The Dream: Where Imagination Comes Alive

Was it all a dream? Or did the magic really happen?

The Dream is an original mixed media painting on paper inspired by the enchanting world of The Nutcracker.

I created this painting in December 2025 while drawing from a live model during the Royal Drawing School's Live Studio online stream.

Working from observation, I allowed the figure to develop into a character from the story. With a dreamy expression and a little Nutcracker held close, the figure seems lost somewhere between waking and sleeping.

Perhaps the extraordinary adventures of the night are still unfolding in their imagination. Perhaps the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the dancing snowflakes were never quite as imaginary as they seemed.

I have always been fascinated by the mysterious territory between the world we can see and the world we experience through our imagination. Fairy tales invite us into this space, where ordinary objects come alive, impossible things happen and dreams reveal something about ourselves.

In The Nutcracker, a simple wooden toy becomes the doorway to an extraordinary adventure. I love that idea: that something apparently ordinary can contain an entire world of possibilities.

With its expressive black lines, vibrant pinks, soft greens and warm golden tones, The Dream captures a moment of quiet wonder.

The figure's gentle expression and the little Nutcracker held close suggest a story that continues long after the music has stopped.

A whimsical, atmospheric original painting that would bring warmth, imagination and a little fairy-tale magic into a child's bedroom, reading corner or any home where dreams are welcome.

One of five original paintings

The Dream completes a set of five colourful mixed media paintings inspired by The Nutcracker, created during the Royal Drawing School's Live Studio sessions in December 2025.

Each is a unique, one-of-a-kind artwork, but together they tell a playful story of dreams, adventure and imagination.

The series begins with The Gift, in which a mysterious crowned character is held by an expressive figure.

In Sugar Plum Fairy, we enter a colourful world of sweets, castles and fantastical possibilities.

Dance of the Snowflakes brings the magic of ballet and swirling winter skies, while The Mouse King introduces the excitement and danger of the fairy tale.

And finally, in The Dream, we return to the figure holding the Nutcracker, perhaps remembering everything that has happened, or perhaps still dreaming.

Together, these five paintings would make a wonderful display, particularly in a child's bedroom, where their colourful characters could inspire stories and adventures of their own.

On display for the first time since its making in Basel from mid-November

Artwork details

• Title: The Dream

• Year: 2025

• Original, one-of-a-kind artwork

• Medium: Mixed media on paper

• Dimensions: approximately 36 × 28 cm

• Created from live model drawing during the Royal Drawing School's Live Studio online stream

• Inspired by The Nutcracker

• Part of a set of five original artworks

• Unframed

Shipping and framing

Your original artwork will be sent carefully wrapped and securely packaged to protect it during transport.

I recommend professional framing, preferably with an acid-free mount, to preserve the artwork and beautifully present it in your home.