Continuing Professional Development - What is THAT...?!

During my years working in construction, Continuing Professional Development was very much a tick the box exercise for me.  I was always too wrapped up in the day-to-day stress of the job to sit back reading about what I was (or wasn’t in most cases!) experiencing for real on live building sites.

But that’s different now – maybe because I’m older & wiser but maybe it’s simply that now I’m doing something I really like and so I genuinely want to do all I can to do it well and do well at it.

Whatever the reasons, since starting out on this 'being a painter' shenanigans in 2021, I’ve concentrated on specific areas of my artist life in an effort to improve myself and my business. 

2021 – the year of the STUDIO

In April of that year, I took up residence in a first-floor studio at Fisherton Mill. 

A time for ‘pushing’ myself out there even though it felt dreadfully uncomfortable. 

This was also the year that I started a daily journal which turned out to be an invaluable experience for me but more on that some other time.

2022 – a year of ‘YES’ and my own WEBSITE

I said ‘yes’ to every event and opportunity to exhibit that came my way – I learned so much during this year; most of it lessons in what not to do.

2023 – the year of GOING SOLO and WORKSHOPS

My first solo exhibition ‘Simply Colour’ but too afraid to hold a private view event for it.  I remember that at one point in the lead up to the event, I even considered cancelling because I didn’t think I could pull it all together in time…I was very worried about making a fool of myself.

It was also the year I decided to start running regular workshops to see how that would feel.

2024 – my first PRIVATE VIEW and finding a HOBBY

Another solo exhibition ‘Made in the Moment but this time with a private view event that couldn’t have gone better.

And the realization that if painting was going to be my job, I was going to need a hobby/side hustle to provide some distraction from the full-time-ness of working for yourself.

2025 – a year of STRUCTURE

A year of focusing on the business side of things – everything got reviewed, from marketing to my website; it was the year for putting structure to all I do, gathering information and making better informed decisions.

2026 – the year for IMMERSION and REFRESH

Towards the end of last year and into this year, I’ve been feeling a little jaded in the how and what I’m creating.  Things feel stale and when I look back on the years…well, it’s no wonder really.  I’ve been doing A LOT of learning in other departments, along a very steep learning curve.  So this year is about refresh and immersion.

The REFRESH is coming from an online course I’ve signed onto 'Remembering in Paint' with David Mankin who’s known for his bold and very beautiful abstract land and seascapes. 

I chose this course because there are opportunities to dig into the What, Why and How of my practice – If you’re feeling lost, the answer to What, Why and How has got to help…right?!

As the preamble to finding my way, I created these paintings on paper using leftover paint but what makes them different to what I usually do, is the sheet size – usually my leftover paint studies happen on nothing larger than A4 and I really enjoyed working in this ‘leftover’ way on larger sheets - it’s funny how the smallest shift or change can actually make a difference. 

At some point soon, these will get torn up and turned into something else.

The IMMERSION happens during Featherstones Flower Club…because when talking about creativity, I’ll always rattle on about our being sponge-like and while we might not realise it, we’re soaking up all we surround ourselves with, storing it up for the next time we sit down to create. 

Florals play such a big part in my painted subject matter - I'm still trying to figure out why that is but in the meantime I feel the need to expose myself to more flowers so I’ve got the visual vocabulary to push my painting practice on and keep things fresh.

We had the second session a couple of weeks ago in which I picked a beautiful bucket of flowers and I've made time to sit and experiment with these little jars of inspiration.

Next time...let's wait and see what comes.