At the beginning of 2022, I said to myself I’m going to say YES to opportunities that present themselves to me to shake me out of my comfort zone. So far 2022 proved to offer great big dollops of comfort zone shaking!

Not long after giving myself that little pep talk, an email dropped into my inbox from an artist, Ellis O’Connor. Ellis runs workshops in Scotland that I hoped I might one day sign up for. The email flagged up an artists’ residency she was leading in conjunction with Sail Britain.

Sail Britain inspires positive change for the oceans. We work towards cultural exchange and ocean literacy through exploration and education under sail. We welcome people from all backgrounds, and particularly those for whom sailing is inaccessible, to join our programme to explore our marine environment, culture and heritage, and highlight the beauty and importance of our oceans.

Well, I kind of fancied that idea but I’ve always avoided applying for artist residency. Traditionally they rarely seem to be aimed at artists like me, but I thought ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’. I sent a very rudimentary proposal, safe in the assumption I would be turned down. Hah! Little did I know! Low and behold a couple of months later I got the news I’d been accepted. I decided to go with the flow, so to speak.

The residency includes teaching all us novice artists how to sail a yacht! When we’re not sailing we will be sketching and painting, making the most of the opportunity to get a completely different perspective from the sea toward the land, and much in between. Along the way we expect to learn about the health and well being of the sea, exploring the wild life, foraging and learning about micro plastics.

DID YOU KNOW? Most sunscreens contain micro plastics? I didn’t, and now I’ve got to find an alternative! I had to take a close look at all my toiletries to check. I already use bar soap shampoo and my moisturiser brand is plastic free. It does rather concentrate the mind a bit!

The rail strike threatened to scupper my plans but I’ve been fortunate to be able to get a lift to Glasgow, a bus to Perth and a lift with one of the other participants from there. I am now all suited and booted, bag is packed, waterproofs in, sketchbook √, drawing materials √, inks √, pastels √. Ready to rock and roll!

If you are similarly tempted to try something different, do visit Sail Britain’s website. What they have to offer is not just for artists but for anyone with an interest in the environment, science, and so on. Let me know if you decide to go for it yourself.

I’m already lining up an even more ambitious residency for next year, or it might be 2024, (not sure if I’m too late to apply for 2023), if this one goes well.

I have other news also in the offing which I can’t say too much about just now. I should be able to tell you something soon. Further comfort zone shake up stuff!

See you on the other side!