For 2024 I want to combine getting outside more and walking more with my own art practice. I’m so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world and though British weather may not always be the best, the seasonal changes are incredibly special. I find noticing and staying in touch with nature around me and the changing seasons helps me to feel connected to the world and to appreciate it more fully.

Starting this project in January makes that even more important. On grey days with little light it is easy to think that the world is grey, boring and if not dead then at least asleep. Low light levels are linked to low mood and overall it can be a time of year when many people feel low. As I write, today is the day known as ‘Blue Monday’ – a term coined by a holiday company trying to sell flights to exotic locations – the third Monday in January when the joys of Christmas feel long gone and days of cold grey skies seem never-ending. I can understand the motivation to book a holiday somewhere warm with blue skies and cocktails but a cheaper cure to the January blues, and one which will have more longevity, is to spend time in nature, take time to notice and appreciate the beauty in the world around you.

That’s where my new project comes in. I’m calling it 52 Weeks of Nature, mainly because I found a hashtag on Instagram with that title! The plan is to take walks in nature, notice, appreciate, draw and share. I have a new sketchbook and each week I will aim to produce a landscape and a double-page spread of bits and pieces that I have noticed around me. I’ve not got a great track record of keeping up projects like this so I need to remember that I am looking forward to flicking back through the sketchbook and seeing the record of the changing seasons when I get to the end of the year. I am also looking forward to learning more about the natural world through noticing and continue to improve my drawing and painting skills through regular practice.