Recent Inspirations: From Circus Sketches to Moonlit Masterpieces

It’s been a wonderfully inspiring couple of days, and my brain is absolutely fizzing with ideas. I thought I’d share a little behind-the-scenes look at what’s been inspiring me lately — from dreamy gallery wanderings to a circus-themed life-drawing session.

Last night I took part in a brilliant drawing session with artists and pals Helen Dryden and Zoë Eady — and the theme was circus. I really enjoyed it — sketching acrobats hanging from hoops and people posing with all sorts of interesting props, from musical instruments to birds. I haven’t drawn like that in a while, so it was fun and also a bit challenging in the best way. It was inspiring to see the work my friends produced too, and the whole session left me excited to get back into more observational drawing.

My favourite page from my sketchbook.

This morning I headed to Leeds Art Gallery and wandered through two brand new exhibitions. Plant Dreaming brought together artists exploring nature, memory, and identity in all sorts of imaginative ways — from sculptural pieces to photography and delicate drawings. My favourite works were by Emma Talbot. Her colourful style immediately caught my eye, and the large scale of her pieces made them feel almost immersive. 

Spaceship Earth by Emma Talbot.

Then I visited 'Don't Let's Ask for the Moon...': Nocturnes and Atkinson Grimshaw which focused on nocturnal landscapes, moonlit scenes, and the atmosphere of night. It mixed historic pieces with contemporary works, and it had this really calm, slightly mysterious feeling throughout. I was especially drawn to Judith Tucker’s paintings — her atmospheric oil paintings on linen were so subtle and beautifully lit, with that soft, moody glow that only night scenes have. 

(The cover photo shows a selection of Judith's paintings)

Stepping away from my own work for a day and taking the time to really look at what other artists are creating always feels worthwhile. It shifts my perspective a little, reminds me of what’s possible, and gives me space to think in a different way. After the past couple of days, I feel refreshed, inspired, and excited to bring some of these ideas back into my own sketchbook.

If you’ve seen anything recently that filled you with ideas, I’d love to hear — I’m always curious about what sparks other people’s creativity.