Lockdown and staying home is a trying time for many of us all around the world. It's been challenging for me but making art has been a wonderful way to keep me motivated and focussed on remaining productive and positive.

As a creative and artist, I was thinking of a way to bring some creative fun and colour into other people's lives during this strange period. Whilst planning my next online art course I had an idea that'll inspire many to create, based on processes used in the longer courses I teach but simplified and with fewer materials.

Colour Play is the short course I came up with, suitable for all ages and levels of artistic experience. Materials have been kept to a minimum so get some paint and paper, channel your inner five year old, come along and join me for some creative play time.

Oh yes, as a gift the course is FREE for a limited period of time.

Colour Play runs from 26-30 April with free access to the content until the end of May. You can read more about the course and materials required here.

"Creativity involves breaking out of expected patterns in order to look at things in a different way." -- Edward de Bono

This sentiment describes the way I teach. In addition to Colour Play I'm offering another new course exploring a wide selection of techniques and processes in water-based media.

If you're in need of creative input or feel inspired to do more art, Explore Shapes 2 has just opened for registration.

The first Explore Shapes course was very popular and I've created this new one with 18 brand new projects done mainly in watercolour paint and acrylic ink. Topics for daily projects include insects and flowers, stars, paisley patterns, paper lanterns, trees and more.

The course will run from 10-31 May and you can read more here. Early Bird registration offers a 20% discount until 30 April, regular price £150. Registration closes on 9 May. For updates, information and occasional live demos, follow me on Instagram, short videos can also be seen on YouTube.