<h2>A Little Bit Different Today... A Mermaid, a Mannequin and the Freedom to Create</h2>

<p>Most people know me for painting waves, beaches and headlands around Mawgan Porth, but today I thought I'd share something a little different.</p>

<p>I've been having great fun painting a mermaid onto a mannequin.</p>

<p>For me, a mermaid has always symbolised mystery, possibility and freedom. She belongs to the sea... to changing tides, endless horizons and that wonderful feeling that anything is possible.</p>

<p>Perhaps that's why I love Cornwall so much. Being by the water always helps me feel most like myself. It reminds me to slow down, look more carefully and see the world with fresh eyes.</p>

<p>The mannequin is interesting too. It begins as a simple framework... a foundation... yet it exists so that artists, designers and makers can transform it into something completely different. In many ways, that's exactly how I teach.</p>

<p>I don't teach people to paint my style. I teach the fundamentals... the grammar, spelling and punctuation of art. Once you understand those, you can paint almost anything with confidence and begin to develop your own unique artistic voice.</p>

<p>That's why my students' work is so wonderfully diverse. Many continue learning with me long after their initial lessons, giving us the opportunity to explore all manner of art together. We paint landscapes, portraits, wildlife, architecture, still life and sometimes completely unexpected projects. We visit galleries for inspiration, experiment with new ideas and watch each person's own style emerge. Some students have even gone on to exhibit and sell their artwork through my website and at Betty's Surf Shop in Mawgan Porth.</p>

<p>For me, that's the greatest reward... not helping people paint like me, but helping them discover the confidence and understanding to paint like themselves.</p>