Hello,

Im a painter, I live in London and I run an art gallery with my boyfriend Michael we have a cat called Edie. I'm excited to get away from London and to go travelling on my own for the first time.

I want to visit art galleries and ideally I would like to get out to places where I can swim/ walk/ cycle and appreciate the scenery.

I like time on my own to draw and explore but I also love to enjoy evenings with people and make new friends.

I enjoy the food, the people, the art galleries and public parks of the metropolis but being in Nature is also very important for me. Since living in London I appreciate even more the freedom to walk, cycle and swim in Natural surroundings.

I am polite and may come across a bit shy, but I'm actually very easy going and become more confident as I get to know someone, I like to ask people questions about themselves. I would also say I was very considerate of other people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Its really important as an artist to see and experience new things - I need to recharge my visual imagery and ideas.

I also need to challenge myself - I want to learn to be more independent and give myself the time and space away from my day to day life in London to think about my own practise.

I'm not using CS for a budget holiday - I'm on here because I want to connect with people - I'm interested in their lives and their relationship to their respective cities . I don't want to be a tourist! - I want to have unexpected experiences and meet the locals.

Interests

Painting and drawing (obviously) I mostly work in watercolour and oils. I most enjoy painting portraits of people and plants. When the weather is good I always want to be outside painting rather than in the studio ;) I make a lot of work directly from observation but also try and combine what is observed with the imagined to make formal compositions which clearly express my ideas.

I enjoy all art forms and all types of painting but it is representational painters and 20th century writers that I look to most for inspiration. I regularly visit the National Gallery an Tate Britain and draw from their collections. Two of my favourite artists are Stanley Spencer and Gwen John (both 20th century British Painters) - Brugel, Picasso, Bonnard, Goya, Rembrandt, Delacroix, are also some of my favourites.

I teach art to teenage students - I love teaching and helping someone with their artwork is really beneficial to me and my own practise.

• arts
• culture
• folklore
• dining
• cooking
• running
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• drawing
• cycling
• swimming
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

I love to read! My boyfriend Michael introduced me to science fiction so I have been reading a lot of that lately (Olaf Stapledon and Frank Herbert, Ursula Le Guin). My favourite writers are Virginia Wolfe, and Herman Hesse.

My favourite book might be 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' Its a must read for any traveller/ creative person - it's an amazing book which balances emotional story telling, with philosophical ideas - it also has a lot of ideas about creativity and using your hands to make and create.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A couple of weeks ago I cycled 124 miles from London to the East coast... at night!! We ended with a refreshing swim in the sea at 6am. I loved every minute of it.

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach art to teenage students - I love teaching and helping someone with their artwork is really beneficial to me and my own practise.

I sometimes meet up with fellow artists and friends to go drawing together - it's a great way of exploring new places seeing and discussions each others artist work (and being there while it is made) is immeasurably beneficial.

If you are thinking of hosting me/ staying with me I would love to take you drawing or maybe I make your portrait :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I would be delighted to cook evening meals and get the shopping, I am fully domesticated and always happy to help out :)

Would love to share ideas and my work with other creatives!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom