A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN

IT'S NOT ALWAYS PRACTICAL TO PAINT FROM THE DINING TABLE. SIX ARTISTS INVITE US INTO THEIR GARDEN STUDIOS TO SHARE THE JOY AND OFFER TIPS FOR SETTING UP YOUR OWN CREATIVE HAVEN

TYDA STERBOVA

Before my studio was built, I painted at the dining room table. This meant that, at times, we were having our dinner kneeling around the coffee table. It all worked OK until our first son started standing up and grabbing the paint. I knew then it was time to move my work somewhere safer.

After seeing a few projects by [Irish custom builders] Big Man Tiny Homes, the decision to build a garden studio was made. I was able to give a lot of input and optimise the layout for the best light available; I wanted large windows to bring in as much as possible, especially on the wall I intended to paint on. I also wanted decking, overlapped by the roof, and this has created a great sun trap where we spend our family time.

The biggest personal item inside my studio is my “staring chair”. I like to sit and look at my work in progress, contemplating the next steps.

My studio is so well insulated that only a bit of heating is needed before I start work on cold days. A timer is useful for this. I also opted for underfloor heating as I didn’t want to take away any valuable wall space. It was a great decision and I love to paint barefoot all year round.

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CHARLOTTE ANNA REED

I had always dreamt of having my own garden studio and when I became pregnant with my daughter last year, it was a great excuse to move from our spare room (which was being turned into a nursery) into my own creative space away from the house.