Blog

This Weekend!!

29 June 2026
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events
Here I am, ready and waiting!

The time is nearly upon us, and here at Northlight we have been busy making the studio spick and span for visitors at the weekend 🙂

HEBDEN BRIDGE
OPEN STUDIOS WEEKEND

Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July
10.30am-5pm

Here at Northlight  Studios you will find me and my Bookshelf Art, alongside: Kate Boyce; Toby Cotterill; Emma Hutchinson; Izzie May; Melissa Davie; Rachel Red; Don Myers; Emma Wilkinson, and don’t miss visiting Katch Skinner and Jane Revitt downstairs, where you will also find the Northlight Art School Summer Show and the cafe bursting with delicious home-made cakes !!
Download the HBOS Brochure Here 🙂
You can
download your HBOS Brochure Here
to check out all the other artists in and around Hebden Bridge 🙂

If you will be  exploring the artistic hub of Hebden Bridge,  or wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I hope you have a super weekend 🙂

Best Wishes,
Roo

Currently Reading: John of John by Douglas Stuart
‘Southern Lights’ oil on canvas 30x40cm
Roo’s Website Here 🙂

Celebrating 60!

12 June 2026
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Blog
Celebrating 60 last week!!
Post-sauna sea dip!
I had a fabulous few days on the Isle of Anglesey. It was soooo beautiful to spend time by the sea with my gorgeous crew 🙂
We even had a wonderful session at Sawna Bach, alternating between their little wooden sauna shack and running (I use this term loosely!) into the sea……

I am welcoming 60 with open arms, it feels great!

I have started off by reading through my old teenage diaries and then throwing them on the fire – good to remember old friends and to revisit music I was listening to back then, but so energizing to let go of all that teenage angst!

Perhaps I should do a ‘Looking Back from 60’ shelf portrait painting, and/or ‘Looking Forward from 60’?! I didn’t read any books set on Anglesey, but I did go for an island theme, choosing Tove Jansson’s ‘Notes From An Island’ and ‘Fair Play’. Such wonderful descriptions and observations of day to day life on a small island (or in a small apartment) and close relationships, accompanied by some atmospheric illustrations by Tuulikki Pietilä.  These insoired me to go out and do some more loose stick and ink sketching – such a breath of fresh air from my usual meticulous bookish painting!
Back To Bookish Things…

If you are in or around Somerset next weekend, do pop along to The Cheese & Grain in Frome for the PBFA Frome Book Fair, where I will be showing a selection of my Shelf Portrait paintings and selling bookish prints and cards, accompanied by the room full of bookish treasure troves that are the lovely PBFA rare and antiquarian booksellers offering thousands of rare, collectable and second-hand books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera.
And then, it will be about time for…..

OPEN STUDIOS WEEKEND!!!

Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July
10.30am-5pm

I am soooo looking forward to throwing open the doors to my studio and welcoming visitorsin – my favourite time of the year 🙂

Here at Northlight  Studios many of us will be in our studios for you to peruse, with the Northlight Art School Students Exhibition downstairs alongside the cafe with oodles of home-made cakes! There will be over 130 artists in and around Hebden Bridge for this year’s Open Studios, so download your HBOS Brochure, or order one by post, and get ahead of the game!!
For Open Studios I will be producing some special trial 10″ square art prints from my square shelf portrait paintings (instread of cropping them to A4 to match my others!).
Come and see what you think!
Having sold out at the fabulous Hay Festival, my new 10″ square ‘Winnie’ print will be back in stock for Open Studios 🙂

….and of course there will be the ever-popular Bargains Box 🙂

Best Wishes,
Roo

Currently Reading: Travelling Light by Tove Jansson
My gorgeous seaside crew 🙂
Roo’s Website Here 🙂

Winnie & Beatrix

8 May 2026
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Blog
Pooh!!
‘Winnie’ oil on canvas 35x35cm (plus frame)
Winnie and Beatrix

Two new paintings this month:

‘Winnie’
..in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first publication of the infamous ‘Winnie The Pooh’ by A. A.Milne.
Many a happy childhood hour was lost in the Hundred Acre wood with Pooh Bear; Christopher Robin; Piglet; Owl; Tigger; Eeyore; Rabbit and all his relations, and, naturally my favourites, Kanga and Roo!

