Inspiration for making painted books

I'm lucky to have the Alt-yr-Yn Nature reserve on my doorstep where I often go to sketch. It's a beautiful place - great for walking within an ancient woodland.

I began to make the 'Journey's' series of folding books here and discovered new places close by, during lockdown. Drawing a landscape can be overwhelming at first, so the first thing that I do is stop for a while to notice what stands out to me first. The horse chestnut branches gracefully framing the water was where I started. I quickly sketched the outline and shape of things, blocked in the watercolour and then completed the rest of the drawing back at home.