bag and take it anywhere with me. It became my paint box, my tool for independence and a creative outlet. Saying that, I didn’t find myself in digital illustration right away. It took time, practice and a lot of experimentation to begin to develop a style that portrayed my ideas and stories in the right way, and now my hands won’t work quick enough to get them all out.
I say all of this as I’m sat right next to a large tub of embroidery thread and a sewing machine, so I would just like to inform you that my passion for textile art, is still very much alive. I am currently working on a tapestry, but it is a slow paced ritual - a labour of love and patience. My paint box is still abundantly filled with with thread, silk and beads, not just digital brushes.
Meaningful Art
I like to tell stories through my work, creating evocative images that capture the imagination, inspiring curiosity and intrigue. For me personally, when looking for a meaningful connection, I look to my roots, to the rituals and stories buried in the dirt around me. I look for magic in folklore and in symbols, a universal language understood by all.
Folklore
I am lucky enough to live on the incredible Jurassic Coast in Dorset, in the South West of England, and this ancient corner of the world is steeped in strange local folklore. I’ve always considered folklore to be incredibly important as these tales are part of our heritage, our culture and our traditions. Sadly there was a period of time where many of these stories were forgotten for the sake of progression and the modernisation of society. Folklore was seen as irrelevant, old fashioned superstition which we laughed off and buried, quickly adopting more fashionable culture and traditions from other countries, entirely losing our own unique identity. I hear so often, “The UK doesn’t have any culture of it’s own”, which always frustrates me. How can an island with so much ancient history not have it’s own rich culture? The truth is it does, its just not been celebrated and honoured in the right way. It has not been treasured and handed down through generations. Old rituals and festivities rooted in paganism have been phased out, instead of adapted and renewed.
There is a new generation, however, that are actively seeking out the lost magic and tradition of the old ways. They’re unburying the stories and the rituals, breathing new life into them. In this chaotic world, there is an urgent need to turn inward, to find simplicity, to heal, and in order to do that, we are so often pulled back to our roots, called by our ancestors. In this digital age, it’s so easy to lose focus, to forget who we are and where we came from. It is an empowering act of rebellion to honour our roots and the history of those who came before us, accepting and acknowledging not just the beauty, but also the brutality and darkness of the journey that started long before us.
Over the years, I've lived in London, East Anglia, Cornwall and now Dorset, all rich in wonderful folklore, and my favourite way to share these stories and ideas is through illustration. An evocative image can quickly capture the imagination, creating intrigue and leaving the viewer curious to know more, as all good story telling should.
Symbols
Long before the advent of written language, humans communicated through a rich tapestry of symbolic imagery — a universal language that transcended borders and cultures, carrying stories, beliefs, and emotions. These symbols, whether found in cave paintings, petroglyphs, or ancient carvings, became powerful tools for passing down knowledge from one generation to the next. Although each culture developed its own unique styles of expression, we can find striking similarities in their symbolism, revealing a deeper truth: despite our differences, we are all interconnected.
Symbols were not just artistic expressions; they were a means of survival, a way to navigate the mysteries of life, and a tool for building communities. Over time, this symbolic language grew and adapted, reflecting the complexities of human thought, belief systems, and shared experiences. From the labyrinthine hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt to the sacred mandalas of Eastern traditions, symbols have long been an integral part of how we make sense of the world. Think about it — symbols are everywhere, and we use them all the time, often without even noticing. Take emojis, for example! They’ve become the modern-day hieroglyphs, helping us express everything from joy to frustration without needing a single word. Whether you're sending a heart ❤️ to show love or a fire 🔥 to hype someone up, these tiny digital icons have become our go-to for instant communication. Sure, they might not have the ancient mystique of sun symbols or spirals, but in their own way, emojis bridge the gap between languages and cultures, letting us share our feelings in a universally understood way. Let’s face it, sometimes a perfectly placed emoji says it all!
In addition to their role in communication, symbols are powerful tools for healing and self-discovery. In times of stress or anxiety, we often turn to symbolic imagery in our minds to restore balance. For instance, when I feel overwhelmed, I often do a deep breathing exercise where I like to visualize the ocean — its waves gently lapping at the shore with every breath. In this instance, the sea, for me, symbolizes a deep sense of calm and weightlessness. Sometimes, however, the sea evokes a different meaning. I live on the rugged Jurassic Coast of England and more often than not, the sea is turbulent and wild. The image of these untamed waves fuels my own sense of creativity and wild self-expression. A stormy sea symbolizes power and freedom. Similarly, symbols like the sun, with its warmth and life-giving energy, or the deep roots of a tree grounding me to the earth, are incredibly powerful during meditation. These visualizations tap into something far beyond what words can express, evoking emotions and energies that help me find peace, clarity, and inspiration.
We often turn to these images because they speak to us in a way that words cannot. Words can be noisy, fragmented, and complex, but symbols cut through the clutter, allowing us to connect with our deeper selves and the world around us in a meaningful, almost primal way. Symbolism offers us a doorway into the mystical, healing, and creative power that is present within each of us.
I’m working on so many lovely projects that I’m excited to share with you over the coming weeks and months and it is my wish that they will capture your heart, as they have captured mine.
Speak soon,