‘Beatrix’
..to honour the 160th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, author of the well known series of fanciful  tales about her wonderfully named animal friends: Jemima Puddleduck; Mrs. Tiggywinkle; the Flopsy Bunnies;    and, of course, everyone’s favourite cheeky bunny: Peter Rabbit 🙂
‘Beatrix’ oil on canvas 35x35cm (plus frame)
Off to the Big Smoke…

Next week I’m off down to London for the PBFA
London Rare and Antiquarian Book Fair
(where I’m sure there will be a few first edition ‘Winnie The Pooh’ books on show!).
It takes place at the Ibis Conference Centre, 47 Lillie Road SW6 1UD

Saturday 16th May 1pm-7pm and Sunday 17th May
10am-4pm.

Do pop in for a browse – it is free to enter 🙂

I will have a selection of Original Shelf Portrait paintings on display, along with the full range of Limited Edition prints and Book Art Cards…..
May is the month of Hay!!

Shhhh…. Keep it under your hat, as these aren’t officially released until next Monday, but the lovely people at Hay Festival have once again asked to feature my work on the Festival Tote bags!

As well as Winnie’s 100th birthday and Beatrix’s 160th, 2026 marks 50 years since the death of Agatha Christie, so there will be three tote bag designs, as well as exclusive Limited Edition prints and Book Art Cards available in the Festival Gift Shop Tent.

Another busy month, but I did squeeze in a couple of glorious days in the Lake District – even braving a dip in the river 🙂

Best Wishes,
Roo

Currently Reading: Having Spent Life Seeking by Kae Tempest

What’s On in March….

12 March 2026
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Blog
This weekend, 4th-8th March, is the
 Battersea Spring Affordable Art Fair

where I will once again have some of my work on show with the lovely
Bowlby Fine Art
You’ll find them at Stand A7

You can book your complimentary tickets here!!
Affordable Art Fair Free Tickets!
‘The Observer’s Books at Byard Art, Cambridge
‘The Observer’s Books’ and ‘King Charles I’s Travelling Library’
will be on show at Byard Art in Cambridge for their Story of Art exhibition

The show runs from 19th March until 19th April, where there will be a whole array of different bookish art to browse, including some which you’d be forgiven for thinking might be mine!!

Do pop in for a browse….
‘Charles I’s Travelling Library’ at Byard Art, Cambridge
On Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March
you will find me amongst a sea of antiquarian and second-hand books, maps and ephemera with members of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA) and the Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA)  at the

Edinburgh Premier Book Fair
taking place at The George Hotel, Edinburgh

So it’s going to be a busy month!
Happily I’m beginning to see signs of the seasons truning, which is putting a welcome spring in my step!!

Best Wishes,
Roo

Currently Reading: About Grace by Anthony Doerr
Roo’s Website Here 🙂

The Story of Art: New range!

17 February 2026
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Blog
What A Delight!
Ivy with her Shelf portrait
“The picture is truly wonderful, a unique work of art which Ivy is very proud to own, she was particularly taken with Rabbit featuring on it and the namesake wallpaper!” 

What a delight it was to paint these treasured childhood favourites of Ivy’s for her 10th birthday present from her grandmother!

Some of these take me back to bedtimes with my own children: favourites being The Ahlbergs; Dick King Smith and all the ‘My Naughty Little Sister’ books 🙂

Hetty Feather inspired us to visit the Foundlings Museum on a trip to London – an emotional experience, particularly seeing the half scraps of cloth and other tokens left by mothers to identify their child if they ever managed to be in a position to return…..

Others take me back to my own childhood: ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’; ‘Carrie’s War’ and ‘Now We Are Six’ (more A A Milne related exciting news in next months missive!)
The Story of Art: New print and card range
‘The Story of Art’ depicts a selection of books on art history and criticism that have influenced my artistic practice along the way. A celebration of the influence of art and artists through the ages.

This image is now released as a Limited Edition print; an A4 print and a Book Art card– something for every occasion!!
Shop the Story of Art Range
‘Charles I’s Travelling Library’
‘Charles The First’s Travelling Library’, a series of book spines without any text!

I saw these on display at The Bodleian Library’s ‘Treasures’ exhibition,and thought to myself… ’Now there’s a painting waiting to happen!’

The 17th Century king’s essential books were reprinted in miniature, bound in red goatskin and tooled in gold to accompany him on his travels. The contents apparently include classical texts by the poet Ovid and the philosopher Cicero as well as bibles and religious books.
One wonders how he knew which was which, or did he just take pot luck?
‘The Observer’s Books’
Charlie & The Observer’s are off down to Byard Art in Cambridge for their exhibition ‘The Story of Art’, which runs from March 19th to April 19th.

“This exhibition explores the power of narrative in contemporary art, bringing together artists who engage with text and books as literal materials, as well as those whose works unfold through strong storytelling and visual narratives. Collectively, the artworks reveal how stories, written, implied or imagined, shape meaning, memory, and human experience across artistic practices.”
Also coming up next month:
The lovely Will & Sophie of Bowlby Fine Art will, once again, be showing some of my work at the Battersea Spring Affordable Art Fair 4th-8th March.

