The Long Path To The Cabin On The Hill
As a professional artist from a working class background I have to be creative in the way I survive. Renovating and moving home every few years has been one element of this; my partner and I have gradually climbed the property ladder through buying houses that we felt we could add value to. The end goal has always been to keep living costs down and become as self sufficient as possible.
Recently we decided to move again, with a view to finally settling on a longer term basis. What followed was a very stressful year of broken chains and complexities that I won’t bore you with, but mention only to highlight that things are never as straightforward as they sound!
Finally, with a lot of luck and faith that things would work out somehow in the end, we went to view a house that had come up for sale at just the right time.
The house felt right as soon as we walked in, but it was the garden that won me over. I can only describe it as magical. We stepped out on to a vast slopped garden which led up to some beautiful old trees and backed onto the countryside. At the top of some steps right at the back, stood a little cabin, with a small veranda which opened on to a stunning panoramic view of the river. It was a very small space and in need of a lot of work…but could this protentional be a studio?
Leonardo da Vinci famously stated, "Small rooms discipline the mind; large ones weaken it,". I firmly believe this.
And even though the space was relatively small, its natural vista made it feel epic. My last studio was a decent size - but in time felt it claustrophobic as it was so low down and had no substantial view of the outside world .
To our surprise, we secured the house. Perhaps helped along by the fortuitous timing; less people looking in January and us being chain-free was hugely in our favour.
Finally, moving day arrived. After opening the front door for the first time, my daughter and I sat in the empty sitting room looking through the glass patio doors on to the beautiful garden. In that moment of calm and gratitude, we spotted a deer followed by her fawns coming in through the brush and standing at the side of the cabin. Time seemed to stand still as she looked intently at us before bolting off in a flash. I’d been unsure if the cabin was worth renovating but decided to take this as a sign!
The next day, I quickly rushed up to the cabin, tidying and measuring the walls. The last occupant’s presence was still there lingering with his old tools - as if he went to retrieve something and time forbade his return. Tongue-and-groove walls almost finished - stool still perched with panel pins neatly stacked in a glass jar and a blue and white ceramic teapot accommodating a burgundy paint brush. I had the feeling I had to finish what he started.
Firstly I needed a spade to dig out the dirt accumulated around the small building. The next morning I spotted an old shovel propped against the side of the house that I’m sure hadn’t been there before. I then measured up an area I was planning to tile - the next day, a pile of tiles were stacked randomly on a wall. A tower of ceramic squares that should have easily toppled over by wind or the brush of a cat. One day, taking in an order of material, I forgot some much needed lumber - but miraculously wood the exact dimensions appeared in one of the nooks and crannies of the garden allowing for the continuation of the project. I definitely felt a helping hand was guiding me on.
The first job was gutting out - tearing up the old carpet and carefully removing the tongue and groove - this was the only thing salvageable. There was a bird skeleton, old wasps nests and a teeming population of well fed spiders - seemingly feasting on the copious snails dangling in silk hammocks. It all had to go!
Then there was the immediate issue of the roof which had been damaged in a recent storm - it had to be re-felted - I clambered up ripping off the old felt and pulling out the hundreds of embedded clout nails - conscious that with a 30 foot drop one miss step or uncalculated yank of the hammer could end this project imminently. Luckily my dad, who has past experience of working ‘on the roofs’ helped on that uncharacteristically balmy February afternoon and we made sure that it was done safely and methodically.
The next day we sanded and painted the whole building and repaired the fence beside it.
That evening in the last of the sun, we stood on our newly cured decking boards - gazing out at that glassy panorama, tepid tin of beer in one hand, pointing out little landmarks with the other - ones that sparked old memories. Hopeful of happy new memories to come…
I continue to work away on the various jobs needing done, feeling so at home up there - the sound of nature vibrating with my daily tasks. I felt energised and every night after the hard work I slept intently- no social media, no traffic, no people, no drama.
In hindsight, it would have been easier to just build a new bespoke garden studio - but our family philosophy here was ‘make do and mend’. Trying to re salvage what was already there. Sometimes a property with natural beauty and good design should not be compromised. Bad karma in my opinion. If something has been loved and maintained over the years, it should not torn down. Trust in the the previous owner who loved and cared for it. Don’t get me wrong, some properties need flattened - but some instinctively need your respect.
I am only half way through this small renovation - and my journey will be continued at a later date. Hopefully catalogued in a series of Substack posts to keep me going! In the meantime, I’m happy working from a spare room which I have converted into a very practical north facing studio with beautiful light.
The next jobs on my list are are new flooring , fitting solar panels and then a log burner to be installed. Then finally painting the interior white and making shelving and storage. I can’t wait to crack on.
It’s currently a real struggle for normal folks surviving in creative fields. A life of ‘make do and mend’ will free you from outside expectations. Not getting to caught up in the material comforts is key. I have managed to create a meaningful life - with a family and with a creative career that I wouldn’t change for the world. It’s enriched me beyond any expectations. My income is always hand-to-mouth and with this last move I have the space mentally and physically to be more creative. I’m done with the old way of living and I am going back to what feels meaningful. Hard work; closer to nature and in tune with what really matters.
I thought I would share this journey as it excites me. Not all artists just sit and paint all day but we often have to strive and struggle to create our own little worlds that will accommodate our strange obsession. We get our hands dirty not only with oil paint and primer but with mud, cement, tar and even dirty nappies. Injuries build up - split noses - sleepless nights- and as I pen this I sit with an elevated injured ankle…. my drive can verge on a dangerous obsession and I think the universe is telling me to stop to take a rest and reflect - I literally have to put my feet up for a while.
I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my life - a new creative path in my little cabin at the top of the hill.
New Work
The Rainbow Couple of La Linea
I painted this just before the move. A very tough and time consuming piece but really enjoyable. It was part of my Andalucía people series. I wrote about this couple and my travels recently - more on my travels here
New Self Portrait
This was painted just last week so has no title yet, I painted it with a foot injury and in my new work space which I was trying to come to terms with. I suppose the colours and brushstrokes mirror my anxiety.
The Gallery
This was based on a study from a couple of years back after visiting the National Gallery in London. I always wanted to resolve it into a finished composition and found the time recently. Sometimes I like to paint these little ‘people in places’ compositions as they are less emotionally draining that just straight portraits - and its a nice balance between commissions etc.
Private Commission
I don’t always share my private commissions, But I though this one was a bit different - lots of textures and blobs of dappled light. Its always nice when someone gets your work and your knows your strengths and wants that reflected in their own private acquisition.
