My Kit

In my studio, I have a Meeden crank easel. My studio doesn’t have a huge ceiling, so I fix two of these adjustable easel lamps above and to the side for lighting my canvas and palette.

I have a few options for plein air. I have a small Ugo for when space is an issue – a Strada midi which is hard wearing and sturdy but my favourite is my Urban Goat easel. It’s a great lightweight design! I use a U.go Tripod.

I use gesso or linen boards, my favourite are Ampersand gesso. unless I’m painting larger than around 70 x 50cm. Then its on to good quality, stretched linen canvas.

You can view and buy my essentials Rosemary brush set here – which consists of: Ivory Filberts size 2 and 4, Ivory short flat size 6, Ultimate Bristle filbert size 6 and an Ivory rigger size 0. The Ivory brushes are firm and perfect both for moving the oils and ‘placing’ the paint softly. The Ultimate Bristle is great for getting a bit more paint on the canvas when you need some thick highlights – and the rigger is good for some splashy noise and any refined edges you might want at the end of the painting.

I use low odour solvent – both for cleaning brushes and thinning paints. I don’t really use a medium. I like Zest It, Robersons Studio safe solvent or Jackson’s own, here, which is great for air travel due its high flashpoint rating. I have a brush washer like this one.

My paints are usually by Michael Harding or Winsor & Newton Artist colours – these are in my essentials palette:

Titanium White, Bright Yellow Lake, Indian Yellow, Scarlet, Deep Purple (dioxazine), Ultramarine, Pthalo Green (yellow) (Michael Harding)

Sap Green (Winsor and Newton).