There are moments in nature that last only seconds — a break in the clouds, a shaft of sunlight across a field, a sudden change in colour on distant hills. For Sheena Phillips, these fleeting moments are everything. They are the spark that begins each painting and the reason her watercolours feel so alive.

Based in Haddington, East Lothian, Sheena is best known for her atmospheric landscapes that capture the drama of changing skies and the way light transforms the land. Her paintings are not just about places — they are about feeling, memory, and that brief moment when nature seems to pause and reveal something special.

“I want to capture the moment of exhilaration,” Sheena says, “the moment when I see the light altering the appearance of the landscape. The moment can be over so quickly, and I want to hold it — nature at its best.”

From Design to Painting

Sheena’s creative journey didn’t begin with paint. She first studied chemistry at Edinburgh University, but soon realised that her true passion lay in creative expression. She went on to study furniture design at Edinburgh College of Art, where she developed a strong sense of structure, balance and form — skills that still influence her paintings today.

After working for a time as a furniture designer, Sheena felt drawn more strongly to fine art. Painting, especially in watercolour, allowed her to express emotion, atmosphere and movement in a way no other medium could. From that point on, she committed fully to painting and has worked in watercolour ever since.

Painting Light and Landscape

Sheena is inspired by shapes, bursts of colour, scent, and especially light. She often paints outdoors, sketching and starting pieces on site before finishing them in her studio. Her eyes constantly search the landscape for changes — a shift in the sky, a glow on the horizon, light breaking through heavy clouds.

The hills in winter, she says, can feel almost monochrome — quiet, grey and still. But then, suddenly, weak winter sunlight can illuminate the land, revealing softness and subtle colour where none seemed to exist moments before. These are the moments Sheena lives for as a painter.

She works with large brushes on heavy watercolour paper, beginning with broad washes for sky and land, then gradually adding detail as the paper dries. One of the greatest challenges is timing — knowing exactly when to paint into a wet wash before it changes. That element of unpredictability is part of what makes watercolour so exciting for her.

Although landscapes dominate her work, Sheena also paints cities, buildings, and scenes where old and new meet. She is fascinated by how modern structures sit beside historic ones, and how light changes the character of both.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Sheena’s work has been widely exhibited in both public and private galleries. She shows with the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and the Paisley Art Institute, and her work has been accepted by the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, Aberdeen Artists Society, and the Discerning Eye in London.

She has also exhibited for many years at Fabriano in Acquerello in Italy, one of the world’s most respected watercolour festivals. Her paintings appear in collections owned by politicians, councils, companies, and private collectors both in Britain and abroad.

Sheena has been featured in publications including The Great Outdoors magazine and the Home Style Hub within The Great Scottish Indoors on Facebook. She is represented by Colinton Arts and Framing and also shows with Hangar Arts.

Alongside her own practice, Sheena is passionate about teaching. She tutors both in person and online, runs workshops, demonstrates techniques, and gives talks for groups. She currently teaches at Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre in Haddington and also offers a limited number of online tutorials.

For Sheena, teaching is about helping others find their own way of seeing. She encourages students to observe light carefully, to work confidently with water, and to trust the process — even when the paint seems to be doing its own thing.

Holding the Moment

At the heart of Sheena Phillips’ work is a simple but powerful idea: to hold the moment. To capture that split second when light changes everything, when landscape becomes memory, and when nature offers something fleeting and beautiful.

Through her watercolours, Sheena invites us to slow down, to look again, and to notice the quiet drama unfolding all around us — if only we take the time to see it.