Each year my husband makes a point of producing a painting at the glorious Ickworth Park in Horringer, Suffolk. Last year I joined him for the first time and fell in love with its astounding beauty. It has a grand house certainly, Italianate gardens beautifully ordered and clipped, but for me I love exploring the quieter, more understated areas.

This year we have focused on the lake by the Summer House. There is no understatement there either, but my eye was drawn to the magnificent oaks that hug the water opposite and the incredible variety of colour and form in the wild grasses, flowers and marginal plants in the foreground. A quick sketch today in my lovely leather bound book full of handmade paper, before the drizzle set in and we retreated for tea. I will explore this on a larger scale I think.