I have just finished and launched a new watercolour illustration featuring Amanda Owen, The Yorkshire Shepherdess, her family and animals called ‘New Beginnings – Spring’ which has been made into a Limited-Edition Print - VIEW HERE.
This is the second illustration I have painted in a Seasonal series following the very popular ‘The Hay Meadows – Summer’ artwork which was made into a best-selling English bone China mug and Limited Edition Giclee print last year which is still available to buy.
I loved illustrating this scene because, Spring is such a special time as nature emerges from the depth of Winter. It is my favourite time of the year to paint as I capture the new flowers and baby animals. This is a story of Spring at Ravenseat Farm, new beginnings as Nature emerges from the depth of Winter, very apt after the past 18 months we have had.
Amanda Owen, The Yorkshire Shepherdess is pictured on a bank near a pack horse bridge at Ravenseat. She is kneeling with her sheepdog Kate, hugging her, sitting as close as possible, as Amanda looks fondly at a proud sheep and twin lambs. I can empathise with the very close bond Amanda has with her sheepdog Kate, as I have a sheepdog too. Miles and Sidney are with the chickens and are each clutching a hen or chick. Raven is lying on the bank stroking the calf, Nancy is tenderly holding a chick too in her tutu. Meanwhile Annas and Edith are taking a sheep and lamb for a walk, Clemmie is riding Tony the Pony and Violet sitting down with a lamb or two on the right. I have aimed to create little stories within a story
Daffodil and Speedwell Spring flowers are depicted as are butterflies and hares, rabbits and ducks with ducklings.
This scene is available as a Limited-Edition Giclee Print signed by both Amanda and myself. There are just 450 prints in the edition, it comes in two sizes 26cm x 46cm and 70cm x 38cm from £80. A Giclee Print is printed on archive paper using colourfast inks and I have worked with the printer to ensure the colour is a very close colour match to the original.
The design is also available on a Fine Bone China mug have been produced in England by the Duchess 1888 pottery factory in Staffordshire, England available to buy before Christmas. Amanda and I want to support British manufacturers and have continued to work with this company producing this very high-quality product.
Click here to see all The Yorkshire Shepherdess Limited Edition Prints including The Hay Meadows and mugs.
My background to painting outside stems from early childhood. No matter what the weather - I'll always try and paint outside of my studio to capture the subject matter be it animals, landscapes or as is often the case - a combination!
Beautiful autumn colouring this year inspired me to capture the cherry trees on the stray in Harrogate - slightly windy conditions made the outdoors challenging but well worth the effort - !
Had a fabulous time at the gardens of Monet in the tranquil village of Giverny. Made all the more exciting when a massive storm hit the village the evening we arrived - ended up eating my Sea Bass in a plate full of rainwater..... as the restaurant got deluged!
Anita Bowerman
Author
Artist