Studio in a van

Art on the go

I have waited a life time to have a campervan and now we have one it is slowly turning into a mobile art studio. I am so in love with Scotland and the van has given me the chance to soak in the country I call home through my art work. I am finding all sorts of tiny spaces to store brushes, pastels, paints, flower presses and so much more. My long suffering husband has even created some mushroom boxes so I can store my natural treasures.

Travelling creates a natural sense of freedom. My favourite season in the van is the autumn as it allows for some time outside sketching and other days snuggled under a blanket in the van stitching. At the age of 58 my favourite saying at the moment is ‘if not now when?’ and it is this that has us driving down tiny tracks looking for a special place to stop. Once stopped nothing much happens until the tea or coffee is made and then we have a chance to plan just the next few hours. Living like that is very good for the soul.

Scotland is stuffed full with beauty and we don’t really want to go anywhere else. Long walks are often first up after our coffee break followed by some time to sketch, paint, write or sew.

My trusty vintage suitcase can carry a surprising amount of supplies and I am at the stage when I have some dedicated van supplies for fear of leaving something at home that I need. Sewing is probably my favourite thing to do as the day begins to end. Hubby is our van cook so whilst that is underway I catch up with my latest sewing project. I am currently on a snippet roll project with my patrons.

Conversations have begun about just how long we could exist in a van and whether van life is even sensible for us in our late 50s. It is probably best suited to much younger folk but that doesn’t stop us talking about it on every trip! The ability to just stop whenever we like to have a coffee and a wander is priceless. Over recent years I have made so much of my creative world digital that it would allow for the options of more extended trips. I can’t help but wonder what our grown up children would make of us disappearing off in a van? For now, we settle for frequent breaks away to get up close and personal with the most beautiful of places. Scotland you rock!