Meet the Tutor: Gratitude and Family with Beatriz Vicente

Beatriz Vicente

There is a certain magic that happens when student becomes teacher, and today’s featured tutor is a beautiful testament to that journey.

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.

The Mentor’s Influence

When we asked Bea whose sketchbook she would most like to peek through, her answer was a heartfelt nod to a familiar face. "Heather Held," she says without hesitation. "She is my mentor and I love the delicacy of all her work and her details in each piece she made".

A wonderful seasonal celebration by Bea

It is through Heather’s classes that Bea came to know Ardington and we came to know her.  In her upcoming class, Letters of Love, you will hear how Bea’s infectious love for the art of handwriting fits so wonderfully with our Ardington ethos of slowing down and enjoying the process.  You’ll also see first-hand how the inspiration of offhand flourishing has subtly influenced her unique style. 

If Bea had to choose only three tools to work with for the rest of her life, her selection is classic and luminous: "Pen, ink, and a little gold". For her supplies, she often turns to Blick Art Materials to find her favourites.

Love, Life, and Lavender

Bea’s creative space is a true family affair.  Whilst many of our tutors have four-legged companions, as a mother of five, her studio assistants are much closer to home. When asked who keeps her company in the studio, "My children and my husband”, she says. “My husband is very helpful; he is both my technical and marketing director!”

Bea's desk, with a peek of the stunning forest views in the background

As for the studio itself? It’s a place of honest creativity. "It’s a little messy," she admits, "but after each project, I try to organise everything again - although that doesn’t always work!".

When she’s in the zone, usually during the evening, her work is fuelled by a cup of tea and the occasional slice of lemon cake. Her space often scented with lavender, creating a calm atmosphere for focusing on her work.

A few of Bea’s favourite things:

Favourite Colour:  Pink

Favourite Museum:  El Prado in Madrid

Favourite Season:  Fall

Favourite Smell:  Lavender

Favourite Book:  El Diario de Noa by Nicholas Sparks (AKA The Notebook)

Favourite View:  The forests of Virginia

Breathing Through the Blank Page

Even for our tutors, the blank page can still bring a moment of nerves. Bea’s remedy is a beautiful practice of mindfulness that we can all learn from:

"Take a breath -

Feel gratitude and appreciation for the moment -

Trust in yourself and the process."

Beyond the Pen

When she isn't at her desk, Bea’s heart is with her family and the outdoors. "My greatest joy is spending time with my five children," she shares. "Whenever I have a moment, I devote it to them—playing, laughing, and simply being together". She also finds clarity and inspiration walking in the countryside and looking at the trees in the forest.

And like all true artists, she is always looking for the next craft to explore. Bea dreams of trying bookbinding - sewing her own signatures and marbling endpapers - or throwing pots on a wheel.  “The idea of shaping something functional like a cup or vase from a lump of clay is kind of magical - and a bit humbling”, she says.

Any Final Words of Wisdom?

"Breathe. Trust in yourself. Trust in the process".

I am so grateful to Bea for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions and am really looking forward to learning the Art of Handwriting with her later in the year. If you'd like to join me, you can read all about the class here.