Environmental Policy

As an artist, I am committed to minimising the environmental footprint of my creative practice, acknowledging that I have a responsibility to address the impact of my business to the environment and keep it as low as possible. 

To achieve this, I have integrated sustainable practices into the different stages of my artistic process where I can make conscious choices -from material sourcing to studio operations and distribution.

Commitments

1. Sustainable Material Sourcing

Prioritising materials that are kind to the planet, my sourcing strategy includes:
  • Favouring non-toxic, sustainable, and archival-quality materials whenever possible.
  • I have prioritised watercolour as my main medium due to its environmentally friendly properties: such as being water-soluble, made with natural binders like gum arabic, and no harsh solvents, emitting zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). (Read more below in point 3. Responsible Studio Practices.)
  • Although I occasionally paint with oils, I follow specific guidelines to maintain this low impact as well. 
2. Waste Reduction: 

A. Wateîrcolours
  • Re-using the painting water for as long as possible, keeping it in an open jar.
  • Never use single-use palettes. 

B. General

  • Actively preferring recycled (and sometimes reclaimed materials, such as repurposed canvases, mounts, frames to give them a second life.)
2. Supplier Vetting:

Preferring suppliers who demonstrate transparent environmental practices and prioritise low-impact packaging. For example: 
  • Frames: Made of solid wood responsibly sourced and certified. 
  • Prints: archival quality and certified carbon neutral prints, printed in the UK. For US and EU destination prints, I have chosen local partners using the print on demand model, that meet the strict museum quality standards and carbon neutral commitment. 
  • Greeting cards: Rainforest Alliance, recycled materials when available and compostable/biodegradable sleeves. 
3. Responsible Studio Practices

Conscious creation:

Sourcing paint from professional fine art manufacturers that have replaced all traditional, hazardous cadmium pigments with co-precipitated cadmium hues, eliminating toxicity concerns from my palette, such as Daniel Smith.

Energy Efficiency: Maintaining energy-efficient lighting and equipment and powering down all electronics when not in use.

Waste Management:
  • Implementing a strict policy of recycling and composting within the studio.
  • Disposing watercolour water after leaving to rest for at least 48 hours in an open jar to allow the solid particles to settle and the clear water to remain above.
    • Carefully disposing the liquid to avoid tiring-up with the solids.
    • Solids disposed via household waste. 
  • Opting for reusable glass containers and long-lasting tools.
  • Reusable cotton cloth when possible. 
  • Chemical Safety: Using non-toxic solvents and cleaning agents to ensure that studio wastewater is safe for the environment.
4. Sustainable Shipping & Packaging

I take responsibility for the journey and the impact of my art and products by prioritising: 
  • Plastic-Free Packaging: choosing biodegradable, recyclable, or plastic-free packing materials, such as cardboard, paper-based tapes and sleeves, biodegradable transparent sleeves. 
  • Right-sized shipping: reducing the carbon footprint of transit by using the smallest effective packaging size to optimise space and weight.
  • Minimise the journeys needed to reach my final customer. 
5. Continuous Improvement

Sustainability is a journey, in which I am commited to:
  • Regular Review: Periodically auditing my processes to identify areas where I can further reduce my environmental footprint.
  • Staying informed about new sustainable art practices or technologies to incorporate them into my work.
  • Transparency: Sharing my progress and challenges with you, my collectors and community, as I develop the best approach.
This policy serves as a living document, reflecting my care for our environment through my art and the way it is produced. If you have any questions or suggestions on how I can further improve my environmental impact, I would love to hear from you.