Every year we have a discussion/argument with our neighbour about the dandelions… she sees weeds that must be dug out, I see sparrows feeding on the seeds and this incredible shieldbug orgy. What’s your view on the humble dandelion? 🌼 #flowersnotweeds #nativeplants #naturelover #shieldbugs #dandelions #dandelionseeds #dandelionlove #rspb_love_nature #sussexwildlifetrust #weedsareflowerstoo
This is what dungaree pockets were made for! Who’s with me 🖍️ 🎨 🙌 Or if it’s not pencils, what do you fill your pockets with?! If the kids are in tow, then it’s pencils and snacks, obvs.
Loving the sunny colours for this mornings quick doodle 🩵 💛 💚
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#sketchbook #greensketching #drawingoutside #chichestermums #westsussexwalks #chichesterlife #natureillustration #dailydrawing #sketchbookpage #naturejournal #westsussexmums #chichesterbusinesses #love #chich #lovechichester #southdownsnationalpark
Were you up at the crack of dawn for National Dawn Chorus Day?! 🐦 I was up at 4.30 to feed our cat 🙃 but the noise of bird song was SO loud I decided to sit out the back door for a few minutes and take it all in. It was just amazing - all our usual garden regulars singing their hearts out.
Why do they sing so much at dawn?
At this time of year, it’s all about claiming nest territory and finding a mate. But according to the @rspb website, ‘one of the main reasons is it’s quieter then and the air is usually still. Birdsong has been shown to carry 20 times further at dawn, making all that effort to attract a mate much more worthwhile.’ It certainly was nice to be up before the cars and noise of humans, and enjoy the pure song of birds. I thoroughly recommend enjoying an early morning performance if you can! 🐦 💛
Illustrations from a sketchbook page last year, doodling some of our garden favourites.
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#rspb #rspb_love_nature #nationaldawnchorusday #dawnchorus #dawnchorusday #dawnchorus2024 #birdillustration #birdstagram #birdsketch #birdart #birdsketchbook #birdsofinstagram #birdsong
An ode to the mountains 💚 To celebrate my mums birthday and a lifetime of adventures in the Lake District, I made her this little fold-out book. It celebrates some of the special places we’ve explored and continue to visit, and I LOVED drawing it for her. It’s her birthday today but I’m not with her… she’s in the Lake District 😆 Keep watching to see the cover… first to tell me who it’s a reference to?! #lakedistrict #lakedistrictnationalpark #lakedistrictart #mountainart #mountainillustration #artistbooks #artistbook #illustratedbook #illustration #natureart #concertinasketchbook #sketchbook #mountainsketch #wainwright
Wow I feel so so lucky to be doing these Green Sketching workshops 💚 ✏️ The most WONDERFUL group of like-minded souls at @rspb Pagham Harbour this morning, who were so enthusiastic and loved oohing and ahhhing over mossy branches and the colour of leaves. It was heaven. A repeat customer, an inspiring lady called Thelma, and a newly-converted group of Green Sketchers 😄🍃💚 Sunday = Done!
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#drawingnature #naturesketch #chichesterbusiness #chichestermums #westsussexmums #drawingoutside #greensketching #chichesterlife #chichester #chichesterbusinesses #westsussexbusiness #whatsonchichester #westsussexwalks #chichesterevents #westsussexartist #rspb #rspbpaghamharbour
Have you seen a swallow yet this year? 💙 ❤️ I drew this a couple of years ago, but the power of doing drawing when you’re out and about is the MEMORY it creates. The act of drawing seems to print it more firmly in your memory than just taking a photo. I can remember back to this sunny walk, I’d been walking alongside a river and came across some old farm buildings and there was this nest. I was on my own so could spend as long as I wanted drawing both from life and my little bird guide book, magical ✨
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#birdsofinstagram #birdstagram #birdillustration #swallows #swallowillustration #sketchbookpage #natureillustration #wildlifeillustration #dailydrawing #sketchbook #naturesketch #naturejournal
✨Just a quick update on workshops as a few things have changed ✨
🍓Firstly, I'm SO excited that my July date is going to be at the Bishops Palace Vegetable Plot AKA the Transition Chichester growing garden. Not only is this a great central location, with views of the cathedral from our own secluded garden, but I cannot wait to draw fruit and veg! No walking so this is a nice gentle one, the garden will be so lush at this time of year, it's going to be magical. Thanks so much to @transitionchichester for letting us use their space 💚
🐚Secondly, I've changed the day of the Dell Quay one to offer another weekend date due to popular demand. So it is now Sunday morning, 12 May. This one should also be incredible, down by the water (will we see a seal??)
