Still life painting has a rich and storied past, stretching back to the Dutch Golden Age, when artists began to elevate everyday objects, fruit bowls, flowers, teacups, as worthy of deep attention. In style ever since. There’s something enduringly tender about the way still life art invites you to pause and truly see. Maybe you’ll spot a Billy tea tin that reminds you of childhood afternoon teas, geraniums from your aunt’s garden, or a milk jug with a past—each one quietly brimming with memory.

I was first inspired to paint still lifes by the inimitable Margaret Olley. A visit to the Tweed Gallery which houses a beautiful collection of her works. To quote her "I’ve always been intrigued by interiors. You gain a lot of information from a room. I’ve also always liked artists who painted interiors: Bonnard, Vuillard, Matisse. An interior will result in a portrait of the person who lives there, but it is also to do with approaching the room as if it was a person whose portrait you’re painting." (-Margaret Olley) and that really stuck with me. I love the idea that a room—or even a corner of it—can tell you so much about a soul.

My still lifes are little portraits too, told through vintage treasures, second-hand finds, and flowers from a friend or my own garden. They speak of comfort, nostalgia, and the joy found in ordinary moments. We need that in our lives.