Since retiring from her career in the city, Yvonne is all about finding balance. When she isn’t teaching Yoga locally, or Chinese Brush Painting and Silver Clay Jewellery with us here at Ardington, she is keeping her mind and body busy at the pottery wheel or planting in the garden.

We’ve all experienced that magical, time-bending sensation that happens when you step into the studio. You pick up a brush, mix a shade of paint, or begin sketching - and suddenly, two hours have evaporated in what felt like five minutes. At Ardington we’ve long known that creative practice feels good for the soul. It lowers our heart rate, quiets a noisy mind, and gives us a gentle refuge from the relentless pace of modern life. But as it turns out, the restorative magic of

As both a calligrapher and a botanical artist, Jan Mehigan sits gracefully at the intersection of structure and nature. Working from her wonderfully spacious home studio, Jan likes to create art that celebrates the fine details of the natural world with the added sparkle of illumination.

Have you ever noticed how the most magical part of a song is actually a moment of silence? Or how a beautiful living room feels light not because of the colour, but the space between the armchairs?

We often talk about the importance of connecting to your creative self, but for Samira Mian that connection is rooted in history, guided by the laws of geometry. Using tools that haven't changed much in centuries, Samira constructs intricate patterns that feel both timeless and contemporary. She invites us into her garden studio to talk about precision, friendly robins, and the magic of the golden hour.

If you’ve ever walked into an art shop and felt like a kid in a sweetshop, you have a kindred spirit in Janina Maher. From her garden studio in Caversham, UK, she creates everything from intricate hand-bound books to watercolour building commissions. I caught up with her to talk about the joy of messy desks, the thrill of waterskiing, and why she always reads the end of a book first.

Whether you’re a professional artist, an Ardington student, or a weekend hobbyist, we all share one passion: collecting art materials! Over the years I have heard many recommendations for suppliers, and I thought it would be helpful to share the most popular UK based ones with you all.

Based here in the UK, Rachael teaches the art of drawing with coloured pencils - a medium that is often overlooked. Today, we’re stepping into her home studio to talk about unhelpful feline assistants and the inspiration behind her work.

What if you could capture the beauty of your garden in under two minutes? Mixed media artist and Ardington favourite Karen Carter shares a brilliant fast-track method - perfect for a last-minute card or gift, or just a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Whilst we often overestimate what we can achieve in a day, it is just as easy to underestimate what we can achieve in fifteen minutes.

Beatriz Vicente, lettering artist and much-loved member of our Ardington family, brings a sense of mindfulness to everything she touches. From her sunny studio in Virginia, filled with the scent of lavender, Bea gives us a little glimpse behind the camera.

At Ardington, we are all about creating active connection. Instead of just watching, we ask you to pull up a chair and join in the conversation. It’s the reason we’ve intentionally chosen to stay live (and unedited for our recordings) and to stay small.

Today, we’re stepping inside her Buckinghamshire studio – a creative space that is part-workspace, part-gallery - to visit a world entirely focused on the beauty of nature.

In our digital lives, we are surrounded by the myth of perfection and it so easy to believe that, to enjoy something, you have to be perfect at it. But, in the world of handmade art and crafts, perfection isn’t just unattainable; it’s the enemy!

Today, we’re peeking beyond what we see on Zoom to take a sneaky look behind the scenes at the studio of Heather Held.

At Ardington, we believe that the ‘Slow Art’ movement - focusing on heritage crafts like calligraphy, miniature painting, and weaving - is the perfect antidote to modern burnout.