Luisa's Blog

Flowers - A Winter Floral Exhibition

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:37:23 GMT

Flowers - A Winter Floral Exhibition

I'm delighted to be taking part in "Flowers" - a winter floral exhibition @the_gallery_maldon in Maldon, Essex. The exhibition is in the beautiful 15 Century historic Gallery Maldon and runs from 10 Dec - 31 Jan '26.

The two pieces I am exhibiting are "Quiet Petals" and "Alstroemeria and Pomegranates", mixed media 66cm x 66cm Framed.

Workshops in Nantwich

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:28:08 GMT

I am currently running some intensive one to one full day workshops in Nantwich. If you are wanting to loosen up and learn more about expressive flower painting or landscape and seascape painting in acrylic and mixed media, please email me via the contact button on my website and I will email you further information.

Workshops in Nantwich

Student feedback:

"Thank you so much for a thoroughly enjoyable day. You were a geat teacher and so generous with your ideas and supplies, and had obviously put a great deal of time into your timetable".

"What a great day art workshop...thank you so much, I had such a gorgeous day"

SWA Annual Exhibition

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 13:22:30 GMT

SWA Annual Exhibition

I was delighted to have received the Parker Harris Prize for my painting 'Windy Dune' at this year's SWA Annua Exhibition! Another fantastic show, feeling honoured to be exhibiting alongside so many talented artists.

Presentation by HRH Princess Michael of Kent

The Making of a Painting

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:43:28 GMT

Making of a Painting

I have written a feature detailing the stages in the making of a mixed media on panel, giving information about my inspiration, references and mediums used.

Magazine Feature!

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 14:56:24 GMT

Magazine Feature!

I am thrilled to be featured in the Summer 2023 edition of Art & Color 365 Magazine and to have my painting as the front cover image!

SWA 162nd Annual Exhibition

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 10:15:40 GMT

SWA 162nd Annual Exhibition 2023

Thrilled to see my painting "Red Riot & Pink Pears" on the Mall Galleries banners! A fabulous show, thanks to all at the Society for Women Artists.

Great News!

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:22:15 GMT

Delighted to be elected a Full Member of the Society of Women Artists !

The SWA is a British art body and registered charity dedicated to promoting art created by women. It was founded in 1855 by Harriet Grote as the Society of Female Artists (SFA) to offer women artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their works at a time when such opportunities for women were extremely limited. It eventually became the SWA in 1912. The society works with chosen charities to help those in need, including a strong collaboration with Breast Cancer Now to whom SWA donate a percentage of their sales.

Further information about the SWA can be found at:

https://www.society-women-artists.org.uk/

Painting at South Bay, Scarborough

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 11:37:27 GMT

Painting at South Bay, Scarborough

A lovely sunny morning sketchbook painting in Scarborough - acrylic, pastel and charcoal

Highgate Contemporary Postcard Exhibition

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 15:51:29 GMT

Highgate Contemporary Postcard Exhibition

"Silent Shore" - one of my sold postcards in the latest Highgate Art exhibition. More available!

www.highgateart.com

Painting at Sandsend

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 15:29:44 GMT

Painting at Sandsend

A wonderful day painting at Sandsend near Whitby!

Great News!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 09:41:26 GMT

Delighted to be elected an Associate Member of the Society of Women Artists

Further information about the SWA can be found at:

https://www.society-women-artists.org.uk/

Painting around Farndale

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:32:28 GMT

Painting around Farndale

Nice to get out onto the North Yorkshire Moors recently with my sketchbook, ink, charcoal & watersoluble crayons

YOS first weekend

peter.a.holden@btinternet.com (Peter Holden) — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 15:04:42 GMT

A fantastic first York Open Studios weekend @yorkopenstudios . Thanks so much to all who visited & those who purchased work. It was lovely to meet new people and welcome previous visitors and supporters. Looking forward to next weekend!

Not long to go now until this year’s York Open Studios!

peter.a.holden@btinternet.com (Peter Holden) — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:53:25 GMT

Looking forward to welcoming visitors at my venue 73 on April 2/3 and 9/10 from 10-5pm.

I will have original framed art, original mounted art and greetings cards available to purchase.

Nearby to my venue in Haxby, York you will find Jo Ruth, venue 71 @joruth and Carol Coleman, venue 72 @getagrip65

For further details of all artists taking part this year please visit www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk @yorkopenstudios where a pdf brochure is available to download

York Open Studios 2022

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 12:11:01 GMT

Preparations underway for York Open Studios 2022

Preparations underway for York Open Studios 2022 ! Takes place 2/3 and 9/10 April.

Welcome to my revamped website!

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 12:01:02 GMT

Welcome to my revamped website!

