Initially trained as a printmaker, my artistic journey took a turn after meeting a painter, which led me to embrace a studio-based practice in oils. Over the past 30 years, I have explored the realms of still-life and landscape painting, while also dedicating time to sketching people and life drawing. My art is deeply rooted in observing and recording my surroundings, driven by a curiosity to understand more about the world around me. Daily dog walks fuel my process, providing regular opportunities for note-taking and sketching. Paths, tracks, and rivers often appear in my work, guiding the viewer into the heart of each piece.

In 2019, I returned to academia to pursue a Master’s degree at the School of Art, Aberystwyth University, which led me to experiment with acrylics—a medium I once found too harsh in color but have since embraced for its practicality when painting outdoors.

My inspiration often comes from nature writers and walkers, who articulate a love for the natural world that resonates with me. However, it is through my paintings that I choose to express this connection. Weather and light play pivotal roles in shaping the mood and emotion of each scene, whether dramatic, uplifting, calming, or reflective. I am particularly drawn to that magical time of day as it transitions into evening, when birds sing their evensong and people move between the rhythms of home and activity. This is when the landscape transforms, colours deepen, and the world briefly shifts—if we allow ourselves the time to notice.

Recently, my study of the activities of the local rangers and countryside teams has shifted slightly focussing more on those using the landscape as a venue. Tutors and volunteers foraging, wellness sessions, meetings and events, the venues and subjects present themselves as my journey unfolds, every turn a delight and something new to explore. My medium has also shifted from painting to drawing, keeping things simple enables me to get out and experience more so I have developed and made my own palm sized sketchbooks, which I am also making available to you, to encourage you to get out and sketch.

It’s a wonderful, colorful world, and I hope my work inspires others to appreciate, protect, and cherish it as much as I do.

— Emma-Jayne Holmes