Grab your place via my website up there ☝
...... #chichestermums #whatsonchichester #drawingnature #westsussexmums #westsussexbusiness #westsussexartist #chichesterevents #chichester #chichesterbusiness #chichesterbusinesses #chichesterlife #drawingoutside
Lovely morning at RSPB Pagham Harbour, getting ready for Sundays workshop! I left my video audio on so you can hear alllll the bird song 🐦 🎶 They got seriously flooded a couple of weeks ago with an unusually high tide but it’s looking all good for some exploring and doodling 🍃 ✏️ There’s only ONE space left, you know what to do if you want to join us ☝️
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#chichester #chichesterharbour #chichesterbusinesses #pagham #paghamharbour #rspbpaghamharbour #greensketching #chichesterevents #chichestermums #chichesterbusiness #westsussexlife #chichestermums #rspb #getoutside
Another fun and enjoyable workshop this morning, with some lovely feedback 💚 I really do love sharing the joy of green sketching, exploring local areas with like-minded people and giving them a bit of confidence and guidance to start their own outdoor drawing journey. The biggest excitement for today's group was discovering waterbrush pens, a gamechanger for outdoor painting!
.... #chichester #chichesterbusinesses #chichestermums #westsussexbusiness #chichesterbusiness #westsussexmums #chichesterlife #drawingoutside #drawingnature #greensketching #dailydrawing
Last call to join me for bluebell doodling tomorrow! Brandy Hole Copse in Chichester is looking BEAUTIFUL at the moment, can't wait to spend a couple of hours with some lovely folks exploring the woods and doing a bit of drawing. Come join us 👆 or DM me for the link 💙https://www.wildcrayon.co.uk/upcomingworkshops/p/brandy-hole-april24
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#chichesterbusiness #drawingoutside #westsussexartist #chichestermums #drawingnature #chichesterbusinesses #westsussexbusiness #whatsonchichester #westsussexmums #chichesterevents #chichester #chichesterlife #chichesterart #westsussexwalks #greensketching
When your local woods look like this it would be rude not to right?! People come from far and wide to visit the woods we call home, we’re so lucky to have this on our doorstep, I’ve been every day so far this week 🩵💙 Come do some bluebell doodles with me!
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#weststoke #bluebells #sussexbluebells #chichester #southdowns #bluebellwoods #bluebellseason #natureart #greensketching #natureillustration #dailysketch #sketchbook #sketchbookpage #getoutside #drawingoftheday
I loved this illustration project! For the latest edition of the @rspca_official kids magazine, I did the artwork for a spread about creating your own mini pond in your garden and all the wildlife it may attract. Such a great thing to do, even in a tiny garden, give it a try as the weather starts to warm up! You never know what wildlife you may attract 🐸🐝🐞🦔🐦
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#illustration #illustrationgram #illustrationart #illustrationforkids #illustrator #illustratorsoninstagram #illustratorartwork #wildlifeillustration #rspca #gardeningforwildlife #wildlifelovers #natureillustration
Who wouldn’t want to be in the woods when they look like this?! 💙🩵 Join me for some drawing and doodling THIS FRIDAY at Brandy Hole Copse, Chichester, 10-12pm. Absolutely no drawing experience needed, we’ll be focusing on enjoying time outside and noticing nature (including the bluebells!). Book your place now, link in my profile or ping me a message and I'll send you a direct link
Other workshops also available on my website 🍃✏☝️
Something a bit different this morning, I sent a HUGE piece of artwork off to print yesterday (always mildly terrifying but also exciting), these little images were part of it. It’s being printed on some big boards and then being installed in a busy railway station 😳 It’s the most public illustration project I’ve done, can’t wait to see it in situ! I’ll share more when it is ✏️
#illustration #illustrationproject #Illustrator #illustratorsoninstagram #illustratorlife
Photo dump from a few days in Devon, exploring the very eastern edges of Dartmoor. Full of raging rivers, ancient woodlands covered in moss and lichen and swimming every day in the pool at the campsite. Exhausted, but definitely want to come and explore Dartmoor more, we barely scratched the surface.
