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It’s fair to say that 2020 has been a year like no other. Covid-19 sent the world into a tailspin, with the UK Government imposing a national lockdown in March in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. Restrictions eased over the summer and schools returned as normal in September, but a second…

The winter chill is setting in and cosy nights are upon us. The festive season is in full swing, but if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of getting everything ready after a strange year, The Shipley Art Gallery has just the thing. Five artists, including myself, have once again being brought…

I’ve submitted my Christmas wish list to Santa (or in my case, the husband) and as you can imagine, there are a few calligraphy-related requests in there. While 2002 has been a strange year, to say the least, calligraphy businesses and suppliers have been pulling out all the stops to launch new products or tweak…

During lockdown, I’ve been turning my business back into a hobby. I’ve learned two new calligraphy scripts in the last month – Italian Hand with Heather Held and Pointed Pen Uncial with Joy Daniels. Both were via Zoom and if it wasn’t for the fact that Covid-19 has forced a lot of calligraphy workshops online,…

I have recently discovered the magic of Walker’s Copperplate Ink – and the man behind it. The late Brian Walker was an experienced penman of many years standing and his daughters are keeping his memory alive with a new website dedicated to his work. He originally made Walker’s Copperplate Ink, based on a nineteenth century…

Autumn has officially arrived, with Halloween and Bonfire Night already behind us. The clocks have gone back – and with England in a second national lockdown, there’s never been a better time to snuggle up and indulge your creativity. Creating Autumn Art I’m delighted to be one of the artists involved in the creation of…

Almost six months after lockdown started, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Navigating a business through the coronavirus crisis has been tricky to say the least – and at times I’ve been tempted to throw in the towel. Commissions with gorgeous stories behind them (I can never resist them) and funding boosts…

World Calligraphy Day 2020 has been launched by Manuscript Pen Company – with a special request in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic. The company is continuing the #SaySomethingSpecial campaign from last year, but shifting its focus from children and young people to older folk who may be feeling particularly isolated at the moment.…

Regular readers of my blog and those who follow me on social media will know how proud I am to be one of the artists associated with The Cultural Spring. In fact, pretty much anyone who knows me will be aware of how instrumental the project has been in shaping the workshop side of my…