Drawing Tips

If you’ve ever reached a point in your drawing where everything suddenly feels wrong… you are absolutely not alone. The colours look odd.The fur looks messy.Nothing feels realistic yet.And you start thinking: “This isn’t working.” Welcome to what many artists call the ugly stage of drawing. It’s one of the most common parts of creating […]

One thing people always tell me they struggle with when drawing with coloured pencils is backgrounds. They can feel slow… overwhelming… and very easy to accidentally overwork. But honestly? Backgrounds don’t need to be complicated to look beautiful.  In fact, when approached the right way, backgrounds can completely transform your artwork – adding atmosphere, depth, […]

Choosing coloured pencils can feel like a bit of a minefield… can’t it? There are so many brands, so many opinions, and it’s very easy to think you need all of them to get good results. But let’s simplify it. All coloured pencils are made from a mix of wax and oil – it’s just […]

You may have noticed a shift in how i approach my drawings lately. So I’d love to properly introduce you to it my Global Layering Method 🥰 It’s a simple approach, but it can make a huge difference when it comes to creating realistic coloured pencil drawings. What is my Global Layering Method? The name […]

Drafting film is a bit of a funny old surface. The first time you try it, you might think, “Ooo this is smooth… lovely!” and then five minutes later, “Why won’t this behave like my normal paper?” 😅 It’s brilliant but only if you understand how it wants to be used. So let’s keep this […]

There’s something incredibly satisfying about drawing a shiny horse coat – that moment when it catches the light and suddenly looks real. It’s also one of the quickest ways to get frustrated if you rush it. With the Year of the Fire Horse now underway, it feels like the perfect time to talk about shine.  […]

I know it can feel quite overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right surface for your coloured pencil piece. You’ve got different papers, different opinions, and that little voice saying “If I pick the wrong one, I’ll ruin it.”  So let’s take a breath and simplify it. This is how I choose my surface… […]

Let’s keep this really simple. If you’d like to learn how to draw with coloured pencils, but you feel: This is for you. From 12–18 January 2026, I’m running Ignite Your Spark Week – a one-week, no-commitment drawing experience inside my Ignite membership for just £10 / $13. Ignite is my coloured pencil membership. It’s […]

Merry Christmas 💛 If you find yourself picking up your pencils at any point over the festive period – even just for a few gentle minutes – I thought I’d share a few cosy little ideas to add some seasonal charm to your drawings. From Santa hats to snug beanies (or something delightfully daft), these […]

Let’s be honest: drawing white animals can feel terrifying. And when it’s white fur on a white background? Well, your brain screams “just grab the white pencil and hope for the best!” Spoiler alert: that’s the quickest way to end up with a ghost dog that looks like a cotton ball. The truth is, white […]