A British artist's studio in Bloomsbury offers a window into the world of a painter dedicated to solitude and nature.

Celia Paul, now 66, has called her London flat and studio home for over four decades. Her space is uncluttered, with just enough essentials to inspire her introspective paintings. She starts each day early, sometimes as early as 5am, with a cup of tea in bed before dedicating herself to her canvas.

Despite the external noise, silence is her priority. 'There’s so much traffic sound coming from outside that I crave silence,' she says, adding, 'I try to create an inner silence in my art so that I can block out all noise.'

The view from her studio is equally calming. The north-facing windows overlook the highest branches of tall plane trees, and facing directly onto the British Museum provides a daily reminder of art’s enduring beauty.

For Paul, her studio represents freedom and acceptance. 'Bloomsbury equals freedom for me,' she notes, reflecting on how it feels to be in an area not occupied by families or tourists, allowing her to be alone as needed.