Blog

23rd May 2025

Why I Started a YouTube Channel for Art Lessons (and What You’ll Learn There)

Life has a habit of getting in the way. I’ve had countless people tell me they’d love to come to one of my art classes but can’t—because of family commitments, work, health or just the general chaos of life. So, I’ve done something about it. I’ve started a YouTube channel.

The aim is simple: to bring my art lessons to a wider audience, especially those who can’t make it to an in-person class. But launching a YouTube channel has been a steep learning curve. It’s not just about pointing a camera and talking. I’ve had to learn how to present myself naturally on screen, how to speak clearly and (I’ve noticed) how to stop saying “actually” every other sentence 😂

The editing has been the biggest challenge. Learning to cut videos in a way that makes them helpful and watchable has taken time. I’m not slick yet, but I’m improving with every upload.

So what’s on the channel?

I’m teaching the skills that seem to be missing from a lot of online art content. One of the most important is learning to see like an artist. That ability to really observe what you’re looking at underpins everything—especially drawing. I’ve seen so many beginner paintings go wrong, not because of the painting itself, but because the drawing underneath was off.

To tackle that, I’m working on a series of seven drawing videos. We start with something simple—a mug—and build up gradually to drawing a human portrait. They’re filmed in real time, so you can follow along without missing any steps. I don’t fast forward the tricky bits or skip ahead. You get the whole process. No mystery, no magic tricks—just proper instruction you can actually follow.

Here’s the link to the channel.

If you find it useful, please hit subscribe. It makes a massive difference and helps me reach more people who need this kind of teaching.

And if you’re local to Weston-super-Mare, I’ve got a new intake of in-person art classes starting in June. Details here.  

I also offer one-to-one coaching online, for those times when you just need direct, honest feedback to help you get unstuck. If that sounds like you, you can book a session here. 

Hope to see you soon.

 

15th April 2025

An artist's perspective 

“Do you look at everything that way?” my 14-year-old son asked as I admired the clouds from the plane window on our way to Lanzarote this week.

“Yes,” I said. “I can’t help it.”

I see everything through the eyes of an artist—the fur on the hotel cat (who, rather unfortunately, has a Hitler moustache), the shifting blues of the bay, the undulating sand capturing the footprints of tourists. With every detail, I’m wondering: How would I paint that? What colours are there? What brush would I use? What would be the challenges?

There’s very little I don’t analyse and break down into its parts, like a puzzle to solve—a Rubik’s cube of colour, form and texture.

I think that’s what I love most about art: the challenge. Can I pull it off? Usually, yes…ish. Sometimes it flows easily. Other times, it’s a full-on battle and you end up launching David Bowie into a skip.

The clouds that caught my attention were extraordinary—tall, narrow, curling columns stretching high into the deepening blue. I’d never seen anything like them. I also spotted two huge, flat-topped thunderclouds with that classic anvil shape. I pointed them out to Blake—we knew thunderstorms were forecast before we landed.

And sure enough, when we touched down, we were told we’d been relocated from Costa Teguise to Playa Blanca. An absolute deluge had hit just hours before. We saw videos of the storm channels nearly doing their job—but not quite. Businesses, homes and hotels flooded, including ours.

I knew those clouds were unusual. From above, they were dramatically beautiful. From below, they were devastating.

It’s all about perspective.

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17th May 2024
How do you motivate yourself when your mojo has gone?

I have many sources of inspiration and I'm rarely uninspired. However, I do, occasionally, find myself in a funk. We all get days when we're under the weather, exhausted or just fed up. What do I do? I paint anyway.

I think its important to realise that you don't need inspiration to hit you like a lightning bolt  in order to create art.  Yes, sometimes it happens (usually while I'm in a meeting or at 3am!). Its great when that happens but its not necessary.

To keep my mojo, I have folders of photos on my phone. Hundreds of them.  I have "Weston photos to paint ", "Seascape references", "Animal references", etc. In those I keep copyright free photos that I've saved from online or photos that I've taken myself. These are my inspiration.

When its time to paint, I scroll through and see what grabs me. That's enough. I grab some charcoal and a canvas and I get drawing. Once I start, the funk soon dissipates and I am on a roll. Back in the swing of things and loving it.

So if you've lost your mojo, look online or out of the window. Find something that grabs you. Find a hundred things. Save them. Then pick up a canvas or some paper and just start.

The mojo will find you.

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11th May 2024
Would you suggest paper or digital to start learning?

Yes  

In all seriousness, when you start, all that matters is that you START. Each format has its own strengths and weaknesses. 

Traditional mediums like paper and canvas allow you to work bigger and use expressive hand and arm movements. They allow you to learn different mediums and use different surfaces. They train you to use your eye and not use technology short cuts, ultimately making you a better (Traditional) artist. 
They are cheap and easy to get.  
However there are things you can do using technology that you can't do on paper. 

Digital art has its place. Whilst AI and photo editing are "cheating", wonderful art can be made from scratch in programs such as Photoshop and Procreate. But this requires a lot more technical knowledge than using a pencil. Procreate is easier but still complex for a newbie.  

In reality, I use both. I use technology to help prepare designs, playing with layout and composition, sometimes lighting and value. I use colour dropper tools to identify awkward colours. I occasionally prepare grids to help transpose the reference, especially to very big surfaces.  

So in summary, for most people I'd say use paper to start unless you've got training in the digital software.

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29th April 2024
Have you always been able to draw?

Have you always been able to draw?
It must take a natural talent...  I just wouldn't know where to start...


These are two comments /questions that came from friends of mine. Its something I hear a lot. 

Let me be very clear on one thing. As long as you can see and are able to hold a pencil or brush, you can learn. There are artists that paint with their feet or even their mouths. 

The difference between those who can and those who can't  - those who can, DO. And we do it a lot. 

I haven't always been able to draw (well), but I have always drawn, ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil. You ask my mother. She'll tell you "No matter what we got her for Christmas, by Boxing Day it was all about the paper and pencils".  I'm 55 now. Nothing has changed. 

Its boring I'm afraid but it comes down to good old fashioned practice. People who love doing art tend to be quite obsessive about it. We pick up a pencil at an early age and we fall in love with creating. Hopefully that love gets nutured and encouraged so we do more and more. But all too often, people stop drawing.  Maybe they get distracted by other hobbies, or get told they are no good. Rather than being taught how to improve, people throw in the towel and give up. Its not their fault, it's understandable. But its such a shame that people lose that childhood wonder of creating art. 

Like anything else that requires skill, art needs perseverance. It needs knowledgeable and positive mentoring.  

Can't play the guitar? Me neither. I wouldn't pick up a guit8ar and expect to get a tune out of it. You'd take lessons and put the hours in until you can play something passable. Art is the same. A good tutor and lots of practise is all you need.  

If you REALLY want it and are willing to put the hours in, you will get there. You really will.