Sometimes being an artist is about making the work. At other times, it is about everything that surrounds the work — finding an audience, preparing exhibitions, sharing the process and working out which platforms actually feel right for you.

August has definitely been a mixture of both.

My Solo Exhibition

One of the biggest moments this month has been my Whispers of the Wild exhibition at CreateED in Kirkintilloch.

The exhibition opened on Saturday 1st August and brought together a collection of my original stag-inspired artworks.

The collection explores something I return to again and again in my work: nature, memory, stillness and the strange emotional connection we can have with the landscape and the creatures within it.

There is something about the stag that particularly interests me. It can appear powerful and imposing, but also incredibly quiet. I wanted the paintings to hold some of that contrast.

Titles such as Keeper of the Hidden Glen, Antlers Holding Dawn, When the Hills Breathe, Echoes Beneath the Antlers and The Wild Knows My Name grew from that atmosphere.

Preparing work for an exhibition always reminds me that the finished painting is only one part of being an artist. There is selecting work, pricing, labelling, photographing, transporting and installing — and then suddenly the paintings that have been living with you in the studio are out in the world having their own conversations with other people.

That is probably one of my favourite things about exhibiting.

Once the work leaves the studio, I don’t completely control how it is interpreted anymore.

And I like that.

Back in the Studio

Of course, the exhibition hasn’t meant that painting has stopped.

Quite the opposite.

I’ve continued working with mixed media, oils, collage, drawing and colour, and several new pieces have been emerging during August.

I’ve also found myself thinking a lot about titles.

Naming a painting can sometimes be almost as difficult as making it! I don’t necessarily want a title to explain exactly what somebody is looking at. I prefer it to offer a doorway into the work — something that adds another layer without closing down the viewer’s imagination.

Recent paintings have continued to move between abstraction, landscape, nature and those slightly dreamlike spaces where you aren’t completely sure whether you’re looking at somewhere real or somewhere remembered.

That uncertainty interests me.

Starting Again on TikTok

Another part of August has been getting to grips with my new TikTok account.

Starting again on a platform is a strange experience.

On one hand, you know much more than you did the first time. On the other, you are still trying to understand what the platform wants from you — particularly when algorithms, features and rules seem to change constantly.

I’ve been asking lots of questions about TikTok recently: scheduling posts, Live streaming, what artists can and can’t do when talking about their work, and how to actually turn views into people who are genuinely interested in original art.

Because views are lovely.

But as a working artist, I also want my social media to help people discover the paintings themselves.

That means finding a balance between creating interesting videos and remembering why I am there in the first place.

I want people to discover the studio, see how the paintings develop, learn a little about me as the artist and, hopefully, eventually find an original artwork that speaks to them.

I’m still experimenting.

Giving Pinterest Some Attention Again

Pinterest has also been getting a bit of a spruce-up.

For a visual artist, Pinterest feels like one of those platforms that I really should be using more.

Unlike some social media platforms where a post can disappear almost immediately, Pinterest feels much more connected to searching, collecting ideas and discovering things over time.

So I’ve been looking again at how I present my artwork there, how my boards are organised and how Pinterest might become another route back to my website and original artwork.

I even found myself asking whether you can go Live on Pinterest.

Apparently my brain has officially entered the stage where every social platform must now be investigated for its Live possibilities!

But it is all part of learning.

I’m beginning to think less about being everywhere simply for the sake of being everywhere and more about how the different parts can connect:

The studio → the artwork → the story → social media → my website → the collector.

That feels much more useful.

And Then There Is YouTube…

YouTube continues to be part of the picture too through bea creative tv.

I’ve been experimenting with studio videos and Live painting sessions, including the idea of a regular Monday evening hour in the studio.

There is something very different about longer-form video.

TikTok and Instagram can show a quick glimpse of a painting.

YouTube can allow someone to sit in the studio with me for a while.

They can watch the slower parts — drawing, painting, organising materials, preparing for an exhibition or simply working through an idea that hasn’t quite resolved itself yet.

I think there is value in showing that side of art too.

Not everything happens in sixty seconds.

What August Is Teaching Me

Perhaps the theme running through August so far is visibility.

Not visibility simply in terms of numbers, followers or algorithms, but allowing the work to be seen.

In an exhibition.

On a wall.

On a website.

Through a camera.

On Pinterest.

On TikTok.

On YouTube.

And sometimes by somebody who has never encountered my work before.

As artists, we can spend an enormous amount of time alone making things. Eventually, though, we have to allow those things to leave us.

That can be uncomfortable.

It can also be exciting.

My work has always been connected to nature, memory, imagination and the stories that sit somewhere beneath what we can immediately see. My style — Abstract Realism — gives me room to move between recognisable subjects and abstraction, using mixed media, acrylic, collage and oils to build those layers.

