This trip wasn’t part of my travel plans for 2026, but I needed to return to Taipei to sort out some paperwork. With heavy rain forecast, I wasn’t sure how much art and journaling material to bring. I wanted to travel light, so I decided to keep things simple. It was the perfect opportunity to finally use my Peerless watercolours, which I’d had for ages! Before the trip, I’d cut the watercolour sheets into smaller pieces to fit an accordion-fold palette for my Traveller’s Notebook. I also brought two Traveller’s Notebook inserts because, well, I couldn’t decide between them! 😂 One was the accordion watercolour insert, and the other was…
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My first art retreat took me all the way to Porto, Portugal, for eight days of travel and discovery, including four days spent creating, experimenting, and sharing ideas with fellow artists. The retreat, Relics of Nature, was led by Jane Chipp, whose work I’ve admired for years. Although our paths had crossed through online art programmes such as Wanderlust and Fodder School 5, where we were both guest teachers, we’d never actually met in person. I was looking forward to finally meeting Jane and experiencing what it would be like to create alongside other artists for several days. Four Days of Making Together The retreat began with welcome drinks and…
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This is the much-delayed second post from my Rome trip during the Jubilee Year last October. Life rather got in the way, so this one is fashionably late—but perhaps that’s fitting. Revisiting these pages has been a lovely way to relive the trip all over again. Rome in October was buzzing with pilgrims, tourists, and school groups (I realise that my photos don’t include any of the crowds! 😅). Exploring the city on my own during those first couple of days brought plenty of memorable moments—including accidentally letting myself into the wrong Airbnb building and then promptly getting locked inside! It wasn’t quite the start I’d imagined, but it certainly…
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It’s been a little while since I last updated my blog. Life has been wonderfully full lately, so both my blog and Instagram have taken a bit of a back seat. But I wanted to share a recent trip that has already become a favourite in my travel journal. A couple of weeks ago, my team and I travelled to Singapore for our annual trip, timing it with a three-day public holiday to minimise time away from work. Before we left, my weather app insisted it would rain every single day we were there. Thankfully, the forecast was far more dramatic than reality, and we were treated to plenty of…
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After taking a bit of a pause from #The100DayProject (my last one was in 2023 — how did that happen?!), I’ve decided to jump back in this year and approach it differently — with the intention of actually finishing. If you’re curious about my previous projects, you can browse them on this page. This year’s idea is beautifully simple: I’ll be creating mini collages using ephemera from the happy mail I’ve received from swap partners, finishing each piece with a postage stamp. Click on the image below to see the cards or this link. It’s also my way of finally using up those old Project Life journal cards that have…
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During China’s long public holiday, I spent ten days in the Eternal City — Rome — wandering through cobbled streets, stepping into centuries-old churches, and sketching ancient ruins with my sketchbook always close at hand. This year is the Jubilee Year, and I’m deeply grateful to have been invited by my sister, Angie, and her husband, Willie, to experience what truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event. The first couple of days were spent exploring, getting lost, and sketching — simply trying to get a feel for the city. Then I had the joy of meeting my wonderful friend Kristina, who flew in with her husband for what we now hope…
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Relics of Nature: My First Art Retreat in Porto
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The past few weeks have been a whirlwind! I’m thrilled about Fodder School 5 and the Fodder Challenge 2025 as I step into my role as a teacher for both—an exciting mix of celebration and new beginnings. On the home front, my daughter is back in the UK for university, and my son will be leaving soon, too. These transitions make our shared moments—meals, chats, and quiet time—feel extra precious. Amid Shanghai’s relentless heat, I’ve been finding small pockets for painting and collaging to stay grounded. It’s been a rich, challenging summer—how’s yours going? Keep an eye on your inbox, because our newsletter is going out soon with a little…
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I am excited to announce my selection as a teacher for Fodder School 5 and this year’s Fodder Challenge, starting in October. Join us for creative exploration, joyful projects, and community connection.
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At the end of May, I made another trip to Jeju Island in South Korea. I’ve always wanted to see this place after a friend told me I should go. I organised our company retreat for a few days of team-building and relaxation. Another bonus was that it’s relatively cheap to fly there from Shanghai. This trip would be a great break to take before my kids return to Shanghai for their summer break. Let me take you on a trip around Jeju Island through my lens and my sketches. Day 1 Arrived in warm sunny weather. Immediately, we got a van to take us to the eastern side of…
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My last post was on December 12; somehow, time just blurred—it’s already early May! I had many things I hoped to share, but life got busy, and priorities had to shift. Sadly, this blog ended up near the bottom of the list. The first few months of the year—January, February, and March—were packed. Most weekends, I doubled down on spending time at home recording and editing lessons for an upcoming class. More on that soon! It was an intense process, but once everything was completed, I felt a massive sense of relief—and excitement. I poured my heart into those lessons and can’t wait to see how students respond. Before I…
