Meet Laura

I'm the artist and founder of The Little Art Shed Studio, a welcoming creative space in Newton Abbot where people of all ages can discover the joy of making art.

After many years working as a nurse, I finally followed the creative path I'd dreamed about for years. Art had always been there in the background, and creating The Little Art Shed Studio gave me the opportunity to share that passion with others.

Today, I divide my time between creating my own artwork and helping children and adults build confidence, slow down and reconnect with their creativity through relaxed, welcoming workshops.

Whether I'm painting in my studio or guiding someone through their very first class, my goal is always the same: to help people enjoy the process of creating without worrying about getting it "right".

My creative journey is constantly evolving, and every painting teaches me something new.

When something captures my attention, whether it's a place, a memory, an emotion or simply a moment I can't stop thinking about, I don't try to paint exactly what I see. Instead, I use colour, texture and intuition to explore how it makes me feel.

I rarely begin with a finished picture in my mind. I much prefer to let each painting develop naturally, building layers of colour, expressive marks and texture until it begins to tell its own story. Some paintings come together quickly, while others take me on a journey I never expected, and that's one of the things I love most about painting.

A huge influence on my own creative journey has been my friend and mentor, Canadian artist Sasha Jimenez French of Birdgirl Arts. Her fearless use of colour and expressive approach to painting encouraged me to trust my instincts, let go of perfection and create more freely. She helped me realise that art doesn't have to be an exact representation of something to be meaningful.

For me, painting isn't about recreating a subject perfectly. It's about capturing a feeling, exploring an idea and creating something that connects on an emotional level. I hope my work encourages people to pause for a moment, feel something and perhaps even discover their own story within the painting.