What is it about this leaf? If you're one of my Instagram followers you'll have seen a gradual unfolding of some small paintings on paper using the Round Leafed Mallee as inspiration. I had never come across this eucalypt leaf until it arrived in a bunch of flowers, as background greenery to some beautiful blooms.

One of my favourite things to do is buy art, even though I don't do it very often. For me, paintings (and prints) bring such a sense of personality, style and energy to my home, which I'll admit is unsurprisingly eclectic! I love a bit of everything, from vintage posters, to impasto style paintings, simple watercolours to framed textile pieces, photography to charcoal studies, lino prints to glasswork.

Nature has always been a profound source of inspiration for artists. The beauty of landscapes, the changing seasons, and the interplay of light and shadow evoke emotions that transcend the literal. Abstract landscapes take this inspiration a step further by transforming natural scenes into expressive forms and colours. This approach allows artists to capture the essence of nature without being confined to realistic representation. I've been exploring this idea with en plein air sketching,