Between the Stars and the Studio Floor

Some weeks remind you why you make art. Others remind you just how much work it takes to get that art onto a wall.

Very proudly showing off my latest artwork, The Persistence of Stellar Drift.

This week (and it's only Monday!) has been a little of both.

Last Saturday I attended the 'Nebula' exhibition launch at Sker Gallery, where my painting 'The Persistence of Stellar Drift' is currently on display. It was a wonderful evening, made even more memorable by guest speakers from Bridgend Astronomical Society and the fascinating Martin Griffiths, whose knowledge of the Mabinogion brought together Welsh mythology, history and the night sky in a way that felt surprisingly connected to my own work as a Welsh contemporary artist.

The Persistence of Stellar Drift, a painting I am yet to add to my website, explores transformation, movement and the traces we leave behind. Hearing Martin speak of stories about ancient constellations and Welsh mythology, while standing beside my painting reminded me that humans have always searched the stars for meaning. We continue to do so today, each in our own way.

Now, with barely enough time to catch my breath, my focus has shifted to the Untitled Artists' Fair at Chelsea Old Town Hall on King's Road, London (24–26 July).

The romantic image of being an artist often ends when the painting is finished. The reality is rather different.

This weekend has been filled with framing artwork, writing certificates of authenticity, printing labels, packaging paintings, checking inventories and working through what feels like an endless list of admin. None of it appears in an Instagram reel, yet every piece is essential before a painting ever reaches its new home.

Admin time. Why do I always leave it so late!

I'll admit I'm exhausted.

But it's the kind of exhaustion that comes from working towards something you genuinely believe in. A personal goal, that has nothing to do with corporate KPIs. A goal that brings a genuine, heartfelt sense of achievement.

In just a few days I'll be exhibiting alongside an incredible group of artists, meeting visitors, talking about my work and hopefully introducing new people to my colourful, layered world.

If you're planning to visit the Untitled Artists' Fair, I'd love for you to stop by, say hello and see the paintings in person. Photographs can never quite capture the shifting colours, textures and details that reveal themselves as you move around the work. You can register for free tickets here, it's not too late.

Here's to one more week of organised chaos... and then it's showtime.