I’m happiest when I can paint a place that I have visited and spent time at; composing paintings in my mind’s eye as I go.  I sketch when I can and take many photographs, for reference for when I’m  back in my studio. Nothing beats experiencing the essence of a place- the sounds, colours, textures, weather and scenery. Rather than render a photo-realistic painting I try to express how it felt to be there in that moment. I hope my paintings convey the serene atmosphere.

It wasn’t until I travelled to an art workshop near Abergavenny, 45 miles away, that I heard about this gem which is less than 4 miles from my home in Malvern.  The Picton Garden is just the other side of the hills in Colwall and hosts the ‘Plant Heritage National Plant Collection of Michaelmas daisies with more than 430 varieties’ . I no doubt had driven past this unassuming location many times, with it being Michaelmas Day when I looked it up it seemed a sign to pay a visit. I was richly rewarded on this September day with the bursting flowerbeds and dazzling colours. 

Michaelmas Star is reproduced from my original painting following a visit on Michaelmas Day 2025, to Old Court Nurseries and Picton Gardens. The nursery, nestled in the Malvern Hills, specialises in Michaelmas Daisies and holds the National Collection. I was inspired by the riot of bold colours and the echoes it had to my box of highly pigmented soft pastels. Sometimes my art doesn’t want to be muted and delicate it just wants to sing out colour in a noisy and celebratory manner. The bouncing vibration of colours on the paper captured how alive my senses felt walking through the Picton Garden that September day. The Christian holiday of Michaelmas is about ‘facing fears and strengthening resolve’ which perfectly reflects my current mindset following breast cancer. The ‘star’ element comes from the Greek word aster which means star and refers to the shape of the flower head.

Michaelmas Star, Picton Gardens, is currently on display at Worcester City Art Gallery until 18th January 2026 as part of the Worcester Society of Artists 77th Annual Art Exhibition.

The Picton Garden is located within- Old Court Nurseries LLP, Walwyn Road, Colwall, Worcestershire WR13 6QE. Link to visiting information