August feels like another layer.

The exhibition is happening. New paintings are developing. TikTok is beginning again. Pinterest is being dusted off. YouTube continues. And somewhere amongst all of that, I’m still standing in the studio making the next piece.

There is plenty of August left.

I’m curious to see where it takes me.

Beatrice Ajayi
Artist | Abstract Realism
Glasgow, Scotland

New Art Transformation Week #2

I want to be able to share what I get up to in my studio on sometimes a daily or weekly basis, depending on the news I have to share.

I am looking forward to enjoying this space with you all.

In other news the above piece sold earlier this month. Entitled’ She Brings The Dawn’

I am hoping to upload more paintings to the website shop.

I will set up a blog when I have done that.

I visited my Glasgow shop in the Scottish Design Exchange earlier this January 2026. I will be heading to the Edinburgh branch on George Street Sunday 25th January to tidy and restock.

I will speak to you all soon. B

I am looking forward to making them available to clients.

I hope you are getting a chance to be creative yourself.
I have also got art studio vlogs over on my YouTube channel at ‘Bea Creative TV’ so check that out when you get a moment to see what else I have been working on.

Hi everyone, I have been updating my website over the last couple of days. This has been long over due. The image above is a mock up I found on my Affinity Designer software. I plan to create some of my own which will be fun. Until then check out the ones I have used to add some of my products in a new and exciting way.

I have been itching to lay out the cute pieces and what I have available on my website for a while. I am aiming to be more cohesive and accessible in here.

Let me know about my new greetings card layout: Link to the shop page here to check it all out https://beatriceajayi.com/shop/

Hi and welcome to my YouTube channel ‘Bea Creative TV’. If you have not been here on my channel before hello, it’s awesome to meet you.

My name is Beatrice Ajayi. I am an artist, creative, illustrator and published author. I love to use a range of mediums in my artwork. Welcome to my channel ‘Bea Creative TV’.

You will find me working on a range of pieces both digitally and traditionally.

In this brief video today I am sharing snippets of my week. Mainly traditional tools, upcoming online class. It’s a shorter video because I am trying to focus on quality and editing, let’s see how it goes week to week. I am trying to make this more of a weekly update of my week and relax in my production approach. Looking at what music I want to use and discover my style is going to be fun.

Please do subscribe it helps me a lot in a whole bunch of ways. Getting more views through the algorithm and therefore reaching more people with my creative adventures. I want to make as many peoples days brighter with my characters and shenanigans as possible. Hopefully I will figure out how to add my joking skills in to my videos. Maybe as I get a little more relaxed. A step at a time I guess. Link here: https://youtu.be/ybCNRL9dwww?si=bNWsXcIFxNaDg5P5

Blog week 2 Aug

Hi folks and welcome to another blog post here on my website.  

I have been getting up to all sorts of creative fun recently. 

One of these has been to get back to my clay journey. 

I really want to put my illustrated characters and ideas into a more tactical medium. Working with clay is very relaxing to me. I have been exploring the restful approach to my creating. Trying something new that is out of my comfort zone seems to be it.

I have worked with airdry clay before but wanted to use ceramic clay and glazes. I want to get into more functional creativity. Using mediums that are more accessible to people is a start. 

You can see my fledgling step into ceramics here in my New Wednesday Live link: https://www.youtube.com/live/4yHcpsCt3dU?feature=share

You can also check out last Fridays studio share here: https://youtu.be/CWmZeoSGuZM

See you in the next blog and check out my other resources below

Weekly Artist Art Vlog no.19 | Art is Like Cake | Artist Studio Practice | Artwork | #youtube

Hi and welcome to my website Blog .

If you have not been here on my  site before, hello, it’s awesome to meet you.

My name is Beatrice Ajayi. I am an artist, creative, illustrator and published author. I love to use a range of mediums in my artwork. 

You will find me working on a range of pieces both digitally and traditionally.

In this video today I am – sharing my latest thoughts and perceptions on myself and my art, an introspective if you will. I have decide my new working title is ‘Multidisciplinary Artist’. I have used this as a job desk in the past and my biography language. But I have realised more and more that it is a more true title of my approach as an artist. 

I am currently in the process of decluttering my studio ( a constant issue) I am trying to reimagine art and products I created years ago and asking if they have a place in my life. 

This has led to my discussion in the video I have for you today. i am conscious of the pressure to give my best, I therefore am trying to make sure i am feeding my creative tank with new inspiration and have decided on a path to follow. The path of eating as much came as possible ( or to paraphrase, to create as much art as I am inspired to, through the process of storytelling)

As a creative and maker being able to generate work that you love and can elate others needs some investment and i want to be able to bring that into my process. I use a lot of processes. I try out something and if it doesn’t work I reimagine it and give it new life. Thank you for reading this far if you have. Please do subscribe, so that more people can see these videos and we can all feed our creativity together through our interactions.

