Isle of Man Nature Journal

Isle of Man Nature Journal A collaborative sketching and journalling project on the Isle of Man.

I'm totally swamped with work in my 'proper' job at the moment and haven't had a minute this week to write the blog, or ...
12/06/2026

I'm totally swamped with work in my 'proper' job at the moment and haven't had a minute this week to write the blog, or do any art 😭

Things should quieten down after next week so I'll see you in a fortnight. 💖

This is a gem of a place, right in the middle of Onchan. Well done to all the volunteers for their work ! ✨
09/06/2026

This is a gem of a place, right in the middle of Onchan. Well done to all the volunteers for their work ! ✨

Oh, how I wish this beautiful weather would continue! 🌸🌞🌿
29/05/2026

Oh, how I wish this beautiful weather would continue! 🌸🌞🌿

I’ve been working hard this week to bring the first IOMNJ for Education lesson to life and have now added an inspiration...
29/05/2026

I’ve been working hard this week to bring the first IOMNJ for Education lesson to life and have now added an inspiration section to the website, with free photos that people can use if they can’t get outside to find things to draw.

The lesson takes the form of a virtual scavenger hunt around the IOMNJ interactive map and encourages children to explore and discuss the artworks as well as learning more about the Manx environment and artistic approaches.

Take a look at the blog to see exactly what this lesson offers and perhaps even try it out yourself!

I'm laid low with a cold at the moment but I'll be back with an update on the IOMNJ for Education project in the next bl...
15/05/2026

I'm laid low with a cold at the moment but I'll be back with an update on the IOMNJ for Education project in the next blog post. Let's hope TT brings us some warm, dry weather this year! 🤞🌞

When the La Malouine unexpectedly ran aground on a beach in Ramsey last week, it transformed the familiar stretch of coa...
01/05/2026

When the La Malouine unexpectedly ran aground on a beach in Ramsey last week, it transformed the familiar stretch of coastline into a new and slightly surreal scene.

I’ve enjoyed catching glimpses of her from the road on my way to work each day and with all the lovely weather we’ve been having many people have been visiting that part of the shore to take a look.

Drawn by the sight of her tall masts and weathered hull resting on the sand, I set out to capture the moment in a quick sketch while learning more about the vessel herself. Take a look at the blog to find out more.

Look at this beautiful tulip!It was in full bloom outside the studio at Grenaby earlier this week. has so many beautif...
01/05/2026

Look at this beautiful tulip!

It was in full bloom outside the studio at Grenaby earlier this week. has so many beautiful flowers at her studio - some are even made of glass!

Recently, when choosing extra colours from the Michael Harding range of watercolours, I decided I liked the hue of yello...
17/04/2026

Recently, when choosing extra colours from the Michael Harding range of watercolours, I decided I liked the hue of yellow lake - a paint with the not so common pigment of PY180.

I’d always associated ‘lake’ colours with rather fugitive pinks or reds so I was intrigued as to why this yellow, and supposedly lightfast, pigment had ‘lake’ as part of its name.

A bit of research was in order - first to check out what type of pigment PY180 actually is, and then to work out why Michael Harding may have decided to add lake to its name.

I also took the colour away with me on a recent trip to France and found it useful for its sunny, mid yellow colour and its ability to mix natural greens.

Find out more about this interesting pigment in this week's blog post.

Here's the full ink and watercolour sketch of rocks at Blue Point, from yesterday's blog post.I've also added it to the ...
04/04/2026

Here's the full ink and watercolour sketch of rocks at Blue Point, from yesterday's blog post.

I've also added it to the IOMNJ interactive map. We need more art from the north west of the island, so if you have any please send in a photo and I'll add it too!

Travel palettes come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but it’s rare to find a palette this slim and lightweight that st...
03/04/2026

Travel palettes come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but it’s rare to find a palette this slim and lightweight that still feels genuinely practical.

When I came across this one for under £10 from Etsy seller Woodwardswatercolour, curiosity got the better of me and I had to see if it could actually hold up in real use.

To my surprise, it offered more than enough paint for a sketch as well as providing all the mixing space I needed. With a bit of experimentation, I even discovered some beautiful colour mixes, especially using Bloodstone Genuine from Daniel Smith.

The only real challenge is finding a reliable way to anchor it while painting, but if I can solve that, this little palette could easily become a regular companion in my kit.

So, how does it really perform in practice and is it worth adding to your travel setup? Take a closer look on the blog.

Address

Grenaby Studios
Isle Of Man
IM94HD

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Isle of Man Nature Journal posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Isle of Man Nature Journal:

Shortcuts

Share

Category