• The second day back and I'm judging an Easter Picture Competition… There is nothing quite like putting a smile on your face than judging young artistic talent. I have been asked to judge an Easter Picture Competition today. The entries came through the post this morning and they really made me smile. The competition was launched by a local business APT, @aptgroupservicesltd . They just wanted to give something back and spread a little joy to children in schools for Easter, especially with the year we have had with Covid. The winner, picked by me, will win a wonderful Easter Hamper, full of goodies! The age group is from 5-11 and boy isn't it fun to see how they visualise little chickens, Easter bunnies and Easter eggs in coloured pencil, material and even sequins. I find it fascinating and so charming, adorable! One entry was by a visually impaired girl and I just love it, it is a great example of tactile art. Here it is in the photograph. The winner will be announced on the 17th April and I'm sure it will go to a very worthy winner. I will let you know my decision afterwards.
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    The second day back and I'm judging an Easter Picture Competition… There is nothing quite like putting a smile on your face than judging young artistic talent. I have been asked to judge an Easter Picture Competition today. The entries came through the post this morning and they really made me smile. The competition was launched by a local business APT, @aptgroupservicesltd . They just wanted to give something back and spread a little joy to children in schools for Easter, especially with the year we have had with Covid. The winner, picked by me, will win a wonderful Easter Hamper, full of goodies! The age group is from 5-11 and boy isn't it fun to see how they visualise little chickens, Easter bunnies and Easter eggs in coloured pencil, material and even sequins. I find it fascinating and so charming, adorable! One entry was by a visually impaired girl and I just love it, it is a great example of tactile art. Here it is in the photograph. The winner will be announced on the 17th April and I'm sure it will go to a very worthy winner. I will let you know my decision afterwards.
  • It's been ages but I'm so happy to be back with the shop open again after moving home, yay! Has anyone moved recently? Wow it really does feel like you are stuck in the twilight zone doesn’t it. Days turn into weeks and months of packing and unpacking! I have to say it has been worth it, we are so happy we sold our house during Covid and can't get over how much the flat above the gallery feels like home, even though it is temporary until we find our dream home again. It really does have such a good atmosphere here and having my studio on the third floor above the shop has soooo many benefits to connect me to my creativity. The picture shown here is of my new studio on the top floor Being able to start a painting upstairs and then walk downstairs to the shop to show my progress feels like I'm connected to my dream true bohemian life! Something I aspire to! It's the 12th of April today and I have opened the shop again after months of being shut. It is so exciting and feels like we have all been hibernating hedgehogs now venturing out into the Spring sunshine!!! I am looking forward to seeing you again, new and old customers alike and talking to you about my work and showing you what painting I am currently working on… I look forward to seeing you at my gallery very soon my wonderful customers. Do pop your head round the door and say hi and enjoy the freedom of having a browse… Joanna May Gallery 16 Northgate Street Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1JL Special extra opening hours: This week Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm
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    It's been ages but I'm so happy to be back with the shop open again after moving home, yay! Has anyone moved recently? Wow it really does feel like you are stuck in the twilight zone doesn’t it. Days turn into weeks and months of packing and unpacking! I have to say it has been worth it, we are so happy we sold our house during Covid and can't get over how much the flat above the gallery feels like home, even though it is temporary until we find our dream home again. It really does have such a good atmosphere here and having my studio on the third floor above the shop has soooo many benefits to connect me to my creativity. The picture shown here is of my new studio on the top floor Being able to start a painting upstairs and then walk downstairs to the shop to show my progress feels like I'm connected to my dream true bohemian life! Something I aspire to! It's the 12th of April today and I have opened the shop again after months of being shut. It is so exciting and feels like we have all been hibernating hedgehogs now venturing out into the Spring sunshine!!! I am looking forward to seeing you again, new and old customers alike and talking to you about my work and showing you what painting I am currently working on… I look forward to seeing you at my gallery very soon my wonderful customers. Do pop your head round the door and say hi and enjoy the freedom of having a browse… Joanna May Gallery 16 Northgate Street Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1JL Special extra opening hours: This week Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm
  • I was once told by a clairvoyant that I wouldn’t marry until late in life, it took until I was 46!!! She said that when I do it would be right - 'like two trees planted closely together, as an intertwining pair, we would be stronger and as our branches grew we would only become stronger still!’ A perfect Yin and Yang! I really wanted to share with you that David and I have just had our 10th anniversary of our engagement! Excuse the post being late due to our, up and coming, house move but it was 10 years ago on Valentine's Day in beautiful Venice, my most favourite place in the world, that David proposed! Over a romantic Valentines meal in the restaurant of the famous Danieli Hotel David held out his clasped hands and asked me to choose one of them. Thinking I would choose the wrong hand I said 'I can't do that' and his reply was 'trust me go on!' The hand I chose had a ring in it and he got down on one knee in front of the whole restaurant and proposed! Everyone clapped when I said yes! It was so romantic, he had a ring in both hands so I couldn't fail! It is the best decision I ever made in my life and there hasn't been a day I've regretted it. David allows me to be me, and completes me in my areas of weakness making me a better version of myself. He is one truly amazing man, no one gets me like he does and life feels so fulfilled, like one exciting adventure! I think it is unusual in life to find someone you can feel so at ease with, we always want the same things out of our journey together. The support we feel for each other is unconditional, easy and joyous! I no longer feel that something is missing, a feeling I had in and out of other relationships where the pieces didn't quite join together, the whole now feels better than the divided parts. A perfect fit! I really wanted to share this picture I painted of a hare completely made out of hearts in celebration of all the romantics out there. If you look at the next photo it is one taken on this Valentines day, last weekend, 10 years later and still so happy and some more of our celebration last weekend…. I would love to hear your romantic story if you care to share it! XOXOX
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    I was once told by a clairvoyant that I wouldn’t marry until late in life, it took until I was 46!!! She said that when I do it would be right - 'like two trees planted closely together, as an intertwining pair, we would be stronger and as our branches grew we would only become stronger still!’ A perfect Yin and Yang! I really wanted to share with you that David and I have just had our 10th anniversary of our engagement! Excuse the post being late due to our, up and coming, house move but it was 10 years ago on Valentine's Day in beautiful Venice, my most favourite place in the world, that David proposed! Over a romantic Valentines meal in the restaurant of the famous Danieli Hotel David held out his clasped hands and asked me to choose one of them. Thinking I would choose the wrong hand I said 'I can't do that' and his reply was 'trust me go on!' The hand I chose had a ring in it and he got down on one knee in front of the whole restaurant and proposed! Everyone clapped when I said yes! It was so romantic, he had a ring in both hands so I couldn't fail! It is the best decision I ever made in my life and there hasn't been a day I've regretted it. David allows me to be me, and completes me in my areas of weakness making me a better version of myself. He is one truly amazing man, no one gets me like he does and life feels so fulfilled, like one exciting adventure! I think it is unusual in life to find someone you can feel so at ease with, we always want the same things out of our journey together. The support we feel for each other is unconditional, easy and joyous! I no longer feel that something is missing, a feeling I had in and out of other relationships where the pieces didn't quite join together, the whole now feels better than the divided parts. A perfect fit! I really wanted to share this picture I painted of a hare completely made out of hearts in celebration of all the romantics out there. If you look at the next photo it is one taken on this Valentines day, last weekend, 10 years later and still so happy and some more of our celebration last weekend…. I would love to hear your romantic story if you care to share it! XOXOX