Link here to watch my Vlog on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qpEq_31nTds

***I now have downloadable artscapes on my website and also just launched my first ever online tutorial class on my website based in my recent superheros series. Check link here https://beatriceajayi.com/product-category/downloadable-art/ to purchase.

Please feel free to comment and ask me questions. I am always happy to share about art discussions and share tips. 

WHERE to SHOP MY ART 

Website: https://beatriceajayi.com/

Downloadable Art for purchase :https://beatriceajayi.com/product-category/downloadable-art/

 Online Art Tutorials for purchase:https://beatriceajayi.com/product-category/online-tutorials/

You get a month free to try out the range of other tutorials and classes available on skillshare. Affiliate Link:https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/beatrice?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=on

You can find me on Patreon here:https://www.patreon.com/BeatriceAjayi. I am working in making my tiers easier to work through. 

My Crime fiction Book ‘Origins | The Scarecrow Murders Trilogy’. First instalment two more books to come. All comments welcome here.

I will see you in the next blog speak to you soon and stay safe. B

Hi folks, I wanted to start catching you up here on my website about what else I have been getting up to of late. 

I am really enjoying building my YouTube channel. On there I get to share more on my studio practice, ideas and inspirations. 

I can store classes like the one I have available here on my channel : link: https://beatriceajayi.com/product/digital-download-pdf-bothy-across-the-stream-12-x-12-inches/

I also have tidbits on my trips to the ‘Scottish Design Exchange’ a non profit here in Glasgow that I rent a space in for selling my work. I take you along with me to see my other products in a retail environment.  Where customers get to engage with my art and merchandise in a lovely shop. Link: https://youtu.be/9liGpvuJ7mM

I love painting and sharing with you all. I want all my creative space, here on my website or my YouTube channel to be interactive and accessible. 

Link to: real-time painting of hero boy https://youtu.be/Itzvxp13B5o

Please do ask me any questions you have. Link to my available art studio shares on my art practice, on YouTube. Subscribe to keep updated on new videos and news. I hope I can share what I know and learn from you also.  Checkout my ‘Wednesday Live Creative Sessions’ Link https://www.youtube.com/live/tDaDalag81k?feature=share I use different mediums, acrylic, oils, inks and collage and more…in a range of subjects from Abstract, landscapes and illustration painting. 

Also you can book a one to one tutoring or online class from me here if you want to get more details https://beatriceajayi.com/product/customer-request-tropical-fish-painting-deposit/

Decided to link to an interview I gave a few months ago now on Folksy UK. The team I worked with really spent the time getting to know me and sharing my story. Lovely to have worked with them.

Hi and welcome to my website. If you have not been here on my site before hello, it’s awesome to meet you.

My name is Beatrice Ajayi. I am an artist, creative, illustrator and published author. I love to use a range of mediums in my artwork. 

You will find me working on a range of pieces both digitally and traditionally.

In this video today I am – sharing my latest news, and thoughts of the week, i am looking to expand my retail presence and i am conscious of the pressure to give my best  I therefore am trying to make sure i am feeding my creative tank with new inspiration and have decided on a path to follow.

As a creative and maker being able to generate work that you love and can elate others needs some investment and i want to be able to bring that into my process.

I now have downloadable artscapes on my website and also just launched my first ever online tutorial class on my website based in my recent superheros series. Check link herehttps://beatriceajayi.com/product-category/downloadable-art/ to purchase.

Please feel free to comment and ask me questions. I will try and get back to you asap. I am always happy to share about art discussions and learn any tips from you all too.

Thank you for watching and please subscribe to the YouTube channel & click on the notifications  button for more updates on artwork once you are there https://youtu.be/azuacPioyK4

Downloadable Art for purchase :https://beatriceajayi.com/product-category/downloadable-art/

I also have online classes on Skillshare here: https://www.skillshare.com/user/beatrice. I am planning to add more classes here on my website also to the one I already have. Link here  Online Art Tutorials for purchase:https://beatriceajayi.com/product-category/online-tutorials/

For everyday snippets in the ‘Lab’, which is what I call my studio, you can find me on my Instagram here; https://www.instagram.com/beatrice_ajayi_artist/

My Crime fiction Book ‘Origins | The Scarecrow Murders Trilogy’. First instalment two more books to come. All comments welcome.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scarecrow-Murders-Trilogy-Suspense-Thriller/dp/1979199132/ref=sr_1_1?crid=62YFT2Q9KSJ1&keywords=Beatrice+t+ajayi&qid=1678970645&sprefix=beatrice+t+ajayi%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-1