It's obvious my inspiration comes from nature, and I’m incredibly lucky to live in the Hampshire countryside, surrounded by fields, forests and winding hedgerows that change with every season. These places aren’t just backdrops to my day; they are the heart of my work as a printmaker. Nearly every print I create begins with something I’ve spotted on a walk with my dog, and it's literally outside my front door!
The fields just behind my house, full of brilliantly coloured bergamot and bordered by wildflowers.
Finding Inspiration on Everyday Walks
Most of my designs start quietly — with a shape, a leaf, a cluster of berries or a tangle of wildflowers catching my attention as I’m strolling through the fields. Sometimes it’s the delicate structure of a cow parsley stem; other times it’s the curve of a fern, the twist of a bramble, or the first snowdrops peeking through the cold ground. These small moments become mental notes, or more often, phone photos ready to develop later in my studio.
Walking the same routes every day might sound repetitive, but the countryside never looks the same twice. Light shifts, colours deepen or fade, plants grow, bloom or die back. Even the hedgerows seem to breathe differently with each season. This constant change keeps my creativity moving — there is always something new to see, something worth turning into a print.
Botanical Details That Make Their Way Into My Prints
Botanical subjects suit linocut beautifully. The strong silhouettes, branching shapes and bold contrasts in nature translate perfectly into carved lines and ink. I often find myself drawn to:
- wildflowers that frame the edges of the fields
- seedheads and dried stems with striking outlines
- leaves that curl or split in interesting ways
- plants that feel “ordinary” but reveal quiet beauty when looked at closely
- seasonal shifts — from spring blossoms to autumn berries
When something catches my eye, I’ll stop (much to my dog’s confusion) and study it for a moment. I love capturing the character of simple, familiar plants — the ones we often walk past without noticing. Those small details carry so much charm and story
From Walk to Sketchbook to Print
Back at home, I turn those collected ideas into line drawings. They often start loosely, taking on their final shape through a mix of memory, my reference photos and artistic instinct. From there, the sketch is carved into lino, inked and printed by hand — a process I love for its tactile, imperfect nature.
And this is one of the reasons I return to the countryside again and again: nature never tries to be perfect. It twists, leans, bends and grows the way it wants. That honest, unpolished beauty is exactly what I try to capture in my prints.
Art That Brings the Outside In
For me, creating botanical lino prints is a way of sharing the places that bring me calm, joy and grounding. When you hang one of my prints in your home, you’re bringing a little piece of the Hampshire countryside indoors — a reminder of wildflowers in the fields, sunlight through the trees, or the simple beauty of a hedgerow in full bloom.
Whether you’re a nature lover, a countryside walker, or someone who just enjoys the quiet charm of botanical artwork, I hope my prints offer a moment of that outdoor stillness wherever they’re displayed.