I will be taking some of my work and merchandise up to the Edinburgh Premier Book Fair on the 20th & 21st March. If you are in the area, do pop in for some bookish browsing and chat 🙂

Best Wishes,
Roo

Currently Reading: A Kestrel For A Knave by Barry Hines

Happy New Year!

2 February 2026
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Blog

Happy New Year!!

I hope you all had an enjoyable festive season?

 Mine was quiet and cosy with sprinkles of family gatherings dotted about – just how I like it 🙂
My latest bespoke paintings were completed and most gratefully received in time for Christmas… one of them for a ten year old’s January birthday (no photos of this one yet!)
Happy David with his bespoke Shelf Portrait – a surprise gift from his wife 🙂
..and this one commissioned by Penny, for herself (the best kind of present!)
This week I have been putting the finishing touches to an Observer’s Books painting. I had it on my studio wall as a work-in-progress during winter Open Studios and so many people connected with the half dozen titles I had painted.
One visitor remembered their grandmother gifting them ‘The Observer’s Book of British Geology’ for their 8th birthday, and they grew up to become a geologist as a result!Which Observer’s books do you connect with?
Observer’s Books final details….
When I was quite young, I used to enjoy sitting cross-legged on the floor, pulling Observer’s books off the shelf one by one and looking at all the illustrations.
This was a somewhat hazardous pastime, as the bookshelf was behind the door and there were often three older brothers running around the house with a tendency to throw doors open with gusto – possibly in the knowledge that there might be the bonus of squashing a little sister behind it and extracting a loud squeak!!

Winter Open Studios This Weekend :-)

3 December 2025
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Blog
Life is starting to feel distinctly Christmassy this week!
Portrait by photographer Peter Defty

Just thought I’d show my face and show you this fabulous portrait of me by photographer Peter Defty, taken a few years ago. It’s not often I get on with a photo of myself, but I love this one!
When I turned up at his studio he had spent a happy  hour building the pile of vintage annuals for me to perch on top of… genius idea!
This photograph was included in a stunning exhibition of Peter’s portrait photography ‘The Outlaw Project’ at Dean Clough Galleries last summer.
I can’tpromise to be perched on a pile on annuals in my own studio this weekend, but do come and visit me anyway!!
Visit me in my studio this Saturday & Sunday
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th December
11am to 5pm

Festive Open Studio!!
I’m looking forward to welcoming visitors into my studio Northlight as part of the Festive Open Studios Weekend in Hebden Bridge 🙂

Pop along to our wonderful Northlight Winter Fair, full of stalls and artists: including Rach Red; Katch Skinner: Annie Harrison; Rachel H; Pete & Carol Leonard and more! Plus mulled wine, tea, cake and a raffle!
Then head on up the central stairs to find my Open Studio. Also opening their studios will be Toby Cotterill and Jane Revitt 🙂

**Please Note: we are not open on Friday 5th**
(please email me if you are unable to visit on Saturday or Sunday and would like to make a private appointment for Friday)

Park & Ride!
If you are travelling by car, be aware that parking in Hebden Bridge can be tricky. I would advise you to take advantage of the Park & Ride at Mytholmroyd train station car park, running every 10-15 minutes on Saturday & Sunday.
New Square format Card designs 🙂

New in my online shop this week are these fresh square designs to replace the old long cards designs: ‘Odyssey‘; ‘Fairy Books‘ and ‘Scotland‘, along with a new rainbow design ‘Penguin Pride‘.
Don’t Forget!!
If you’re hoping to purchase some Bookshelf art for Christmas, you can browse my online shop and use the discount code:
 festive10 
anytime between now and 10th December for a special 10% discount throughout my shop.
Happy Shopping!!
Roo’s Shop

If I don’t see you over the Open Studios weekend, then I wish you all a Very Merry Festive Season 🙂
Roo

Northlight Winter Fair

2 December 2025
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events

It’s almost time for Hebden Bridge Open Studios and the Northlight Winter Fair!

On Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December you can visit a selection of Northlight artists in our Winter Fair and also a few studios will be open.

At the Winter Fair you will find Don Myers, Katch Skinner, Rachel Red, Annie Harrison, Rachel Heny, Kate Boyce and Izzie Boyce.

Plus tea, cake, mulled wine, an activity, a raffle and some Christmas tunes on a piano!

You will also be able to visit Toby Cotterill and Roo Waterhouse in their studios upstairs and Jane Revitt downstairs.

