A very long time ago, when Jonathan was still on the course, we talked about sharing photographs of things we had on the walls in our houses as a way of getting to know our fellow students. This idea has never left me, but have not found an appropriate use for it – but I thought it was a great task for reflection – as a greater insight to me and the choices I make in my art and the art of others. Indeed my favourite colour combinations are very clear from the things I choose to have in my house.

Many of the images lack people. In fact there are very few photographs of people. All the images of places are a recording of my mood at time of being there. These are all an elated feeling and are all caused by the colour combinations – and predominantly the blue skies.

I have chosen to record everything – even if it is embarrassing – as they all reflect something about me.

I have captioned each image if you wish to know more about the object’s background and why it is treasured by me.

My fridge front. The main thing on here is a piece of felt I created at the start of the course. Far too literal and twee – but I love the colour combos. Postcard quotes from MoMA in NYC, LucianFreud and Naomi Ryder’s work. And a giant lemon slice tea cosy I made 20 yrs ago.

Side of my fridge. Postcards of Emin, Naomi Ryder again, Cambridge Folk Festival and William Morris – plus a quote about washing up!

A clock my cousin bought me for my first Christmas in this house – just before I went to New York. I love the way it plays with the blue and the cupboards.

Copies of some drawings I did for a wedding present for some friends many years ago. I love the reflection of the bridge stone in the blue of the river – and the colours in the roof of the chapel. Again, against the blue, they push even more buttons for me.

I bought this at the Potters Fair just after I finished my BA. This graduate was from my old college and I loved the colours, translucency and depth to this piece. And lovely wood agains the blue wall!

This little cushion makes me smile. Lovely duck egg blue and a cherry on the top to boot!

This is a painting I did many years ago. I never finished it but encouraged to put it on the wall anyway – to get it out of the way – and I have grown to love it in its current state. Again, blue, duck egg and egg yolk yellow together.

A piece I made earlier in the course. I love the colours and sheen of the silk – against the golden wood tones again.

This is a painting I did last year for submission to Fabric of the Land called ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’. It wasn’t accepted. When it came back from OCA submission, I hung it on the wall because I love the colours so much. There is always some new colour combination to find in here.

This piece was made by Sarah in my ceramics group from my BA. I love this piece because it ticks so many boxes for me. The colours are my favourite blue/green/gold combo and it is ecclesiastical in nature. I sometimes light a candle inside it as it looks stunning when lit from within. Another golden glow added to it.

A couple of prints by my friend Claire and a barometer my Dad made. Rich, warm wood against the blue wall.

A leopard I couldn’t bear to leave when I moved. I love his glorious golden colours – which ping off this blue wall.

An etching of the Sagrada Familia I did on a course years ago, a painting by my friend Alison of Orla Kiely patterns and a giraffe rather the same as the leopard. I love giraffes – even more so since I fed some when I was in the US a few years ago. One of the best experiences ever.

Bought this painting in Santa Margharita in Italy – just up the coast from Portofino. I love the blue against the yellow buildings and the warmth of the frame. It reminds me of glorious sunshine and happy holiday feelings.

My collection of bits of art! Lots of wood, ceramic, cats, blue things…

I love this matrushka doll I bought in St Petersburg. It features Russian Fairytales and has my fave colour combo on the outside doll.

Cat and print corner. My friend Shelly did the 2 left cat prints which I love and the right 2 are Chinese brush painted cats which are created through scush economic and simple strokes. I bought them from a craft fair to represent my cats (at the time) Bob and Moomin.

Shelly created this print while we were on holiday last year of us all walking on the beach at Aberdyfi. I was flying a kite. The colours of this remind me of the slate on the floor in the cottage.

Two embroideries I did many years ago – from patterns.

My grandparents clock (with a westminster chime – I have a cuckoo clock too that I love – but could not photograph it) and some glass pieces I made at Sue’s workshops.

I made this collection of photographs as a reminder of all the great places I had been to when I first moved into this house. L-R, top to bottom: Snowdonia, Venice, Istanbul, Venice, Blackpool, Eileen Donan, Miami, Parc Guell, Dubrovnik, West Wittering, The Rock Church Helsinki, The Azores, Lisbon, Florence, Hampton Court, Venice.

New York. I loved this city so much and developed an obsession with these viewfinders when I was there for the colours that reflected off them. At the Top of the Rock here.

This is a felted piece I created of Key Largo in Florida. I had never seen such vibrant colours in the sea or whiteness of the sand before. It was breathtaking and my body seemed to absorb the light and the colour. I has left a marked impression on me.

This is a collection of images I took on my first image to Skye. Again, the main focus is on blues mixed with golds and rusts. They all convey that feeling of lightness, of absorbing the colour as the landscape in Key Largo.

I bought this rug in Tunisia – it’s motifs are taken from the Mosque in Kairouin.

This is the first item I bought for my new house. I liked that it was felt, the colours and it’s title: Golden Showers, which I believe is a flower. I keep this in the toilet as I like the punof the title for those in the know!

Another New York obsessive image.

