A wild new creative adventure
You're invited to...
There is something about nature that has always made me want to create.
A flower opening in the garden. The tangled shape of a branch. The colours of a changing sky. The earthy textures of leaves, bark and soil. Even the imperfect marks and unexpected shapes that appear when you simply stop looking for perfection and start paying attention.
Nature has a way of reminding us that creativity doesn't have to be controlled.
It can be wild. Curious. Playful. Unexpected.
And that is exactly what makes me so excited about A Year of Wild Nature, a brand-new year-long mixed-media art adventure with the Willowing teaching team.
After A Year of Light and A Year of Magic & Fairytales, this next adventure will take us into the wildly inspiring world of nature.
And yes, my lessons are going to be all about flowers!
A year of creativity inspired by nature
A Year of Wild Nature brings together more than 30 artists and teachers from around the world for a whole year of creativity, imagination and exploration.
Together, we'll explore the natural world through paint, texture, colour, mark-making, collage, mixed media techniques and plenty of experimentation.
There will be forests and flowers, animals and skies, rivers and roots, wild gardens, earthy textures, changing seasons and so much more.
But what excites me most is that this isn't simply about making nature-inspired artwork.
Nature can also become a doorway into something much more personal.
Into freedom. Into self-expression. Into instinct and imagination.
Into the parts of ourselves that can become buried underneath busy schedules, expectations and everyday responsibilities.
When we spend time making art, we give those parts of ourselves somewhere to speak.
And sometimes, a little paint on our hands and a messy art table can be enough to remind us who we are.
What does it mean to be a little more wild?
I don't think being wild means throwing everything out the window and running into the forest!
For me, it can be much simpler.
It might mean following an artistic impulse instead of wondering whether it is the "right" thing to do.
It might mean choosing a colour simply because you love it. It might mean letting a mark remain imperfect instead of painting over it.
It might mean tearing a piece of paper, adding an unexpected layer of paint, or allowing your artwork to become something completely different from what you imagined.
This is one of the things I love most about mixed media creativity.
There is always another layer. Another possibility. Another chance to respond to what is already there.
And the more we practice listening to those little creative impulses, the easier it becomes to trust ourselves.
Make space to create, play and explore
Perhaps life has felt a little too busy lately.
Perhaps you've been longing to make more time for your art supplies, to get your hands messy, or simply to have somewhere to escape for a while.
I know that feeling.
Sometimes we don't need another thing to accomplish. We need a place where we can simply create, explore, play and connect.
That is one of the reasons I love the idea of spending a whole year immersed in creativity and surrounded by other people who love making things too.
A Year of Wild Nature will bring together more than 30 wonderful artists and teachers, each sharing their own approach, ideas and creative techniques.
You'll have the opportunity to experiment with different kinds of mixed media art while discovering what sparks something in you.
And you'll be creating alongside a warm, supportive community of creative people from around the world.
There is room to follow your curiosity. There is room to make mistakes. There is room to change your mind. There is room to discover your own way of making art.
Start with the free taster sessions
Before committing to the full year-long adventure, you can come and experience a little taste of it for yourself.
The A Year of Wild Nature Free Taster Sessions begin on October 1st, 2026, and run for nine days.
And they are completely free.
During those nine days, you'll be able to explore more than 30 free art sessions from the participating artists and teachers, watch the lessons at your own pace, and spend some time creating alongside the community.
You'll also have the opportunity to:
Join a Facebook community with creative people from around the world
Enter giveaways for the chance to win a place on A Year of Wild Nature
Receive free gifts from participating art teachers
Enjoy free art and wellbeing activities
Spend time creating, playing and connecting
It is such a lovely way to experience the spirit of the course before deciding whether you'd like to continue into the full year.
And I'll be there too!
I'm especially happy about this part because I'll be sharing a fun mini lesson from one of my floral classes during the Free Taster Sessions.
We'll be playing with flowers, embracing imperfection and bringing in a little bit of grungy beauty.
Because flowers don't have to be perfect to be gorgeous.
A wonky petal, a strange leaf, an unexpected colour, a mark that doesn't quite behave as planned... these are often the things that give artwork its character.
That is something I return to again and again in my own creative practice.
I don't want my paintings to look as though they came from a perfectly controlled process.
I want to see the layers. The marks. The texture. The evidence of the artist's hand.
I want to feel the life in them.
Come home to your creative self
For me, creativity has always been a place where we can come home to ourselves.
Not because everything suddenly becomes easy, but because making art gives us a space to listen again.
To notice what we are drawn to. To follow an instinct. To make something with our hands. To play without needing to know exactly where we're going.
And perhaps that is why this theme of wild nature feels so exciting to me.
The natural world doesn't worry about whether it is doing it correctly.
A flower simply grows. A tree branches in its own particular way. A river follows its own path.
There is such freedom in that.
And perhaps our art can remind us of the same thing.
We don't have to know exactly what we're doing before we begin.
We can start with a blank page, a piece of paper, a few colours and a little curiosity.
Then we can see what happens.
A little creative invitation
If you feel drawn to this adventure, I would love for you to join me for the Free Taster Sessions starting October 1st.
Come with your paints. Bring your curiosity. Make a mess. Try something new. Follow an unexpected idea.
And see what your own wild creative spirit wants to make.
Reserve your free seat for the A Year of Wild Nature Taster Sessions
If you'd like to explore the full year-long adventure, you can find out more about A Year of Wild Nature here
Continue your creative adventure
If this idea of exploring nature through mixed media art speaks to you, you might also enjoy exploring my floral and mixed media classes, where we can play with layers, texture, colour and the beautiful imperfections that make artwork feel alive.
I would love to share more creative adventures with you in the classroom.
Tell me in a comment
What does wild creativity mean to you?
Is there something you've been longing to explore, experiment with or make lately?
I'd love to hear what your creative instincts are telling you.
Let's create wild and beautiful things together!
Light, Love & Fairy Dust,
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