Brushes Across Continents

For the last 4 years, I have been travelling and painting my way around the world.

At every step of the way, I have been accompanied by my favourite (and slightly worse for wear) backpack, which I nickname ‘My Travelling Studio’. The contents within have allowed me to paint powerful and unique stories inspired by the people I’ve encountered along the way.

In September this year, my travelling studio and I were invited to Ghana to undertake a position as artist in residence for Arms Around the Child. A charity working to protect children living in conditions of extreme adversity across the globe. AATC has a location in Ghana consisting of an orphanage, a newly developed school and an art studio.

This 4-month-long artist residency would see me creating a fresh and exciting body of paintings based on my experience of Ghana. It would also provide the opportunity for me to give painting workshops to a number of budding young Ghanaian artists.

I was a little over excited when Michael Harding came on board as a collaborator. This meant that my backpack was now full of my all-time favourite paints. Evidenced by the fact that when I landed in Ghana and my bags decided to be the last to show up, I remember praying for the safety of my travelling studio and not the suitcase containing the rest of my life.

Michael Harding generously included a number of their oil paint starter sets within its sponsorship pack. So after a few days of settling in I set to work teaching a select group of wonderful young creatives how to paint with oils. I have to admit that I was a little nervous to begin with. This would be my first time instructing what I knew.

The MH starter kits include primary colours; red, yellow, blue and white. This prompted some questions from the children, where was the pink, orange or green? and so, the first workshop was born… mixing colours. During the class, we had a set of colouring pencils on the table. Each of the children took their go selecting a colour. We would then try to create that colour using the MH paints.

The next workshops focused on drawing. After a visit to the local printing store, workplace to some of the funniest people I’ve met on this journey. I was able to assemble some portrait photos of Christian Atsu, the late Ghanaian footballer who was one of the charity’s main ambassadors as well as the children’s hero.

The class were introduced to the idea of using a grid as an effective tool in helping to map out a drawing or painting. I am amazed at how quickly they got it.

The day then finally arrived when the children would use everything they had learnt in order to paint their first ever oil on canvas…

The class each selected a friend or a sibling who they wished to paint, and got to work masterfully mapping out their portrait. I told them to have fun with the paints and to use the colours as an opportunity to play with different ideas.

This was the most fulfilling day of my residency so far. It was heart-warming to see the beautiful portraits that emerged in that class. I witnessed the kids falling in love with the oil paints and this sparked a memory so vivid in my mind tracing back to my first ever oil-painting class. I remembered how intently I listened to every word taught by my teacher, Mrs Holland. I couldn’t recall her name until now. I remembered begging my parents for a set of oil paints on the way home from school that day.

Alongside these magical moments I have been putting together my own collection of paintings. The local town, called Senya Beraku, is populated with the most friendly fishing community. Everyday the beach is full of activity. Women are draped in traditional fabrics buying fish and selling baked goods. Bright and colourful fishing boats can be seen scattered on the horizon. Fishermen on their days off, will sit for hours, content and peacefully mending mountains of netting.

I recently created a painting inspired by these moments and the other day I went down to the beach with the painting in tow, I showed Peter and Kofi the scene which I had constructed of them. Their response was unforgettable and elating. I promised to get a print made for them!

So far this experience has been extraordinary for me as an artist. I feel immensely inspired and creatively driven and I look forward to what is to come!