Letters from Italy, Letters from Eden

Hello everyone,

I’m just back from a wonderful few weeks in Italy, celebrating my anniversary in Florence before spending a week teaching with Flavours Holidays in Venice. Every day since returning, I find myself closing my eyes and dreaming of those ochre and sienna-coloured streets, the warm light, and of course the gelato shops that seemed to appear around every corner.

One of the first pieces of advice I was given was to avoid buying gelato from displays where the ice cream is piled dramatically high. Apparently, although it may look more tempting, the flatter displays are often the sign of a better-quality gelato with less water and fewer additives. Whether that's entirely true or not, I happily tested the theory several times!

On our very first day in Florence, we visited the Uffizi Gallery. I was desperate to see the Botticellis. The room was packed, making it difficult for me to see over the heads of the crowds. My husband, being considerably taller, had no such problem. Meanwhile, I found myself balancing on tiptoes, peering between shoulders and trying to take it all in.

I've always loved Botticelli's work. To me, it appears remarkably modern for something created in the 1400s and 1500s. His eye for design, composition, and vibrant colour feels timeless. I am especially drawn to the flat, luminous colours achieved through egg tempera painting. While in Venice, I bought a set of pigments with the intention of trying my hand at the medium myself. Whether I possess the same patience as Botticelli remains to be seen!

There are so many stories I could tell from both Florence and Venice. Venice was beautiful, although unfortunately we experienced a great deal of rain—and even a hailstorm. Despite the weather, travelling through the waterways was breathtaking. Everything in Italy seems beautiful somehow; even the graffiti appears to possess a certain flair and elegance.

One building that particularly caught my attention was the hospital. Its façade looked more like a Renaissance palace than a medical institution. I found myself thinking that our hospitals could benefit from a little more beauty and inspiration in their architecture. Hopefully the inside was every bit as uplifting as the outside.

Back on dry land, it has been straight back into teaching and painting. Progress in the studio has been slower than I would like. I wish I could say steadier, but life has a habit of interrupting artistic flow. Nevertheless, I have been working away on a new body of work that I hope to exhibit next year, perhaps in a solo show in St Andrews, perhaps at the Pittenweem Arts Festival, or maybe both. Time will tell—but first, I need to keep painting.

The loose theme emerging in my mind is titled Letters from Eden.

One day it struck me that in the Christian creation story, God could have placed humanity anywhere, yet He chose a garden. In a world that often feels increasingly chaotic, I find myself drawn back to the garden—not only as a physical place but as a symbol.

The title Letters from Eden speaks to that quiet echo within our hearts—the soft voice reminding us who we are and whose we are.

As the sun returns and everything bursts into life again, I find myself increasingly inspired by these themes. Here is one of my newest works, part of a larger collection I hope to complete for exhibition in 2027.

Of course, returning home wasn't without its challenges. Alongside settling back into teaching and painting, I was thrown a rather unexpected spanner in the works when I learned that I would need to move out of my current teaching venue by July.

At first, I was shocked, and then understandably worried. Finding a suitable space for art classes in St Andrews felt like a daunting prospect. However, what initially seemed like a setback has, rather miraculously, begun to look like a wonderful new opportunity. It now appears that from August onwards I will be teaching from the beautiful new venue at St Andrews Heritage Museum.

I am feeling incredibly grateful that things seem to be falling into place. It certainly feels like a season of change, both in the studio and in my teaching life.

So, from August, I look forward to welcoming you to our new home for classes and continuing our creative journey together in this lovely new space.

Thank you, as always, for following my artwork, supporting my exhibitions, and attending my classes.

Much love,

Jaclyn

x