“Our family has always loved France. We’ve had many holidays over the years in the different regions including Brittany, the Alps and the Alsace. So when ‘Escape to the Chateau’ first appeared on the TV, I, like many, many others absolutely loved the programme. In particular I found the Christmas episodes wonderful. I then had an idea to paint a winter scene of the chateau. I had only ever painted little imaginary buildings but was pleased with my first attempt at a ‘real’ building.”

“Then unbeknown to me, my son-in-law sent the image to Angel. She really liked my design and I was thrilled when she chose it as one of the official Christmas cards in 2019. I went on to paint the Chateau in the ever-changing atmosphere and colours of the different seasons. It’s so lovely to see my work hanging on the walls of the chateau alongside other talented artists.”

Art was always my favourite subject at school, and I have always regretted not going on to art college, so whilst I don’t have any formal training, I did take evening classes in the early 80s. I’ve painted on and off for many years and it was after a holiday to Vermont in 1997 where I first discovered folk art and my work moved in a new direction.”

“We were staying at the picture-perfect village of Stowe during a very cold and snowy spell and a little book shop had a wonderful selection of folk art by various American folk artists including Grandma Moses, Linda Nelson Stocks and Charles Wysocki. I just fell in love with the images, most of which depicted scenes of daily life in gentler times. I then started introducing a folk-art style into my painting.”

“I get absolutely lost in the designs, it’s pure escapism. I can create my own reality, painting little villages that I would like to visit and houses that I would like to live in. I paint the four seasons but am always drawn back to winter, I just love painting snow-scenes.”

“The creative process can be quite a long one, it really depends on the size of the canvas and the amount of details in the design. A smaller 8 x 10-inch painting can take around 3 days, but the larger 16 x 20 inches canvas take many, many hours, and days of work, particularly if there are lots of tiny details which are added using the smallest brushes possible.”

“I start with the background and then add the buildings, the figures are the final details to be added. I have my own little studio in the house and always paint to music. If I’m working on an American country scene then I play country music, Alan Jackson is a particular favourite. If I’m painting a French chateau, then it has to be Edith Piaf.”

“I’ve had lots of encouragement from family and friends to sell my work, so I opened an Etsy shop selling prints and cards and will now be adding some original work. I really enjoy the days spent in my little studio with my paints and my music. I’m influenced by the change of the seasons and the colours of the countryside around me. I feel lucky to be able to escape from the realities of modern-day life and take myself off to another time and another place with my imagination and my paint brushes.”