Had a great hike up the waterfall at @canonteignfalls (spotted some dinosaurs in the amazing fern valley)
Found a type of oil beetle by the river at Pullabrook Woods
Stumbled across @makesouthwest and their Pulp exhibition, including @kasasagi.design with her paper mushrooms and nature finds, always wanted to see her work in the flesh (paper?) 💛
Finished with a stop off at @moorsvalley on the way home. Just don’t mention the 1.5hour toddler tantrum trying to get him away from watching the train 😳
#getoutside #getoutdoors #dartmoor #devon #kidsoutdoors #kidshiking
💛 Happy Dandelion Day! 💛 “Dandelions are just friendly little weeds which only want to be loved like flowers.” ― Heather Babcock (poet). One of my absolute favouritest of flowers (controversially, for some reason) - it’s bright yellow, comes out early when we need some colour and it’s just the best for bees and other insects. Not to mention the joy I get watching the sparrows eating the seeds once it turns into a big puff ball. Come draw dandelions with me 💛✏️ #drawingoutside #drawingnature #dailydrawing #getoutside #SpreadJoy #dandelion #dandelions #naturelovers
Just over two weeks until my next workshop 🥳 Still spaces if you want to join us in one of my favourite local nature spaces, Brandy Hole Copse, Chichester. It will be super relaxed, using drawing to explore the woods and enjoy some time outside this spring.
Follow the link in my profile 👆 for tickets. Friday 19 April, 10-12pm 🍃✏
#drawingnature #chichester #chichesterbusinesses #chichesterlife #chichestermums #westsussex #westsussexbusiness #chichesterart #chichesterbusiness #chichesterevents #westsussexwalks #whatsonchichester #westsussexartist #westsussexmums
"If in doubt, draw a leaf" is the mantra I come back to SO many times! The hedgerows and trees are bursting into life at this time of year, so grab a pencil and go see how many different shaped leaves you can draw 🍃✏
#greensketching #drawingoutside #drawingnature #getoutside #chichesterbusinesses #westsussexmums #chichester #westsussexwalks #getoutdoors
Thats the end of my Adventure Doodles with Kids series!! One more thing - it’s always good to take some pals along, go explore together and share your crayons and joy spotting (and snacks). Share with a mum/dad friend so you can do some Adventure Doodling together this Easter 🍃✏
Please do tag me in any outdoor drawing you do with your kids, I would so love to see them. Spring is finally here and getting outside for a walk and explore is such fun at this time of year, especially if you add something like drawing for a different twist. Happy Easter Holidays!
✨Don’t forget ✨ to sign up to my Adventure Doodles with Families newsletter to be the first to hear about the Family Workshops I’m developing. Link up there in my bio or comment ADVENTURE below and I’ll send you the link!
#chichester #chichestermums #chichesterlife #chichesterbusiness #greensketching #wildcrayon #kidsoutside #kidsoutdoors #kidsinnature #easterholidays #westsussexmums #westsussexwalks #westsussexartist #chichesterbusinesses #easteractivites #getoutside #getoutdoors
The final part of my Adventure Doodles for Kids series, and it’s an important one - know when to move on.
Kids don’t sit still for long, once they’re done, pack up and move on. Don’t worry if you’re not finished, the joy was in those few moments and doing something together, rather than feeling too precious about any finished result. Keep joy spotting if you want, stop for another drawing a bit later on, or climb a tree, collect pine cones… whatever takes your fancy.
TOP TIP:
Don’t push any more drawing if they’re done, just remember to take your little Adventure Doodle kit out another day!
IDEAS:
You could take some nature finds home to draw later on, like acorns, sticks, feathers, or shells (please don’t pick plants or flowers).
Tag a friend who might need enjoy something different to do this Easter! 🍃✏
I recommend checking out @the_ambling_path for all the best family-friendly walks in the area.
✨Don’t forget ✨ to sign up to my Adventure Doodles with Families newsletter to be the first to hear about the Family Workshops I’m developing. Link up there in my bio or comment ADVENTURE below and I’ll send you the link!
#chichester #chichestermums #chichesterlife #chichesterbusiness #greensketching #wildcrayon #kidsoutside #kidsoutdoors #kidsinnature #easterholidays #westsussexmums #westsussexwalks #westsussexartist #chichesterbusinesses #easteractivites #getoutside #getoutdoors
