Still life has long been one of the most valuable subjects for artists. A simple arrangement of everyday objects gives us a chance to explore composition, colour, line, tone and mark making without the pressure of capturing movement or likeness. But what happens when we stop trying to paint objects exactly as they appear and instead begin to reinterpret them? In my last studio class, we explored abstract still life — taking familiar objects and transforming them into something more...

Discover the key principle behind successful portrait drawing — structure first, details later. Inspired by a sculpture in Madeira, this article explains the fundamentals of drawing the human head and introduces an online portrait course for beginners.

One of the things I love most about teaching art is watching students discover that drawing and painting are skills that can be learned step by step. Here’s another glimpse inside my studio at Robinwood Art School in Ayr , where students at different stages of their journey are developing their skills and confidence. Some are beginning with simple drawing exercises, while others are producing beautifully finished still life paintings. What connects them all is that they share the same...