Green Mermaid Cottage

Visual artists are often expected to have a really quirky, if not outrageous, appearance. While my art is colourful and often challenging, my wardrobe is all about understatement and elegance rather than shock value. Living by the sea has had a big influence on the clothes I choose. I am comfortable and confident wearing a relaxed, bohemian, arty look and I like mixing bright colours and vintage clothes with interesting patterns with classics such as ballet pumps, black blazers, cardigans and chunky knits. In my choices I prioritise lasting style over disposable fashion. Below are my favourite items, a combination of high street and charity shops buys.  Adding glamour: big sunglasses and big floppy hat Big sunglasses and a big, floppy straw hat give an instant sprinkle of glamour and a bit of mystery to the simplest of outfits. They are also essentials if you live by the sea and/or do a lot of outdoor activities like I do.  Audrey Hepburn style ballet pumps and other fla...

In August 2023 I finally managed to move out of London and realise my dream of buying my first house on my own, by the sea. But within the first month in my new little house in a pretty Kent seaside town everything went wrong and I ended up facing the biggest health and financial crisis of my life.  THE HOUSE OF HORRORS... I had been so glad of my escape to the sea and so eager to start a new, healthier life. I craved change and peace of mind after some tough years marred by physical and mental health issues, increasing anxiety, stress and panic attacks.  I soon realised the survey on the house had missed many urgent issues. It needed a full rewire, a new boiler (found to be faulty on the day I got the keys), some new guttering, removal of a gas fire (described as a 'death trap' by the gas engineer) and a kitchen drain gulley replaced.  Then, just as the work was starting on the above, there was a bathroom leak that sent water cascading on the ceiling and wall below. The ...