5. Winter studies in run up to Christmas

In the run-up to Christmas, I’ve found myself drawn to working small.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been painting a series of winter studies — little pieces created simply for the joy of it — many of them turned into personal cards for friends and family. They were made as a way of marking the season: quieter days, shorter light, and that familiar sense of the year drawing in on itself.

Alongside winter landscapes, I’ve also been painting some whimsical animal studies. Small characters that belong to winter just as much as the land itself — creatures that add a touch of warmth, humour, and life to cold days. They’ve been playful to paint and surprisingly comforting, a reminder that winter doesn’t have to be austere to be honest.

Normally at this time of year, much of my inspiration comes while I’m out on my bike. I often capture reference photos on the move — a sudden winter sky, frost on fields, low sun breaking through cloud. Those fleeting moments usually feed directly into the studio work that follows.

This winter has been different.

Due to some health issues, I haven’t been able to get out cycling as I normally would. That has meant fewer of those chance encounters with the landscape, fewer quick photographs taken in passing. At first, that felt like a loss. Being out in the world is such a big part of how I gather ideas.

But it has also slowed my way of working — and, unexpectedly, deepened it.

These winter studies have come from memory, imagination, and a long familiarity