Journal

Art in the Pen 2026

August is shaping up to be a very exciting month for us as we'll be heading north to beautiful Skipton to exhibit at Art in the Pen and can't wait to celebrate their 20th Anniversary with everyone there.

Art in the Pen has become one of the country's best-loved art fairs, bringing together artists from across the UK in the unique setting of Skipton Auction Mart. Having taken part at last years event we're absolutely delighted to be taking part again for this special year.

We'll be taking a carefully selected collection of Serena's original paintings, from her smallest oil studies through to some of her latest larger pieces. As always, every painting has been created with the hope of capturing a sense of atmosphere, light and connection with the subject, and we're looking forward to sharing the newest collection with visitors over the weekend.

Preparing for an event like this is always a busy time behind the scenes. There are new paintings to finish, framing to be done, display plans to perfect and, of course, plenty of packing to do. It's a lot of work, but it's all part of the excitement, and we can't wait to transform our exhibition space into a little gallery for the weekend.

If you're planning a visit to Art in the Pen this year, we'd love you to stop by and say hello. Whether you're discovering Serena's work for the first time or have been following her journey for years, it will be wonderful to meet you.

We hope to see you in Skipton!

Roots & Resonance

Whilst preparing for the upcoming Art in the Pen in beautiful Skipton, I thought I would just sneak a cheeky exhibition in because it had been at least 4 weeks since the last one!
I am delighted to be taking part in Roots & Resonance, a wonderful exhibition and sale celebrating the beauty of plants, landscapes and wildlife. Held at the historic Merchant’s House in Marlborough, this inspiring summer exhibition brings together a diverse collection of paintings, illustrations and ceramics, all connected by a shared appreciation of the natural world.

The setting of Merchant’s House offers a particularly fitting backdrop for the exhibition, adding to the atmosphere and charm of the event.

I am pleased to have several of my paintings included in the exhibition, so whether you are an art enthusiast, nature lover or simply looking for an enjoyable day out, Roots & Resonance promises to be a truly uplifting exhibition.
Added perk... Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton are giving a talk... what illustrious company my paintings keep!

Another Landmark!

Our visit to the Landmark Spring Art Fair in Teddington, London, was a tremendous success and a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish. Set within the beautiful and atmospheric Landmark Arts Centre, the fair attracted a steady stream of visitors throughout the weekend, creating a wonderful opportunity to share my latest work with a new audience.

It was especially rewarding to meet so many people who connected with my paintings, whether through conversations about colour, inspiration, or the stories behind individual pieces. Several artworks found new homes, which is always a privilege and a reminder of why I love exhibiting in person.

As my first exhibition in London, the event exceeded all expectations. The warm reception, enthusiastic feedback, and supportive atmosphere made it a memorable occasion. I would like to thank everyone who stopped by my stand, fellow artists and organisers alike, for helping make the Landmark Spring Art Fair such a positive and successful event.
FYI the photograph shows the beautiful sunlight relecting through the stained glass windows on to the floor in front of our stand.

Never dull April…

It has been a whirlwind of activity here this past month, culminating in the first Art Fair of the year at Chester Racecourse. Virtually everyday this year has been spent making a new collection of artworks to take along to this inaugural event, and it was the first big run out for the van. Neither disappointed! Despite a slow start to the fair, Sunday surpassed all expectations and the large “hero” pieces on the stand sold. Sales continue to be prolific, and I am very excited to be part of the art fair scene this year. As much as I adore coming to work in my studio gallery, there is a real buzz of excitement meeting other artists and taking in all the differing art styles on these trips away. With that in mind… here’s to the next art fair. Roll on Landmark Spring Art Fair in Teddington! (15-17th May.)

Marching Forwards

Meet the latest member of the SerenArts Team! Say hi to Vinnie (short for Vincent Van Go of course!) who will be responsible for lugging us, and all our gear up and down dale this year, to our various art fairs. We might even sneak in a few trips to the seaside if this cold weather finally breaks. It is four seasons every day currently!
We plan to convert the van a few years down the line for stay-overs, but for now we're breaking the van in gently.
Morticia the Mondeo gave us a grand innings but she could no longer cope with the vast number of paintings I do - we hope she enjoys her new, quieter life post SerenArts.

February Showers

Ooh what a relentlessly wet February we’re having. Cold too. Come on Spring we need you. I’ve painted fluorescent fruits recently just to faux warm the studio gallery up. Bright colours can be such a mood boost when outside is dark and miserable. I’m currently working on some bright, abstract (ish!) florals to go to Fusion Art Fair Chester in 65 days. Yes! I’m counting. The lovely cafe owner next door to the studio gallery is keeping me on the straight and narrow - for every book she reads I am supposed to keep up and paint a picture. She is at least five books clear of me currently. I’m going to have to paint some small ones and hope she reads War and Peace if I’m to keep in contention. I embrace the day to day way we egg ourselves along gently.

Happy New Year

Happy 2026 to one and all. Here’s to a New Year full of opportunities and growth, and a healthy dollop of the staples like resilience and fortitude when needed. I am aspiring to getting out and about more this year as it really pushes me onwards with focused painting , and stepping out of my comfort zone more. With that in mind I have applied to three exhibitions this year, to go alongside running our beautiful studio gallery. I have yet to hear back from two as it’s still early days, but I can wholeheartedly confirm I shall be at Fusion Art Fair Chester 24, 25 and 25th April this year. It is their inaugural event and I am very excited already. It always feels a bit special to be part of the beginnings of things. It also gives me the excuse to produce a lot more art! I always try and build up a new body of work for exhibitions to keep it all fresh… I had better get a wriggle on!

What a Year

As December twinkles and sparkles along at a rate of knots to the main festivities, I would like to thank everyone from the deepest part of my heart, for all the kind comments, interest, chats in the studio gallery and artworks bought, to make this my most successful year to date. Art is personal and subjective, so to have the many appreciative, interesting and varied people walking in to spend a little time with me, throughout 2025, has been humbling and exciting. I could not do this without you.
The studio gallery will close it’s doors lunchtime Christmas Eve and then reopen 3rd Jan 2026, during which time vast quantities of sprouts and mince pies will be eaten, and many a noisy, family game played around the table. Wonderful! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s to fabulous festivities, peace and happiness. See you in 2026!

Festive Fun

The nights have well and truly drawn in now, and the gallery garden trying to hibernate under of blanket of leaves. Luckily this month we have the Christmas Light Switch On to look forward to, and here at SerenArts studio we will be serving free, hot, mulled cider to spice up our late night shopping. Come and enjoy the music, food and pop-up stalls on Friday 28th November. As an added bonus, Santa will be dropping in for a visit.

Bradford on Avon Pumpkin Trail

There's something spooky going on... look what we're hosting:
BOA's much-loved Pumpkin Trail returns this year, with 37 local businesses taking part from Thursday 23 October through to Halloween. Pick up an entry form from SerenArts, Pumpkin HQ at the Tithebarn Workshops, then hunt down all the pumpkins, note their names and choose your three favourites. Drop your completed form back to SerenArts Gallery by midday on Friday 31 October for your chance to win a spooktacular prize!

Autumn Fayre

The summer has gone really well for us at SerenArts Gallery and to mark the end of the season, this month sees the return of the fabulous Autumn Fayre at the Tithebarn Workshops.

Art in the Pen

I'm very excited to announce I will be exhibiting at this years Art in the Pen in Skipton, North Yorkshire. This very well known and well attended event takes place in the unique surrounds of the Skipton Cattle Market. I've now got lots of work to do!