Byard Art, Cambridge are celebrating 25 years with a really big Summer Show and they asked me to put in six paintings. I am absolutely delighted.

Two of the paintings are shown above. The first is a lovely detailed painting of a tree in summer titled 'Birdwatch'. Look carefully and you will see twelve different birds in or around the tree. I really enjoyed painting this and wondering where it was going to take me when I started as I had no idea there would be British birds in it but I LOVED doing all the patterns.

My second painting also just evolved! I had already designed and painted the three trees entwined but it was only after Byard asked me for six works

that it evolved. At the time I was exhibiting in a group show at the Leper Chapel. I adore that building, the oldest in Cambridge, so it had to go in and I had been dreaming of unicorns after visiting the National Gallery so....

The most difficult part was the title. From the long list which included 'Going to Stourbridge Fair', 'Medieval Stourbridge', 'Candlelight Unicorn', 'An Unexpected Visitor' I settled on 'The Hound, the Hare and the Unicorn' in respect of my love of Medieval Manuscripts.

The exhibition is at Byard Art, opposite King's College from 1 July to 3 September 2023.

I am delighted to be taking part in Cambridge Open Studios again this year.

On July 2 & 3 and 8 & 9 I shall be at St Andrew's Hall, St Andres's Road, Cambridge CB4 1DH sharing with Melanie Max.

On July 22 & 23 I shall be back in my studio at 309 Milton Road, CB4 1XQ, opposite Kendal Way. There may be roadworks outside my house but I am open and will be delighted to see visitors.

Plus: there is a table set up so you can learn how to apply gold leaf and silver leaf and take your own mini artwork home with you.

Cambridge Open Studios is the highlight of the year for art lovers. This year there are 244 studios open all over Cambridgeshire with the majority being in the city of Cambridge. Many of the studios have 2 or more artists, and some areas make their own trail guides. I shall be sharing a trail with other artists in North Cambridge. My studio number is 96.

It is a bit of an odd year as I live on Milton Road in North Cambridge and it is undergoing major roadworks for around 3 years. As I have to apply to be in the guide by December, I have no idea if the roadworks will block my house come July.

So this year I will be in 2 places! Week 1 & 2 I shall be at St Andrew's Hall, St Andrew's Road, Chesterton CB4 1DH with Melanie Max and the final weekend 22/23 July I shall be in my home studio at 309 Milton Road CB4 1XQ.

In my studio you can try your hand at making a gilded canvas to take home and I shall be painting a new artwork in oil so you will be able to see the process.

I look forward to meeting art lovers from all over and to talk about my work, our lovely garden and the congestion charge!