The Light on the Sea

Paying attention to beauty in uncertainty

Happy New Year!

Hello, welcome and happy new year 2023!

I’ve been a freelance artist for more than 12 years now, first as an art photographer and community artist and then later as an illustrator, writer and children’s book creator. I started with no ‘formal’ training but just a really big feeling that I want to make things, because that’s really how I really SEE the world and pay attention to it and how I help my brain process the big existential stuff too. I’ve been sharing wee snippets on social media channels since day one (in fact, posting a ‘doodle a day’ is how everything started) but wanted to move to a more substantial newsletter this year to just create a wee bit of internet that is hopefully quiet, lovely, life-giving and offers a pause. I’ve chosen the name ‘The Light on the Sea’ for all of my platforms because it reminds me to pay attention to what is beautiful in the world, subtle though beauty may be, and because I come from and adore the North Sea coast, where I grew up watching it sparkle and churn and change.

I’ll be aiming to share once a week and you can expect things like:

• A 'behind the scenes’ look at my life, studio and art processes and a chance to ask questions about any of it.

• A first look at new art and projects

• Deep thoughts

• The occasional children’s book recommendation and insight into the world of publishing

• Interesting and nice stuff from people I like and admire

• Thoughts and stories on community

• Access to a monthly high-res art ‘download of the month’ on a free or ‘pay as you feel’ basis.

• Lots of illustrations

I know that the world can be a pretty uncertain place and I myself am not someone who goes through life with a ‘master plan’ but I do think that learning to be creative can become part of your life just in the way that brushing your teeth is and that, when you get the hang of it, it can really make things so much better. I know all that can be easier when you have pals doing it too, so maybe this newsletter can help you along the way.

I hope wherever this finds you, you’re feeling ok about the year ahead. I daren’t make any grand proclamations about my own year ahead, but I do hold some quiet hopes in my heart for a year that is fruitful and which brings more human connection and unexpected adventures that my mind has not even conjured yet. I hope you’ll feel you can interact and be responsive here and share your own thoughts, experiences and ideas.

As they say in my home country Scotland at this time of year, ‘Lang May Yer Lum Reek’.

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