I like this picture of me beause I think I look nice and I LOVE the red against the silver of the top and the gold of my hair.

Enough said… I said I wasn’t leaving anything out!

Vanity…

More vanity… mostly because I don’t see myself like that.

My lovely Mum and Dad on their wedding day. All of these people pictures run up the stairs in my ‘hall of fame’.

I bought this small etching from the Rembrandt Museum in Amsterdam. I love the expression on his face – it makes me smile and wonder what caused it!

This is a tea towel I bought in Skye as I couldn’t afford one of the artist’s prints. The tea towel was affordable and I could frame it! It does remind me of a lovely time I spent there.

I painted this many years ago too. It is my interpretation of the Northern Lights. Note the colour combinations again!

A print of ‘Hylas and the Nymphs’ by John William Waterhouse.

A sampler I did many years ago.

A print I bought in Skye of Eileen Donan castle. I love this print as it encaptured so many things that we encountered on our trip that year: from demon sheep to smelly campers.

A mosaic art picture I began, but Mum finished for me.

Mosaic art picture I did manage to finish! These are a kit which involve intricate work in placing small coloured tiles onto a snap base. Very fiddly – just how I like it!

I love this little sculpture my parents bought me back from Italy. I love the idea of Michael looking over me while I am in the bath! I chose the tile and paint colours in the bathroom… teals and golds.

A print of Florence I bought there as I liked the quality of the line and the warmth of the colour.

Cross stitch of a Michael Powell pattern of Venice. I love the quirky style of the drawing and the colours were so reminiscent of the place.

Cross stitch of a Michael Powell pattern of Venice. I love the quirky style of the drawing and the colours were so reminiscent of the place.

A print of Covent Garden that Dad bought me when he started work on the remodelling of the Opera House. A card my friend Jo made me for my birthday – of felt and with a twig from Skye.

Ornaments that had been bought for me in my office. Lots of warm golds again. A cat from my parents, A from my friend Laura, Bretton commemorative plate my cousin bought me, and ceramics I chose.

THis is a piece of fabric I bought from ebay and stretched over a frame. I love its colours and retro feel and illustrative qualities.

One of my favourite New York photos taken out of the window of our hotel. Warm and golden again. I love the misty quality.

My pinboard gets added to over time. When I look at this I see teals, greens, reds and golds.

My Darth Tater, Spud Trooper and Mr Potatohead. Photo of my cottage at Bretton, felt hat from Estonia and painting of sheep from Skye.

An eclectic collection of colour. Some childhod toys and my favourite German nutcracker.

I bought this print from the National Portrait gallery many years ago – I love the confrontation of it. The lower image is a cartoon a friend of my Dad did for me – showing me and my cats moving into the house.

This gorgeous rocking horse was carved and made by my Dad over 20 years ago. I was so pleased I had space in my new house to finally have it with me. We used to love to ride a racehorse roundabout at Butlins when I was a child and this paricularly reminds me of those rides with him.

A felted picture I did of a walk in Skye. I love the overlay of the heathery colours in the foreground on this.

A cross stitch kit carousel horse I did many years ago.

A group of small felted images I did of Skye. These aer all memorable places I visited the first time we went there. I love the blues and purples and intensity of colours in these.

Another cross stitch kit – Mum had to finish this one off…

A photograph of the Quiraing in Skye. This was an amazing place – where they filmed much of Starlight – which is hard to believe is naturally formed. Beautiful and peaceful, this image captured what I felt there far better than any I took.

This is a wall hanging I made from pattern some 15 years ago. It hangs at the top of the stairs and I love how it invites and entices you upwards. A little bit of the Land of Oz at home.

Another travelling memory collection – taken from Moo cards. Again, the blue and golds and oranges are prevalent. L-R top – bottom: Copenahgen, Turkey, Stockholm, London, Cairo, Florence, Istanbul, Parc Guell, Hampton Court, Rhodes, St Petersburg, Lisbon, Venice, Estonia, Miami, Venice, Venice, Mount Etna, Venice, Copenhagen.

Cross stitch kit of a mermaid. Many intricate pearls in in this and I love the captured movement.

Another cross stitch kit – Mum finished this one for me too. She’s VERY good at cross stitch!

Golds and deep greens in this autumnal angel cross stitch kit I did.

Empire state building in New York – lovely blue sky with golden buildings and golden frame.

The gold and sweeping shapes of the Gugenheim in NYC. Beautiful.

Another travelling compilation – again of blues and golds. L-R Top to bottom: Monaco, West Wittering, Key Largo, Heraklion, West Wittering, Miami, West Wittering, Miami Beach, West Wittering, Crete, Swanage?, on the QM2 in the middle of the Atlantic, West Wittering, Brighton, West Wittering, West Wittering, West Wittering, Marmaris, Key Largo.

I LOVE this photo so much. The blues and yellows of the sky and lights and neon and taken from the hotel window in New York. I sums up everything I thought New York would be and was. It reminds me of the Miramax films.

Bought this little card in Skye because it reminded me of all the rocks and sea and sky I had seen there. (blue and yellow again)