I’m currently writing this from my garden, pleasantly suffocated by wildflowers, with a view of the sea and the chirp of soft birdsong. It’s quite lovely here.

But only two weeks ago I was freezing my fingers off up North, as I took a week-long trip to both Whitby and York earlier this month - which has left me with lots of creative inspiration that you are sure to see soon.

Other than spending time away, I really feel as though I have fallen into a rhythm with my writing and I’ve been trying to keep this blog updated as frequently as I can. I’ve also been chipping away at the beginnings of a newsletter and enjoyed working on new art commissions.

May has been a rather positive month. It’s mind-blowing to see just how different my mood is only two months on from a major breakdown in March.

Thank you, Jesus.

A Visit North

I had the opportunity to take a solo trip North this month, visiting both Whitby and York.

Those that know me are aware that travel in general can be difficult, let alone when done solo. I’m not particularly fond of change or disruption to my routine; I am easily overwhelmed; and I become quickly fatigued in busy sensory environments.

It’s incredibly challenging knowing that I don’t have another person to help out when I feel a shutdown (or, worse, meltdown) coming on and that I have to rely entirely on myself.

However, travelling alone is also freeing, knowing that I can take everything at my own pace, rest as needed and put my energy into the activities that I want to do - without the worry that I’m boring anyone with the shocking amount of time I lose absorbed in the first bookshop or art gallery that I find.

After somehow managing a week in Scotland last year, I learned that with enough pre-planning and self awareness, solo travel is incredibly fulfilling and it’s an exciting challenge in independence: which is why I wanted to plan another short trip this year after finding myself in yet another unplanned ‘gap year’.

York has been on my bucket-list for a while, for it’s rich history and magnificent architecture; and whilst planning time away, I thought I’d also tick off a day in Whitby, home to much of the events in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

I’m working on separate posts for each - Whitby is already published, here - but I thought I’d share a few quick highlights in this wrap-up:

Whitby highlights:

• Sketching in St Mary’s Churchyard, where Mina Murray sat to write her journals.

• Wandering the romantic Whitby Abbey ruins.

• A very drizzly, wind-swept walk along the Whitby Sands and East Pier.

• Sitting at the Whalebone Arch to watch the sunset over the valley.

York highlights:

• Sleeping in a magical witch’s hovel.

• Finding a fully vegan Chinese restaurant!

• Spending an embarrassing amount of time in the York Railway Museum.

• Evensong at York Minster.

• Joining a walking tour of the city, filled with lots of history.

• Window shopping in The Shambles, accompanied by the nostalgic smell of confectionery.

• Lots of café sketching.

During my time away I made sure to indulge in some sketching and collect a few reference images, so I have returned with endless creative inspiration and ideas for new artwork.

Shop Update

Speaking of new artwork...

Last month I shared a recent piece of my home in Brixham, and I’m happy to share that it’s now available to find as prints on my Etsy.

Find them on my Etsy

I’ve also updated my shop to include some art prints and greetings cards of the Bristol Suspension Bridge, something I’ve been meaning to do for a while!

Clifton Suspension Bridge prints and greeting cards

Both prints are available to purchase on my Etsy, here.

Aside from what’s currently on my Etsy, I’m also working on some new literary-based products, inspired by the much-beloved Jane Austen, and probably her most well-known novel, Pride and Prejudice.

The original paintings

I thought that it would be fun to take from both major adaptations of Austen’s story and illustrate Mr Darcy’s estate, Pemberley.

Chatsworth House, AKA, Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice 2005

These will be available soon as prints and cards, so keep your eyes peeled for next month’s shop update.

I’ve also been toying with creating some more illustrations based on classic literature, but, despite lots of sketching, I have been struggling to complete a final piece.

If any of you readers have a favourite novel or author you’d like to see illustrated, do share! You can contact me through social media or through email, here.

What God has been teaching me this month

Over the past few months I’ve been feeling a pull to include my faith more on here, and I thought a simple way to do so would be to share what I have been seeing God teach me in my life over the past month, so here are my meditations from May...

True humility before God means trusting Him, and having faith that He is working for your good, even when it may be impossible to see in the moment.

And fully trusting that God is at work behind-the-scenes grants you the ability to slow down.

It’s easy to feel stagnant, to want to take everything into your own hands and rush through life. But there is a power in taking it easy. Even when it seems counterintuitive, I find that living at a slower pace is often far more productive than filling my days with a facade of busyness. I have more motivation, my work feels fulfilling, and I feel more content with where I’m at in life.

Obviously I’m in an incredibly privileged position right now that I’m able to afford to slow down, but I would urge everyone reading this to at least consider how much they are carrying… and what can be off-loaded to make more room for rest.

‘Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.’ 1 Peter 5:6-7

‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.’ Romans 8:28

‘Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you little of faith?’ Matthew 6:30

And to close this month: I present some of the best books I read and a playlist of some of the music I enjoyed throughout May.

Read:

1. James, Percival Everett.

   A retelling of Mark Twain’s classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but through the words of Jim. What a magnificent story! I was absolutely glued to the book, and devoured the entire thing on one six-hour train journey. Without spoiling too much, in shifting the perspective of Huck Finn’s tale, we as readers get to see Jim’s character in a whole new light; instead of remaining a simple, runaway slave, we see that underneath Huckleberry’s initial perception, he is well-educated and incredibly strong. Everett takes some creative liberties in his plot, but I felt they only added to the retelling... and, to my pleasant surprise, he completely removed Tom Sawyer altogether from the book (I hate that boy!). There is obviously so much more that can be said about this novel, but I feel I don’t have the time, space or words to do it justice in this post.

2. Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck

   Somehow, I have gone my entire 19 years of living without knowing anything about this story. Which is, honestly, something that I’m grateful for, as it made my first read-through that much more impactful. I read the final chapter whilst half-way through my full-english in York, and I was left to finish the rest of my breakfast in stunned silence. Definitely not my idea of a fun morning.

Listened to:

1. Such Great Heights, The Postal Service

2. Impossible, Clairo

3. Almost Easy, Avenged Sevenfold

4. Cut to Fit, Demon Hunter

5. Secret Messages, Electric Light Orchestra

6. First Love, Forrest Frank & PARTY WAVE

7. A Night Like This, The Cure

8. Mine’s Not a High Horse, The Shins

9. Only Got One, Frou Frou

10. Do I Love You? Peggy Lee and George Shearing

So there we have it, another month in my life written and shared with you.

There will be more blog posts to come on my time away in York and what I got up to, as well as something about my decision to step back from social media - eventually!

If you like keeping up with what is going on with ScribbleWhiskers, you can get monthly newsletters, shop updates and exclusive discounts by signing up to my newsletter through this link, here.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the changing season as we begin to welcome summer, lovely reader.

Yours sincerely,

Owen @ ScribbleWhiskers

‘Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.’

1 Peter 5:6-7