Back in August 2024, I stepped into a new chapter in my creative journey.
Alongside two other creatives, I became co-owner of a large ex-warehouse space in the heart of Peterborough. It was something I had thought about for years, but actually standing inside it — keys in hand — felt very different.
Exciting, but also slightly overwhelming.
Seeing the Potential
To say the space needed work would be an understatement.
The walls were peeling, the floors were covered in dust and debris, and the whole building carried that unmistakable smell of damp and neglect. It had clearly been left untouched for a long time.
But underneath all of that, the potential was obvious.
The studio before renovation, Peterborough
High ceilings. Open space. Room to think, to experiment, to work properly.
Everything I’d been missing.
The Transformation
From day one, it was all hands on deck.
We cleared, scrubbed, painted, and repaired — slowly bringing the space back to life. It wasn’t glamorous work. Some days felt like progress was painfully slow, but every small improvement made a difference.
The studio during renovation, Peterborough
A clean wall. A cleared corner. A space beginning to feel usable again.
Over time, the shift was undeniable.
What had once felt neglected and lifeless started to become something entirely different — a space with energy and purpose.
Moving In
Eventually, the day came to move in.
After years of working in makeshift setups — kitchen tables, small corners of rooms, constantly packing things away — this felt like a complete shift.
For the first time, I had a space where I could leave things as they were. Where work could evolve naturally, without interruption.
A space that was properly mine.
The studio beginning to take shape as a working space
If you’d like to see how this space feeds into my work, you can view my paintings here.
What a Studio Changes
Having a dedicated studio changes everything.
There’s a freedom that comes with it — the ability to work without constraints, to make a mess, to step away and return without resetting everything.
It removes friction from the creative process.
It also changes how you think about your work.
Bigger space means bigger ideas. More room to experiment. More willingness to take risks.
The Reality of Winter
Of course, timing wasn’t entirely on our side.
We finished the space just as winter arrived — and the reality of working in a large, minimally insulated warehouse quickly became clear.
Cold floors. High ceilings. Heat that disappears almost instantly.
I added an infrared heater, which helps, but most days involve multiple layers just to stay comfortable.
Not ideal — but part of the process.
New Possibilities
What this space really brings is possibility.
It’s not just about having somewhere to work — it’s about what can happen within it.
Collaboration. Shared ideas. Potential workshops. Open studio days.
Being surrounded by other creatives adds something you don’t get working alone. There’s an energy to it — subtle, but powerful.
And it inevitably feeds back into your own work.
Looking Ahead
With more space comes more ambition.
Larger canvases. New materials. Ideas that previously felt impractical now feel possible.
There’s also the potential to evolve how the work is shared — whether that’s through small exhibitions within the space or opening it up for others to experience.
If you’d like to see how the work continues to develop, you can also explore my exhibitions here.
What This Space Represents
This studio is more than just a place to work.
It represents years of thinking, planning, and slowly moving towards something that once felt out of reach.
It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t always happen in big moments — it builds over time.
Step by step.
Decision by decision.
A Space to Keep Exploring
Standing in the studio now, surrounded by canvases, materials, and half-finished ideas, there’s a strong sense that this is only the beginning.
There’s still a lot to figure out. A lot to improve.
But that’s part of it.
This space will evolve — just like the work inside it.
And that’s exactly how it should be.
If you’d like to learn more about my background and approach, you can visit my About page.
