Amanda Upton Art

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Watercolour | Teabag art | Cyanotpye
▪︎ Small art for calm peaceful corners of your home.
▪︎ Sharing island life and natural beauty.

22/10/2026

From tea shop to art shop
Part 1

At craft fairs, I love watching people reading about my art process, and when they look puzzled, I explain more.

Here's some of the story:
I came across an amazing artist called Ruby Silvious, who paints on tea bags. I'd never heard of such a thing. She has a great book called 363 days of Tea - well, worth a look.

I tried using watercolour on teabags and found the paint spread too much, and I felt there needed to be more definition for the outlines of the hills, seas, and grasses. I'd completed a free course in 2020 by Textile.org, which encouraged me to just experiment with hand stitching. So, with a fine needle and thread, I carefully handstitched into the tea bags, and it worked out well, I think.
Mainly, I create tea bag art of Orkney scenes, although I sometimes like to go a little more abstract.

I wrote to Ruby Silvious to say thank you for inspiring me, and she ver kindly messaged me back. How lovely. It made my day!

17/10/2026

Did you know you can get from Orkney to Lewis in a day? Ferry, bus, bus,ferry. Long journeys are part of island life.

We've had a break away seeing family, and it's been wonderful - beaches, board games, ice cream, and much fun.

The week was very stormy, and I've never seen as much sea foam before . I managed, by accident, to capture a dolphin jumping out of the water on the photo with the mountains in the background. The light looked much more stunning in real life.

I always love the feeling I get when we get back to Orkney. It's a special place.

29/09/2026

When you don't know what to do, just keep going. Just turn up and do something, however small. It's enough😊
I've been a bit stuck this week, may be it's just the change in season, but here are two new watercolour paints I've been enjoying having a play with.

22/09/2026

When the wind drops off and there's blue sky, I like to drop everything and get out for some fresh air.
I loved seeing the brush strokes of green amongst the heather, and I managed to catch the rooks ( I think!) heading home. What a noise!

07/09/2026

What makes you buy a piece of art?

Many reasons, I guess.

This little piece delighted me. I came across an older man, selling his work from a park bench in the gardens opposite the Ritz Hotel in Funchal earlier this year. My dad and I had just enjoyed a glass of sangria there before wandering through the gardens to find some shade. The gentleman spoke barely any English, and I don't speak Portuguese, but it was so lovely to meet him. I had to buy his work because I thought it was simply beautiful. Also, because I made a connection with him. I like to think of him sitting in the gardens with his ink pens being creative. I chose this piece because I wanted a reminder of that moment to take home with me. Now, it sits in my art room on a shelf as a reminder, and it makes me smile.

I've tried to find him on instagram, but with no luck. If anyone happens to know him, please give me a shout!

31/08/2026

I've had a break from craft fairs, but I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of chatting to folk and explaining my unique way of doing art.

Stromness Warehouse Buildings

31st Aug
5th Sept
17th Sept
18th Sept

28/08/2026

The weather has picked up this week, and it's been lovely getting out and about with family. A quick summary.

•Buckets and spades time at the beach.
•Roaming around the Earl's Palace at Birsay •Glorious seaweed pools
•Ice cream and delicious homemade pies Palace Stores Birsay

Happy grannie

Address

Finstown

Website

https://amanda-upton-art.sumupstore.com/

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