Wildlife Artist
Using Feathers as the Canvas
Living on a smallholding we are lucky to have the first thing we do in a morning is feed the animals. We're so lucky to live in a remote part of Yorkshire where half of the property is turned over to wildlife.
The first coffee of the day normally involves seeing a greater spotted wood pecker, tree creeper, wren and the very familiar robin. At certain times of the year, we also have the pleasure of seeing jays in the oak trees and the heron is pretty much resident now.
My husband has always been interested in birds, but its only recently that I have realised how much daily pleasure they now bring to me too. The occasional sighting of a kingfisher on our pond and our resident tawny owls in the oak trees are a special treat.
I've loved painting since I was a child and have fond memories of sitting with my grandparents on a Saturday afternoon creating art.
Whilst such an important part of my childhood my art sadly took a back seat to motherhood and a career in nursing.
As my two amazing children have now left home and having started my own poultry business nine years ago at Sutherland Farm. I have realised the time has come to pursue my real passion, painting on real feathers (from my own flock of poultry) and a new hobby in ceramics.
Ceramics has recently become part of my passion too, with the introduction to clay by a friend’s invitation to a pottery class in 2019. I have now increased my time with clay to the extent that it has taken over as my new obsession. The fact that I have an abundance of muddy clay on my land and the wild flowers all over, I have introduced my passion for both flowers and clay by connecting the two. Flower Frogs are what I am now producing with clay. Along with seasonal items. I can resist a Christmas ornament!
So, from one extreme to any other; very clean to extremely muddy, my life has changed yet again.
My beautiful daughter is also in the studio with me painting and pottery making.
You can usually see use together at most of the fairs, as we like to show our products both locally as well as far and wide!
