About me…
Scottish by birth I have lived and travelled in various countries but returned to Scotland in 2015 to become a full-time artist. Since then, I have exhibited in multiple countries, illustrated two children’s books, licensed multiple artworks to Ikea, and won an international illustration award with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
I am self-taught and have followed a winding and indirect path to becoming a professional artist, which has been, for me, a slower but more interesting route.
In recent years, making art has been secondary to establishing The Honeybee and the Hare, the independent coffee shop and gallery I run with my husband. But the urge to return to the artist’s life has always been strong, and at the dawning of 2026 my paints and pencils beckoned me back to the studio.
This virtual nook is the third incarnation of my online portfolio. I originally began selling my work through my first website (also called The Honeybee and the Hare) in 2013, then in 2016 changed to using my own name. This never felt entirely comfortable for me, being a naturally private creature who struggles deeply with self-promotion. After some frustrating ongoing technical issues with that site, I was ready for a new start. And so Bramble Hare Studio was born, named in the spirit of my artwork and the wild beauty that inspires it.
About the Art…
My earliest memories are woven through with stories old and new, and a deep love of animals and birds of all furs and feathers. These threads have knotted ever more tightly through my adult life and so my artwork is a collection of creatures and illustrations found in landscapes both real and otherworldly, with inspiration springing from wild wonders, random moments of beauty, and tall tales.
My painting process is instinctive rather than planned out, and involves lots of gazing out the window at the birds, daydreaming, and many cups of tea.
‘Everything was very still now’
Illustration by Deborah Sheehy from The Wind in the Willows
Winner of the 2018 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Europe-wide competition showcasing new talent in children's literature
“Although very dark and simply presented, this is an atmospheric and beautifully lit composition. The limited tones provide a wonderful dramatic tension and a great sense of the scale and mystery of the woods through soft and interesting mark-making.”
Judges comments
