Welcome to my blog!
In my dad’s words, I am chuffed to have you visit, so thank you. You can scroll through all of my posts by using the dropdown boxes or by clicking the arrows to the left or right of each section below. Enjoy 🙂
Sketches and history of the Belvidere Hotel, 77 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy
I was caring for my dad when I first started drawing Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. It was late 2018. Dad lived in Bourke Street, right near Parliament House, and our family was taking turns supporting him to stay at home during his last months. When my brother dropped in...
Urban sketching at the Black Cat, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
This week we should have been exhibiting another year of Brunswick Street sketches at the Black Cat. But, alas, due to Melbourne’s coronavirus lockdowns it is now on the back burner 🙁. The Black Cat in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, is a Melbourne icon. It is Cool, with a capital C. It’s retro. It’s quirky. They have a DJ. They support local artists. Like us.
Urban sketching at Pete’s castle in Galway, Ireland
Three years ago today my husband and I were staying at the most fabulous Airbnb - Pete's castle in Galway, Ireland. It's also known as Cahercastle, Craughwell, and according to the Irish Times it is one of the most popular listings in Europe. I'd spotted it many,...
Brunswick Street, Fitzroy – six months of urban sketches and streetscapes
Almost every Tuesday for the last six months, since January 2019, I have been catching a tram down Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, to draw beautiful Victorian buildings on location. It started as a personal passion project to draw the street, and I have to say that I...
My watercolour palette for 2019
I have spent weeks (possibly months) pouring over my collection of watercolour paints to choose a new palette for this year. The fact that it is nearly the end of May says a lot! I am nothing if not indecisive, and I can um and ah for hours over whether or...
My watercolour palette for 2018
I am constantly asked to share the colours in my watercolour palette, but when you have this many that is easier said than done! I love to play around with different combinations, and I test new colours all the time, but this is my collection for 2018. I...
Carers Week 14-20 October 2018 – free poster
For years I have shared a free poster to celebrate Carers Week, which this year is held in Australia from 14 to 20 October. My annual posters came about as a result of my own experience as a mental health carer, and the website I created at...
Review of Moo’s cotton business cards for artists
I love the idea of having a tiny art portfolio that can be carried in my pocket. Moo cards make that possible, as you can have up to 50 different designs on one side of the card, with one on the other. I don't know where else you can do that. It seems pretty amazing...
Sketchbook tour – 2 weeks urban sketching in Ireland
A big portion of my ancestry is Irish, so visiting Ireland for the first time was something I was really looking forward to. From sunny (and often not so sunny) Melbourne it was hard to imagine the accents, the brilliant greens, the castles (yay CASTLES!!) and the...
Family tree calligraphy and my convict ancestors
I spent about six months in 1994 drawing up this family tree for my mum. She had done all the research over many, many years, the slow and painstaking way, long before anyone dreamed up ancestry.com! It was before my now adult children were born. I worked Monday to...
Standing up for my watercolour floral friend
I drew this a couple of months ago. I really enjoyed the process, the experimenting and then playfully adding polka dots just for the fun of it. I never shared it because there was such a mixed reaction from a few people - it is something you either love or...
Edinburgh – urban sketching through the red velvet curtains
When Beth googled "magical places in Europe" to visit during our big adventure, I noticed a shift in my thinking. It wasn't just castles that seemed magic, but it was like there was some indefinable sparkle in the air where almost anything seemed special. I suppose...
Drawing during the brownie ban
It's a bit rough when you are just trying to support your teenage daughter's future as a pastry chef and she bans you from touching the chocolate brownies that are sitting on the bench. Especially when she has just called for help in setting up a brownie photo shoot...
Happy Carers Week 2016 – free poster of carer strengths
Please note that this poster was available for a limited time until 22 October 2016. Signed prints are still available through my print shop. Happy Carers Week 2016 to all those family members, support people and unpaid carers who do so much for others. Thank you....
Video of my Clairefontaine sketchbook – still urban sketching through Europe
Six weeks into our European adventure I started my second sketchbook - a huge achievement for me as I have never filled a sketchbook so fast - or at all really, if I am honest! It was a bit tricky getting used to the skinny, wide landscape format of the Clairefontaine...
Video of my golden sketchbook – urban sketching through Europe
Ok, so my Strathmore mixed media journal isn't really made of gold, but the metallic paints meandering over the cover and the gold edges inspired by illuminated manuscripts have given it something of a reputation as a golden sketchbook. This was the first sketchbook...
Oh the possibilities! A painting for the Boroondara Stroke Support Group
Like life, this painting started as an unknown, a blank canvas full of promise. It went through its ugly and difficult stages, bloomed slowly and unexpectedly bit by bit, adapting and changing to the odd challenge thrown its way. It dug in its roots, clung firmly to...
Urban sketching at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex – the land of knights
“Castle!” calls my daughter from the back seat as we round the bend in the highway. It is our third day in England and we still can’t believe that castles and medieval churches seem to pop up on the landscape every few minutes, interspersed by Tudor buildings and...
Urban sketching in Robertsbridge and the land of my ancestors
My mum was a very keen genealogist, and long before the internet she spent years researching our family history in person, gathering birth and death certificates, visiting cemeteries, hand searching shipping records and writing letters to potential relatives. It was a...
Urban sketching in the Netherlands – my childhood home
I figure that I am spiritually about 10% Dutch. I lived in Holland for six of the first ten years of my life, and I have wonderful memories of that time – memories that have been soaking back into my veins and reclaiming my soul since the minute we stepped on a KLM...
Magical mystery tour – Europe 2016
Our family is heading off on a two month European adventure to discover castles, fairytale villages and unicorns. I plan to sketch them in a golden journal.
Rainbow bookshelves – a Marie Kondo inspired declutter
I was physically and mentally exhausted, and overwhelmed by clutter. Then I discovered Marie Kondo’s book – The life changing magic of tidying.
Why, what, who? Courage & colour pencils
Why did I start this blog in the first place? It’s about my own search for courage, exploring wellbeing and sharing hope through art.
Mum’s gift to me – a love of colour
Hot pinks, bright oranges, lime greens and precious purples – I just can’t get enough. I’m sure it started with mum’s love of quilting brilliant Thai silks.
Welcome, we care – a free poster
Free poster for non profit use welcoming those reaching out and asking for help. “Welcome – you have our respect and support. We care.” Mixed media painting
Learning not to be “a fixer”
Learning to sit with things I cannot change – reminiscing on acceptance and parenting. How does it feel when you desperately want to “fix” things but can’t?
It takes courage to ask for help – free poster
Free poster for non profit use acknowledging the strength and courage involved in reaching out and asking for help. Mixed media painting by Helen Wilding.
A pirate, a quilt and a brand new baby
Pirate, dragon rider, dreamer, artist, super hero, poet or adventurer … don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, little man, and be proud just to be you.
Sketching Leonie’s chrysanthemums
Good friends who understand how things are with little explanation. The solidarity in having “been there”. That’s what these flowers remind me of.
It’s okay to be different – mixed media from bird to chameleon
I didn’t plan this twirly headed chameleon like guy, but he obviously wanted to be noticed and popped up out of the blue in my mixed media painting.