Any kind of creativity or exercise are great tools to support mindfulness. In our busy lives, its becoming increasingly important to take a restful moment that promotes wellness and selfcare. Art can help do that and if you've not done much it shouldn't be something to be scared of. These 3 simples steps advise on how to involve art into your life to aide mindfulness.

This isn't about creating a finished piece. This is one of my biggest learnings from university was how to use a sketchbook as an exercise in exploration rather than starting each with the mindset of thinking how will it turn out.

​Take yourself back to your childhood art, when you just created, it could be a mess, it could be organised pattern but overall it is just play. Remove the pressure to make "something" or draw something realistic and just MAKE YOUR MARK. This isn't work to show to be judged, but who the hell cares if its seen, its an extension of the creative side of your brain. I dont want to hear "but I can't draw", because everyone can physically draw. We don't have to be Rembrandt to enjoy the process.

Loosen up and enjoy exercises like drawing with your eyes closed, drawing without looking at the paper and continuous line drawing.

The pre-act of mindful art is equally as important as the process itself. So there's two options depending on how you work and how it fits into your daily life. If your sat there thinking I literally have no time to create, think EASY ACCESS. It needs to be something thats just there and you can utilise for 10 seconds or whatever you have spare. Think a whiteboard, a sketchbook in your bag on your train commute, a canvas out on your kitchen side as you do your chores. In the interest of keeping it real heres how i role, art mixed into my daily life of washing up and prepping the boys dinner. Its not glamourous, i dont have a dishwasher and i promise the wine was from the night before😂, but working this way gives me those few moments of art that keep me in check.

If you have more time and a space then make your space work. I will always advocate playing with scale, as adults we often constrain our art to small pieces. So get experimental on large sheets of paper or cardboard boxes, build layers, stand, sit, dance, use all of yourself in your work.

Paint over paint, try again, rework relayer, work over other peoples work. This is about enjoying the process and the more you can relax and realise 'hey its just art, whats the worst that can happen' the more youll relax into it and find yourself developing and find what works for you. The below piece is on rework number 3...i think

I had an absolute blast hosting this art event at this fabulous couples wedding last weekend. It went way beyond my expectations of how much fun the guests would have.
There was nostalgia as guests donned their back to front aprons and reminisced their school days, there was laughter as they gently teased each other over painting skills, there was competition over whose was the best bit, there was conversation as they kept coming back to see how the painting was progressing and there was pride, so much pride for what collectively they had managed to achieve as their gift to the newly weds.

Wait...it gets even more sentimental...

The painting is titled "ripples of life". The newly weds paint the middle section together and their friends and family are invited to paint in the ripples around the centre.

Doubts over painting skills...

So firstly im on hand to guide and advise your guests if they want and secondly I have a crafty tape technique that means your guests just need to paint within the lines. We use proffessional acrylic paints which are very forgiving and a limited colour palette so your guests can easily make a cohesive piece.

I endevour to make sure you'll love it in your home...

​We have a consultation beforehand to discuss colours, size and style. This event works best on a large canvas (recommended 1x1m) however if this is too big for your home we can work over smaller canvases that you can either keep, or you can give as gifts to those special to you. After the wedding I take the piece home, touch up any areas that need definition or strengthening, varnish it and get it ready to hang. It is then delivered to you...as a lasting memory of your wedding.

It was honestly a blast and the feedback I received was outstanding. No one is doing this event, so the proffessionals tell me...so if you want to get on board and have something truely unique and special at your wedding do get in touch. 💙

​Im based on the Surrey, Hampshire border but am available to travel to neighbouring counties.

In an age of new, there's something quite special about home grown sustainability. So when it comes to a time for whatever reason a tree needs to come down on your property, we've a service that offers just that.

​Dan has perfected the art of milling timber on site so he achieves the best result from the timber. Making it the perfect material to add back into your garden design, whether its in the form of borders, a pagola or a piece of bespoke furniture designed and made by Dan. Letting nature sit on the land on which it grew, so no to fire wood and yes to a new purpose.