Hi everyone, and welcome to the August newsletter. I write these each month to share seasonal reflections from nature and gentle ideas for sustaining a regular creative practice. You’ll also find details of upcoming workshops and a few seasonal invitations to help you notice, connect and create.
August always feels like a slightly different month to me. The summer holidays are here, normal routines are put on hold and life seems to slow down a little. I used to think this meant I’d somehow fallen out of my creative practice, but over time I’ve realised that’s probably not true. Just as nature’s energy goes up and down over the seasons, maybe ours does too!
Some months I fill pages in my nature journal and spend hours drawing or painting. Other times, especially in August, I find I’m happier simply wandering, noticing things and collecting ideas. I might take a few photographs, make a quick note in my sketchbook or come home with a pocket full of seed heads and leaves. I don’t always make something straight away, and I’ve learnt that’s OK.
Giving ourselves permission to pause isn’t the same as giving up. Sometimes creativity is quietly taking in what’s around us, ready for the time when we’re able to pick up a pencil or paintbrush again.
Take time out for yourself this Autumn..
Summer can be a wonderful time to gather inspiration, but it’s also by busy, especially if you have little ones at home. It might be worth planning to set aside a little time for yourself. My Botanical Printing workshops offer exactly that: a chance to slow down, experiment with shape and colour, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making without rushing.
Notice • Connect • Create this August
🌿 Notice
Go for a walk with no destination and no intention to draw. Simply notice what catches your eye.
🤝 Connect
Visit the Sheffield Flower Festival, Sunday 23rd August, at Victoria and The Mowbray. Spend the day wandering between two beautiful venues, each bursting with floral inspiration. You’ll also find a handpicked selection of creative makers, from ceramics and candles to botanical art and houseplants – all celebrating the beauty of nature.
🎨 Create
Take a sketchbook or notebook on your walk and simply collect ideas. A colour, a shape, a sentence, a leaf, a quick sketch. No finished page required.
If you enjoy gentle creative ideas, nature-based inspiration, and invitations to slow art workshops in Sheffield, you’re very welcome to stay subscribed — and to share this with anyone who might enjoy making a little more space for creativity.
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