In 2025 I made a big change and built a garden art studio at the bottom of my new house’s garden. Earlier in the year I’d moved into a rented studio space in Peterborough, but once the renovation of my new home began, it became clear I needed a better long-term solution — somewhere I could create consistently without the commute, the cost, or the winter freeze.

Back in January 2025 I moved into my new art studio in Peterborough, which you can read about here:
👉 https://paulkneen.co.uk/my-art-studio-is-now-fully-operational/

At the time, it felt like a huge step forward — and it genuinely was. Having a dedicated space away from home gave me structure, focus, and a sense of purpose. It made my working week feel more “real”, and it gave me a place where I could shut the door, get my head down, and paint.

But as 2025 continued, life shifted again… and with it, my studio setup changed too.

In June 2025 I received the keys to my new house — a house that needed a complete renovation. The kind of renovation where you don’t just redecorate… you rebuild. Everything takes longer than expected, every job leads to another job, and the to-do list never seems to end.

Somewhere during that renovation process, the decision was made to build a purpose-built studio at the bottom of the garden so I could continue creating without losing momentum.

And honestly… it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.

From a rented studio to a studio of my own

I want to say straight away — I’m genuinely grateful for my studio in Peterborough.

It played a huge part in my progress as an artist. It gave me independence, space, and a proper routine. It helped me take myself more seriously, and it pushed me to keep showing up even on the days when inspiration wasn’t flowing.

But when the house renovation started, it became clear that long-term, I needed something different.

Building a studio at home wasn’t just a “nice to have” idea — it started to feel like the most practical way to protect my creative time and keep moving forward.

Here are the main reasons I made the move...

1) I don’t have to commute to Peterborough anymore

Commuting doesn’t sound like a big deal until you do it consistently.

It isn’t just the time spent travelling — it’s the mental load that comes with it. You have to plan your day around it. You have to decide whether it’s “worth the trip” if you only have a couple of hours. And when you get home, you’ve already used up energy that could have gone into painting.

When you’re trying to build consistency as an artist, that kind of friction adds up.

Now, instead of travelling to create, I can walk down the garden and I’m there. No traffic. No travel time. No wasted energy.

2) I can access the studio any time I’m home

This is probably the biggest benefit of all.

Art doesn’t always work to a schedule. Sometimes you feel inspired first thing in the morning. Sometimes the idea hits in the evening. Sometimes you’re halfway through a normal day and suddenly you need to get into the studio to work something out.

With my old setup, studio time had to be planned and “justified”.

With my new studio, it can be spontaneous.

If I’ve got 45 minutes free, I can use it.
If I want to paint on a Sunday evening, I can.
If I want to go in there for ten minutes just to look at a canvas and think, I can.

It gives me flexibility — and as an artist, that freedom makes a huge difference.

3) I was paying rent… now I have my own space

Renting a studio is a great option (and for many artists it’s the only option), but it does add pressure.

You’re paying every month regardless of whether you’ve had a productive month or not. And when you’re self-employed, trying to build momentum, and juggling everything that comes with making a living from your work, that monthly outgoing sits in the back of your mind.

A studio at home obviously comes with its own costs and effort — but the big difference is this:

This space is mine.

It’s not temporary.
It’s not borrowed.
It’s not something I could lose if circumstances change.

It feels like I’m building something long-term, and that mindset shift is powerful.

4) The Peterborough studio was bitterly cold in winter

This one is very real and very practical.

The studio in Peterborough had high ceilings and no insulation, which meant in winter it was absolutely freezing. And when you’re cold, everything becomes harder.

Painting becomes uncomfortable.
You rush things.
You avoid going in.
You start telling yourself you’ll do it tomorrow.

It’s amazing how much your environment affects your ability to create.

The new studio is designed to be used all year round — warm in winter, comfortable in summer, and built around what I actually need day-to-day.

What this move means to me as an artist

This move isn’t just about convenience.

It’s about creating the conditions where I can show up more consistently.

As artists, we often focus on motivation — but motivation comes and goes. The real secret is building a setup that makes it easier to do the work even when you’re not feeling it.

Having my own studio at home feels like removing obstacles.

It means more time painting.
More time experimenting.
More time finishing work.
More time pushing ideas further instead of stopping because I’m tired, cold, or can’t face the drive.

It also feels symbolic.

Like I’m not just renting a place to paint — I’m building a life around it.

A new chapter (and the same obsession)

Even though the location has changed, the reason I paint hasn’t.

I’m still exploring the same themes I’ve always been drawn to — modern life, mental noise, identity, and what it feels like to exist in a world that never switches off.

The studio is just the base.

The work is still the work.

But I can already feel how much difference it makes having a space that’s properly mine — a space that’s always there, waiting, ready, and built for the job.

Final thoughts

I’m glad I had the Peterborough studio. It was an important step and I learned a lot from that phase.

But I’m equally glad I’ve made this move.

Building a garden art studio feels like a commitment — not just to painting, but to myself as an artist.

And after a year full of change, disruption, renovation chaos and big decisions… it feels good to have something solid at the bottom of the garden that exists for one reason only:

To make work.

Want to see my work?

If you’re new here, I’m Paul Kneen — a contemporary abstract portrait artist. You can read more about me here:

👉 https://paulkneen.co.uk/about/

And if you’d like to explore my latest originals and prints, you can visit my shop here:

👉 https://paulkneen.co.uk/shop/