About Wandelen…

The idea…

A few years ago my husband and I decided we’d look into the possibility of building a workspace for me, with the option of it also being suitable to show my work every now and then. I’d been working in our small brick cottage for many years and as my practice progressed, more materials, canvases, boxes and packing supplies began to overtake the workspace resulting in me migrating into the kitchen and dining room to work. Not exactly ideal!

The building…

The initial idea was just a basic shed type space with a carport attached. Of course, as all projects that start off small, ideas began to circulate and it morphed into a much lovelier project than we’d initially envisaged. Engaging the expertise of local architect, Cameron Anderson, the resulting building is a beautiful space - small in footprint, but spacious in feel. It makes the most of natural light and privacy with a view over our garden but private from our own house.

The name…

You may be wondering where the name of the studio came from…

… well I’d been pondering names for a long time, there’d been many incarnations but this was the one that finally stuck! Wandelen is a Dutch word (I have Dutch heritage) that generally means to go for a walk. More specifically it is a relaxed type of walking… as in a stroll, a meander, a wander. One where you may be absorbed in the experience, observing things as you go along. This is often the time where inspiration strikes me. I’m known for being left behind on walks while I stop to contemplate a stream, a bird, a plant, an insect, the light, the sounds….etc. I also hope that people experience my paintings with that same essence… as though they are wandering, or moving through the painting.

Wandelen in 2024 and beyond…

Wandelen first opened it’s doors to the public on 23rd March 2024 when I had an exhibition opening for my latest body of work ‘Day Beginning, Day End’. The exhibition ran for 6 weeks and during that time I had a good number of locals and visitors alike through the doors. Many paintings wore a red dot and the building itself got a lot of favourable comments.

The space is now closed for a few months while I work on some new paintings. I plan to open it up again in 2025 with dates yet to be decided. If you would like to visit in the meantime, please just message me and I’ll see what we can organise 🙂

Photo credit: Amber Creative