A garden studio in Newcastle, shaped around your craft

North light is best for most painters. In the UK it changes least through the day and doesn't throw moving patches of sun across your work. We often face a large window or a high strip of glazing north, then add smaller windows elsewhere for views and fresh air.

Rooflights are the other option. Light from above spreads evenly and leaves the walls free for hanging and storage. A rooflight that faces the sun needs solar control glass or a blind to stop the room overheating.

Newcastle's grey winter afternoons make good artificial light essential. Choose LED lights with a high colour rendering index (CRI), which show colours accurately, and mix soft ceiling light with adjustable task lamps to avoid shadows. Photographers often want the opposite, so we can fit blackout blinds that turn a bright room into a controlled set.

Not completely, but you can greatly reduce the sound that escapes. No lightweight building is fully soundproof. What works is mass, separation and airtightness: heavier linings, a gap between the inner and outer walls, sealed doors and windows, and as few weak spots as possible. Many Newcastle gardens sit close to the neighbours, especially in terraced areas such as Jesmond, so siting the studio away from the boundary helps too, and we'll be honest about what's achievable for your instruments.

Kilns, fumes and solvents

Kilns get very hot and give off fumes when firing. They need a suitable power supply, safe distances from walls, a non-combustible base and good ventilation, and you must follow the maker's instructions. In a timber building, a separate ventilated enclosure is often the safer choice, so check with your insurer before you buy. If you plan to fire work for paying students, read our planning permission guide as well.

Solvents, sprays and resins need extraction as well. Follow the product guidance and keep the room well ventilated while you work.