The Artist

My inspiration comes from many different things; for my watercolour and canvas works, it’s the smell as the summer season comes to an end or the green/yellow of the leaves as sun travels through them which makes me want to paint. Or the crunch of frosty grass. Day to day, I express my creativity by collecting fragments of the passing time, adding to my memory box. Oh, how much it carries in such small four walls, living under my bed.

My childhood was surrounded by creation and fascination with creatures, big or small. As a young girl, I loved bugs (now, only from afar) and was always in the garden taking photos or exploring with my dogs. It's safe to say, my dogs knew the garden very well from these little adventures around the flower beds or behind the shed, but they never complained, and only met my discoveries with the same curiosity!

I would always draw for my family members as a little girl, creating Christmas or birthday cards, drawings of my latest discovery, furry sidekicks or pictures from my animal encyclopaedia. My most significant memories with my grandmother often include me showing her my latest picture. She always proudly displayed them in her kitchen and told her other visitors about her granddaughter, the artist. I was always painting or drawing animals or landscapes, which followed into my school years, only ever replaced for a short time by my love for writing.

I feel it's important to note my GCSE & A-level Art teacher here too, as I believe that people who support you in doing something that's your passion and also a form of expression are among the most important and influential in your life. I have a lot to thank her for.

However, I started to notice every year, as the seasons change, drawing animals had become part of my ritual.

An opportunity arose after the owner of Coombe Stables, Fay Lai, requested some drawings of her horses and for them to be turned into cards. It felt full-circle from those birthday and Christmas cards I would do as a young girl and I couldn't let the opportunity fade.

This is where I find myself now, taking the big step to share my art, of which wouldn't be possible without the support of my friends, whether they have requested drawings or just encouraged me in any form. Fay Lai, for providing the initial push, and my mother, who has taught me I can do anything - thank you!

And thank you, customers, for supporting me.