Spring has well and truly arrived in the woods now! There’s a really lovely feeling when walking out in nature at the moment, everything’s coming to life once again and there’s a fresh, hopeful sort of energy in the air…

In the Woods this Month

This month in the woods the pace of spring quickens and there’s so much for us to enjoy. We are treated to some wonderful woodland displays as more than one wildflower puts on a show carpeting the forest floor. Here are two favourites to keep an eye out for...

Wild Garlic: Bright, bold and quite tasty!

One of my local woodlands is already completely covered in the new green leaves of wild garlic, which will soon be joined by it’s beautiful white flower.

Wild garlic is a really easy one to forage and use in cooking, last year I made a wild garlic pesto which really captures the bold, fresh garlic flavour. Here’s a recipe from the Woodland Trust if you wanted to try it yourself. Just always make sure you follow expert guidance when foraging!

Bluebells: A moment of enchantment

Perhaps one of the UK’s most loved woodland wildflowers, the beautiful carpeting of bluebells on the forest floor is a display not to miss in spring.

If you find the right woodland at the right time then the experience is truly enchanting for us nature lovers. Well known bluebell woodlands are dotted across the UK and you may already have one that you know and love, but if not, the Wildlife Trust has a list of a few locations by region.

A Little Nature Connection

A book to try: Slow Seasons by Rosie Steer

I found this lovely book last year. It’s perfect if you find joy in the changing seasons (or if you want to!). It offers a gentle insight into seasonal changes through the year via the old Celtic calendar, and offers activities, recipes and ideas for deeper connection with the seasons.  

“Rosie Steer, influenced by her Scottish roots, guides you through the old Celtic calendar. Marking the solstices, equinoxes and their midpoints, celebrating the shifting seasons, and embracing nature’s ebbs and flows instead of battling against them.” Rosie Steer, Slow Seasons 2023

In the Studio this Month

Big news from the studio this month! I’ve just completed two new woodland bird paintings, and I’d love to introduce you to them… Hawfinches & Goldcrests.

I’ve been waiting a while now to paint these beautiful birds again and I love how they’ve come together. The hawfinches are happily perched with rowan and hawthorn blossom while the goldcrests are nestled amongst rowan blossom and catkins.

You can view the finished design of the Hawfinches here and the Goldcrests here.

They were both a joy to paint and I’m excited to share that the art prints of these new designs are currently available to pre order.

But I’m not stopping there! Spring is my favourite season to focus on painting and I have a special three-piece commission to dive into for a new collector as well as creating beautiful new work for my upcoming Spring / Summer original art collection.

So it’s a busy month! And I’m excited to share more again with you soon.

Art Print(s) of the Month

From beautiful blossom, birds and whimsical wildflowers, this month I’d love to highlight my newly curated Spring Art Print Collection.

This collection brings together well loved art prints (as well as a couple of new additions!) to celebrate the joy found in nature this season.

Explore the Spring Art Print Collection here