The Quiet Magic of Ancient Woodlands

I enjoy being anywhere that is wild. I could never really say where my favourite place is, as it often changes with my mood and how I'm feeling. But one place where I always know I'll feel at home is in a woodland. So it's probably no surprise that many of my paintings feature trees and deer.

Large woodlands are special. They provide a home for all sorts of wildlife, but because they are so old, they also have a presence—a quiet magic that's difficult to describe. Step beneath the canopy and the world seems to slow. The air feels cooler, birdsong echoes through the trees, and shafts of sunlight filter through the leaves to illuminate the woodland floor. Even on familiar paths, there's always something new to notice: a feather caught on a bramble, delicate lichen clinging to ancient bark, or the tiny movements of a treecreeper making its way up the trunk of an old tree.

The feeling of being in a woodland often stays with me long after I've returned home. Perhaps that's why I return to these places again and again. Not because they are dramatic, but because they remind me to slow down and look a little closer. They remind me of the quiet magic that I try to capture in my paintings.

In a world that often feels hurried, the woodland offers something different—a chance to pause, breathe, and rediscover the wonder hidden in the everyday.

I hope that same sense of peace finds its way into my paintings too. Whether it's the soft light beneath ancient trees or the fleeting glimpse of wildlife disappearing into the undergrowth, each piece begins with a moment of wonder experienced outdoors.