I have been working on my new look website, for queries about my work please contact me through the 'contact me' button

SWA Exhibition 2020

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 07:26:00 GMT

I am delighted to have had my three paintings accepted for the Society of Women Artists 159th exhibition. The exhibtion will be not be held at the Mall Galleries this year due to Covid restrctions but will be available on line - please take a look via this link. Artists can be viewed if you click on their name.

https://onlinegalleryswa.oess1.uk/

A percentage of sale proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Now - Research anc Care

Cornish Sketchbook

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 10:43:00 GMT

I have been recently working on some Cornish studies, inspired by the beautiful bays and coves and coastal flowers. I have many happy memories of holidays in Cornwall, it is a place I love to return to.

Preparation studies for Exhibition at Leeds University 2021 - Audrey & Stanley Burton Collection

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 16:39:00 GMT

Getting some preparatory studies done well in advance! I have created a home-made concertina sketchbook of studies in response to a photograph entitled 'Moorlands around Shaw House, Arkengarthdale' by Marie Hartley.

I was delighted to get hold of the book 'Getting to know Yorkshire' by Marie Hartley & Joan Ingilby.

Artist Support Pledge

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 11:06:00 GMT

The Artist Support Pledge has been a wonderful way of supporting artists at this difficult time and a way for people to purchase affordable artwork under £200. These three works on acid free paper, were all mount presented in ivory mounts, with acid free backing board and cellophane wrapped.

Please check out my Instagram account @luisa.holden_artist for more details about #artistsupportpledge

I will be shortly uploading some further available works on paper, small canvases and boards.

Many thanks to my buyers for purchasing these pieces!

Packing work for shipping to New York City

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 19:47:00 GMT

It's always a pleasure sending work abroad!

Artist Support Pledge

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 19:39:00 GMT

I am currently taking part in the #artistsupportpledge, which is an excellent initiative set up by Mattew Burrows (@matthewburrowstudio) - you sell work for no more than £200 and if you reach £1000 you pledge to buy from another artist.

These are some pieces on paper which have recently sold.

York Open Studios 2020 Cancelled

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 20:04:00 GMT

Unfortunately but unsurprisingly this year's York Open Studios has had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Thanks to the York Open Studios team for all their hard work and the excellent brochures and marketing undertaken, I am very much looking forward to York Open Studios 2021! Stay safe everyone.

Painting daffodils

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 13:53:00 GMT

Making the most of these daffodils before they disappear. Lovely to paint in bright yellows for a change, such a cheerful colour!

Monochrome & Coloured studies

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 17:24:00 GMT

Working on some small studies with colour notes of tints and tones - a good quick ref for any work ups!

'Turbulence'

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 14:14:00 GMT

Now on show at the Pyramid Gallery ,York

Mixed Media on board, framed in a white contemporary glazed frame

Pyramid Gallery Exhibition

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 12:29:00 GMT

I am currently exhibiting with York Art Workers Association at the Pyramid Gallery in Stonegate York. Please do drop by and see this wonderfully diverse exhibition showing the work of many inspirational local artists. Exhibtion runs until 23 February and despite the roadworks, Stonegate is fully open for business. The Pyramid Gallery is at the Minster end of Stonegate, and also stocks wonderful local jewellery and ceramics.

Happy New Year!

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:13:00 GMT

I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year and wish you all peace, health & happiness for 2020.

The start of the year has been busy preparing for the York Art Worker's Exhibition at the Pyramid Gallery in beautiful Stonegate, close to York Minster. More information to follow shortly.

I have also been busy sketchbooking and preparing for York Open Studios this April. Here is a recent piece.

Sketchbooking

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 21:30:00 GMT

As well as working from quick thumbnail charcoal drawings and watercolour sketches I like to do small painting studies which I can refer back to when tackling larger pieces. Here are some working sketches which will be on display at my Open Studio in the Spring.

An Expression of Land and Sea - Countdown!

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 17:02:00 GMT

Last minute prepping and feeling pretty exhausted! Please do come along and visit my solo show of new works at the Helmsley Arts Centre 3 Sept - 4 Oct. Glazed & non-glazed pieces available - seascapes, landscapes and woodland.

If you'v e never been, Helmsley is a most beautiful market town situated in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, with lots of quaint tea shops, pubs, galleries ..and a castle!

The Helmsley Arts Centre is a wonderful, spacious venue, please see the link to their website on my links page.

New Works

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 18:11:00 GMT

I have been working on some new seascapes, landscapes and woodland paintings ready for my solo show 'Expressions of Land & Sea' at the Helmsley Art Centre this September plus some gallery work. Here's a taster of some new piecescoming up.

Painting Trees

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 19:43:00 GMT

I've been painting some woodland scenes recently - I love trees- they are always a joy to paint, throughout the passing seasons!

Sketchbooking at Filey

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 13:31:00 GMT

New Work Work in The Look Gallery, Helmsley

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:26:00 GMT

I have delivered seven new pieces to the (newly decorated!) Look Gallery, do call in and take a look!

Mixed Media Sketchbooking

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:05:00 GMT

Having fun with acrylics, charcoal and pastel - some dramatic moorland scenes!

Watercolour & Acrylic - Having fun with highly pigmented watercolours and acrylics - thin & thick!

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 19:11:00 GMT