Inside the fair, Katch is having a studio clearance of cups, egg cups and allsorts and has no card reader so bring cash.

Don Myers will be selling his new ‘Square Circle’ watercolours, 2026 calendars, diaries, notebooks, fine art prints, cards and original paintings.

Annie Harrison will be selling gift bags made from vintage newspaper, alternative Christmas wreaths and decorations made from natural materials, and ceramic bits and bobs.

Ceramicist Rachel Heny will have her hand thrown bowls and cups, jewellery, Christmas decorations and pearl lined porcelain hanging shells.

Rachel Red will have original lino prints, screen prints, cards, calendars for 2026, wooden decorations and festive mini prints.

And Izzie Boyce will have her traditional prints, cards and illustrations.

Come and visit Roo Waterhouse upstairs at Northlight Studios to have a chat and a browse through Shelf Portrait oil paintings alongside a fabulous range of Bookshelf Art prints and cards – perfect gifts for the bookworms in your life 🙂

And last but not least, come to the studio of Toby Cotterill to see a range of work from everyday earrings and gifts to one-of-a-kind pieces of sculptural jewellery and silverware. You can see new work including Beetle Beakers, inspired by recent Arts Council funding, which are hand forged from a single piece of silver with over 50,000 hammer blows! These are made using traditional silversmithing techniques, raising, chasing and repousse, which have been used for millenia, including to create the Mask of Tutankhamun.

So it’s all going on, as you can see!

All Northlight happenings are just on the Saturday on Sunday.

Hope to see you then!

Yours,

All at Northlight Art Studios

The Story of Art

1 December 2025
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Blog

The Story of Art
‘The Story of Art’ oil on canvas 30x40cm

A brand new shelf portrait painting ‘The Story of Art’ has just arrived back from our wonderful local framers. It was a joy to bring together and celebrate some of the history, criticism and reflections on art throughout the ages that have informed my art practice over the years. Two of my particular favourites are ‘Matisse On Art’, which follows the development of Matisse’s ideas on art through a selection of his writings; and ‘Dear Theo’, Vincent Van Gogh’s prolific letters to his brother, Theo, which cronicle his rough, tough path to art and beyond.

The Story of Art will be winging it’s way down to Cambridge to join ‘Southern Lights’ and ‘Drama’ at the Byard Art Christmas Cracker Exhibition. The exhibition runs from 15th November until 24th December.
Adventures In Wonderland
Limited Edition Print ‘Adventures In Wonderland’

A few years ago I painted a second Childhood themed Shelf Portrait ‘Adventures In Wonderland’, which ended up going missing somewhere along the line – rather a mystery! I came across an image of it while browsing through my archive and thought it would be lovely to add it to my range of Limited Edition prints. It would make a great pairing with ‘When We Were Very Young’, my other childhood themed print – especially for a pair of children!
Shop for Adventures 🙂
Events:
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th December
11am to 5pm

Festive Open Studio!!
I’m looking forward to welcoming visitors into my studio Northlight as part of the Festive Open Studios Weekend in Hebden Bridge 🙂

Pop along to our wonderful Northlight Winter Fair, full of stalls and artists: including Rach Red; Katch Skinner: Annie Harrison; Rachel H; Pete & Carol Leonard and more! Plus mulled wine, tea, cake and a raffle!
Then head on up the central stairs to find my Open Studio. Also opening their studios will be Toby Cotterill and Jane Revitt 🙂

Apologies…
**Please note that I will no longer be at the Northern Illustrated Book Fair in Harrogate this weekend (as I am currently in Copenhagen for my step-daughter’s marraige!).
Roo’s Shop
If you’re hoping to purchase some Bookshelf art for Christmas, you can browse my online shop and use the discount code:
festive10
anytime between now and 10th December for a special 10% discount throughout my shop.
Happy Shopping!!

Best Autumnal Wishes,
Roo

Currently Reading (and highly recommending!):
Cloud Cuckoo land by Anthony Doerr

Children’s, Illustrated & Detective Fiction Book Fair – 8th November

26 September 2025
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events

I’m very happy to be taking part in this year’s Northern Children’s Illustraed and Detective Fiction Book Fair in Harrogate on Saturday 8th November.

We hope you can join us as this book fair is the only one of its kind.  It provides an opportunity for serious collectors as well as general collectors in all three areas.

A great day out for all the family.  With it being held just before Christmas it is a great opportunity to search for a gift, be that a book or some Bookshelf Art!!

https://www.pbfa.org/fairs/northern-illustrated-childrens-detective-fiction-november-2025

8th November 2025, 10:00 – 16:00

Pavilions of Harrogate, Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8NZ