A Visual Journey

My Story

​Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to get to know a little more about me.

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As the middle child of three, with two brothers destined to take over the family farming business, I often struggled to find my own place and identity. School was a challenge—most of my O' Levels ended in failure, including Art; the one subject I had always loved. That disappointment was crushing and left me feeling directionless throughout much of my adolescence.

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I was then sent to Finishing School, where learning the basics of becoming 'the perfect housewife' was expected!  While I excelled in the practical subjects—especially cooking—I knew deep down that it wasn’t the path I was meant to follow.

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In the years that followed, I drifted through various jobs—from working on a Hotel Barge that slowly ambled its way along the River Thames, for rich Americans to a stint as an Insurance Broker. Eventually, marriage and motherhood became my focus.

With my three children now grown and carving out their own futures, and following a divorce, I moved to Cornwall with my second husband to embrace a quieter, semi-retired lifestyle of gardening, cooking, and caring for chickens… until the pandemic arrived.

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During lockdown, I rediscovered art through YouTube tutorials and quickly realized I had a natural talent for drawing and painting. What began as a personal escape soon became a true calling. The joy I found in capturing the spirit of animals reignited a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt in years.

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I began attending local craft fairs, and although my first sale came with nerves and self-doubt—I even accepted a lower offer out of fear—it taught me a valuable lesson about confidence and self-worth. Over the following year, I sold six more portraits at full price and began to believe in myself as a professional artist.

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In an effort to broaden my audience, I experimented with soft furnishings featuring my artwork. While this gained interest, I found myself drifting away from the identity I wanted to establish as an artist. So choosing to step away from merchandise was a necessary and empowering decision—one I am pleased I embraced.

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During the quieter months of winter and my studio in a local town, I feel a sense of peace and fulfilment working in that space. For the first time, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

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Each piece I create reflects the calm and clarity I had spent years searching for. My portraits are more than just images—they are visual stories that invite the viewer to connect on a deeper, emotional level. Through the expressions and gestures of the animals I depict, I aim to evoke that same sense of stillness and wonder I feel while painting them.

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Today, I see myself not only as the artist I’ve always wanted to be, but as a woman creating meaningful, emotive works that resonates with others and can be cherished for generations.​

I love the freedom painting and drawing gives me. It provides me with a place to escape to and to connect with nature and the animals that share our world in the portraits I create. The detail in my work gives me the time to focus while focusing my mind. I am able to create work with true meaning in commissions for my client's. Their stories of beloved pets and the memories they hold of them come to life within the painting. I believe my interpretations of love, peace and freedom of the animals in my artwork resonates to those who see my portraits by bringing them joy and love. I feel blessed that I have been given this talent but will always strive to learn and to bring out the best in me that will resonate in others.

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Tess x