Let me share my story:

I would like to share with you my story to offer inspiration and encouragement in the fun and pleasure of art.

I have recently had the opportunity to retire and concentrate on my artwork as a watercolour artist creating bespoke paintings as commissions for people in and around Suffolk and also overseas.

Since our two sons have recently flown the nest, my husband and I have downsized our home and moved to the village of Kirton in Suffolk. Whilst clearing the loft I came across some unused watercolour paints gifted to me many moons ago. Winter was looming and I opened them to attempt to rekindle my love of painting, as it had been several years of working and raising a family since I had last painted.

I had studied art during my school years and enjoyed drawing for many years as a hobby for family and friends having been inspired by my love of the great impressionists such as Monet, Van Gough, Degas, Renoir etc. I started painting terracotta plates and pots with portraits including farm animals and fruit, selling them through gift shops at the local vineyards and famous castles of Kent.

After spending the first few months at our new home, painting mainly wild animals with water colours, it wasn’t long before friends, family and colleagues began to invite me to paint commissions for them. Once our house move was complete my husband promised to create a “girl cave” at the bottom of our garden as a painting studio. I left my NHS job and with encouragement from my husband took the plunge to begin painting and building my small business.

I am now in my element and thoroughly enjoy the chance to meet amazing people at various shows and craft events throughout Suffolk. My customers reach far and wide, globally. Owners proudly speak about their adored and special companions either a dog or a cat, Ferret or horse, its personality and character. Sometimes it may be an unforgettable memory of a precious pet captured in a sensitive, soulful tribute painting. 

I also receive requests to paint favourite animals and flowers too! I find it very rewarding and at times emotional to hand my artwork over to my customer knowing that it will be a gift that it will be an amazing surprise and something special to treasure. I soon found that many customers were inviting me to create workshops. I have now started offering workshops to both adults and children in the Suffolk area. My aim is to inspire, encourage and introduce the techniques of watercolour art without having to spend a lot of money for all the materials needed to create personal masterpieces!

I love colour, happy tones and also creating paintings that capture treasured memories and characters who have a real presence. I love that moment when I hand my completed, commissioned artwork over to a customer whose face speaks volumes and lights up. At that moment I am happy: I have successfully captured the true character and memory for them to take home, to keep and enjoy or to present as a gift.

Thanks to a promise from my husband made some time ago, I am now finally in the process of occupying my first and very own space. This will be an art studio which replaces the dining room table and the struggle trying to store my work somewhere safely in a busy family home.

How lucky am I?

I think many working men and woman will relate to the struggles of trying to juggle family and working life whilst also being of a creative mind. It is very difficult finding the courage to believe in yourself and to follow your dream, and to take that time out away from the demands of family life. Spending time and money on ourselves is not always an easy thing to do. Our minds race away on other priorities. But, like me, I hope that at some point the passion to create artwork does come round to those who wait until the time is right.

I am now a watercolour artist currently concentrating on my pet portraits. The demand for my work during the recent Christmas period was incredible. I paint commissioned paintings for people throughout Suffolk and overseas with customers as far afield as France, Spain, Germany, USA, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia. This creative time has been worth the wait and I am very grateful to those who have already enjoyed taking my artwork home with them, and to those whose orders are currently in progress and waiting for their paintings to arrive soon.