Over the last month I have been taking in inspiration from other sources, I had a fabulous week in Shetland with Rachel Hazel, the Travelling Bookbinder which was followed by another week away in Tuscany with Monica Dengo. Both workshops moved me out of my comfort zone and into uncomfortable feelings of not being good enough, or embarrassed about my offering creatively.

I’m writing to you from the beautiful island of Iona, the space, peace and harmony here are quite incredible. The further north I travelled was like unwinding time. At home spring is in full swing but up here the pause of winter is slowly releasing its hold.

I'm sorry for the silence of the last month or so, I am busy preparing a new website with my friends at Ditto Creative and Saltwick Media. It is quite intense working on all the content and workshops for the next 18 months so that there is something to see, I am quite impatient with myself. The new website will feature more of me too, in a bid to make it feel more human. 

For me photography isn't photography until you do something with your images, whether that is printing, making a book or exhibiting them. It is so easy to shoot and leave them semi forgotten on a hard drive or phone.

It is easy to get lost in the race to Christmas while ignoring all the things that are important to each of us individually. We often prioritise the needs of all and sundry at the this time of year; perhaps we are feeling extremely alone or vulnerable, Christmas has a way of really hitting many of us hard as we remember those we have loved and lost.

As April draws to a close the world around me here at Old Oak Barn is alive with birds singing, wildflowers showing through in the hedges and multitude of green shades in the trees and bushes. It makes me feel very energised.