I spend a lot of my time painting. My oil paintings takes weeks to build up layer upon layer, waiting for each addition to dry. But I also go urban sketching, making a drawing that takes up to 90 minutes to complete! I belong to Cambridge Urban Sketchers as well as jointly running a sketching group with Cambridge Drawing Society. Plus I go out on my own or with a friend.

It doesn't really matter what I draw, it is fascinating to try and make sense of what is in front of me. Originally I used an A4 pad but now I carry around a square sketch pad of 20 x 20 cms so I don't have to choose between portrait or landscape designs. The paper must be thick enough to withstand watercolour.

When I draw I tend to use both sides of the paper so when my book is opened there are two sketches to see at a time.

When I draw I start with a very rough outline using a 2B mechanical pencil to get the rough outlines and to make sure my image is neither too small nor too large for the page. When I am happy I draw with a fine liner and then I add the colour.

Adding watercolour can be a challenge sometimes, it is a no-go in a museum or a church so I also carry some watercolour crayons with me which sometimes stays as a coloured pencil drawing or often I add the water afterwards.

At home I have lots of full sketchbooks and I am really pleased with them and sometimes they give me ideas for a painting. I do enjoy showing them to people but never sell the drawings!