For Christmas I was given a collection of fabulous gift collection from Neal's Yard Remedies from their 'Bee Lovely and Help Save the Bees' collection. This was the inspiration for me to delve into my sketchbook notes from last summer and begin painting our much loved bees. It was good to get back to painting on vellum again after a long break. The days are lengthening and thoughts turn to getting back into the garden, and during the darker days when detailed painting is