IONE HARRISON ART

As artists, it's easy to fall into the habit of taking the same materials to the same places and expecting something new to happen. This week I decided to do the opposite. I packed just a few essentials into my bag: a bottle of black drawing ink, a pipette, a small spray bottle and a sketchbook filled with strong watercolour paper. I knew the paper would need to cope with more than paint – my plan was to let the sea itself become part of the process. Rather than taking a hand

After returning from a wonderful week in Crete, I unpacked my suitcase before doing anything else. As I put everything away, it struck me how little I'd actually needed. Like many people, I'm often guilty of overpacking "just in case". This time I wanted to travel more lightly, taking only what I thought I'd really use for a week of swimming, walking, sketching and simply enjoying being somewhere different. It turns out that not only did I have enough, I could probably have t

If you’ve got an hour spare this week and you’re craving something calm, creative, and achievable, this simple watercolour landscape is a lovely place to begin. This is an easy watercolour exercise designed to help you practise water control, explore soft blends, and create a peaceful sky and landscape using just two colours. It’s ideal for beginners, but equally enjoyable if you’ve been painting for a while and want something gentle and expressive. Why Try This Simple Waterc

I’m currently on holiday in Brittany for the Easter break, and I’ve been completely inspired by the coastal light, especially around Mont Saint-Michel. The landscape here has a softness that feels almost dreamlike. At different times of day, the palette shifts from silver-grey to turquoise, deep navy blue, and warm, earthy gold. It’s the perfect inspiration for atmospheric watercolour painting, especially if you enjoy capturing light and mood. A Limited Colour Palette for Coa

Sketching while walking is one of the simplest ways to develop your drawing skills. You don’t need a lot of time or equipment. A sketchbook and a couple of pencils are enough. This one-hour outdoor sketching practice is designed for moments when you’re out for a walk and can pause briefly along the way. You might stop three or four times, sketch for a few minutes, and then continue your walk. These sketches are not meant to be finished drawings. Think of them as visual notes

Leaf using just 3 colours If you’ve ever wondered how to practise watercolour when time is limited, this simple tutorial will help. Many people tell me the same thing: “I’d love to improve my watercolour… but I only ever seem to have an hour.” The good news is this: one hour is more than enough to develop your watercolour skills — if you approach it with structure. Instead of wondering what to paint, or drifting between ideas, a simple routine allows you to practise with clar

Learn how to avoid muddy colours in watercolour painting with simple tips for clean mixes, bright washes, and glowing, vibrant results.

The Healing Power of Painting: How Creativity Boosts Wellbeing In today’s busy world, finding time to slow down and reconnect with ourselves can feel like a luxury. But painting — especially in watercolour — offers more than just a creative outlet. It can be a calming, restorative practice that benefits your wellbeing in surprising ways. Here are some of the reasons why painting is so good for both body and mind. 1. Painting Helps You Switch Off When you pick up a brush, your

Simple, joyful ways to build confidence and creativity. Starting out in watercolour can feel overwhelming, but a few simple techniques will give you the confidence to explore and play. Here are five easy watercolour techniques to try at home. Wet on wet, salt, lifting out and splatter in action. 1. Wet-on-Wet Lightly dampen the paper with clean water, then drop in your paint. Watch as the colour blooms and blends beautifully. Perfect for skies and soft backgrounds. Blending d

Watercolour Starter Kit: The Basic Equipment You Really Need Are you keen to start painting with watercolours but feel overwhelmed by all the brushes, paints, and papers on the shelves? You’re not alone — there’s so much choice, it can feel confusing at first. The good news is that you don’t need loads of fancy materials to begin. In watercolour, less is more. With just a few high-quality essentials, you can create beautiful, luminous paintings and start learning with confide

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us are constantly connected, overstimulated and overwhelmed. Work pressures, family responsibilities and endless screen time can leave us feeling exhausted, anxious and disconnected from ourselves. That is why wellness retreats are becoming more important than ever. At Omara Retreats, we believe that stepping away from everyday life — even for a few days — can be deeply restorative and transformational. Our yoga and art retreats in Spain a

Nature nurtures the soul and is a constant reminder of the profound beauty that surrounds us. From the majestic mountains to the gentle rustling of leaves, nature captivates our senses and touches our souls. Beyond its breathtaking landscapes, nature holds the power to inspire, invigorate, and awaken the creativity within us. I feel very fortunate to be immersed daily in nature - I live on the edge of a wood and go to sleep hearing the owls battling it out in the woods. Natur

Your surroundings have a significant impact on your motivation levels and overall productivity. In this blog post, I explore the ways in...

Five years' ago, I took the decision to make art a central part of my life. This followed a period of intense personal difficulty. I have...

At this time of year, I always try to do a mental reset. There is so much to celebrate, although there are also challenges. What I have...

Sandsend is a village on the East Coast of The North York Moors - it's at the end of the long sandy beach that curves round from Whitby....

Before I start almost any painting, I spend ten or fifteen minutes simply playing with water, colour and marks. These aren't finished paintings. They're warm-ups. Just as a musician plays scales before a concert, I find a few simple watercolour exercises help me relax, loosen up and reconnect with the joy of painting. Here are five of my favourites. wet on wet charging adding clean water with spray adding clean water with brush lifting out Equipment needed: 2 water pots, boar

As a landscape painter, my art is a response to the places around me. With Ryedale Open Studios fast approaching (9/10 and 16/17...

One of the questions I'm often asked on workshops is: "How do you keep those lovely white sparkles in a watercolour painting?" There are several ways to do it, but one of my favourites is also one of the simplest—and cheapest. Instead of reaching for masking fluid, I often use an ordinary white candle. The wax creates a resist, preventing the paint from soaking into the paper. It's perfect for sparkling water, sunlight on waves, winter trees and anywhere you want to preserve

One of the things I love most about painting woodland is the way light dances through the trees. Rather than trying to paint every leaf and branch, I prefer to suggest the feeling of being in a forest using loose washes, texture and expressive mark-making. In this tutorial I'll show you how to combine wax resist, cling film, lifting off and sponging to create a vibrant woodland full of atmosphere. Even if you're fairly new to watercolour, these techniques are surprisingly sim