Welcome to my blog, where I share my passion for my artwork and illustrations inspired by Scottish landscapes, sunsets and animals.
As an artist living on the beautiful Isle of Skye, I am constantly inspired by the stunning landscapes and Scottish wildlife that surrounds me. From hairy Highland cows to the elusive red deer, I love capturing the essence of these creatures in my hand-drawn digital illustrations.
Combining my passion for illustration with parenthood whilst working from home in a rural area certainly comes with its challenges. It also requires a unique set of techniques and tools, which I am excited to share with you in this post. So let's dive into the world of my Scottish animal and landscape art and discover how my illustrations come to life.
Life on the Isle of Skye: Balancing Motherhood, Work and Art
Living on the picturesque Isle of Skye is a dream come true for me as an artist and a mother. Growing up in The Netherlands in a Scottish-Dutch household, mountains were nowhere near, so it’s no wonder that I became mesmerised when I first started exploring the Scottish Highlands during holidays. I always felt so at home in Scotland, having grown up with a love for geology and Scottish culture, that I decided to make the big move to Ayrshire in 2008 and I never looked back. In 2019 I came across a job opportunity that enabled me to move to the Highlands where I fell in love, started a family and settled in Elgol on the Isle of Skye.
Many families in the Highlands juggle multiple jobs to enable a rural lifestyle, where you will find less childcare available and schools and family can be located further away. So when our son was born I had to cut back on my working hours and find a way to make up for missing wages by working outside office hours whilst caring for a newborn at home.
I had always been drawing and created designs and illustrations for school newspapers, friends and family, and voluntary organisations - but never professionally. I had been too busy climbing the corporate ladder for years to ensure I could pay the bills. And now I found myself dreaming of using my drawing skills to create an additional income to provide for my family.
Capturing the Spirit of Scottish Wildlife in My Illustrations
With a blend of traditional techniques and a touch of modern flair, my illustrations aim to capture the true spirit of Scottish wildlife.
Tools of the Trade: Techniques Behind My Unique Animal Art
When it comes to creating my unique animal art, I rely on a variety of techniques and tools to bring my illustrations to life. Having used various traditional (paint, pencil) and modern (digital drawing) techniques in the past, I already possessed a wide expertise in illustration techniques. Having read up on the subject and having been inspired by my great friend and fellow artist Helen Clark (Lee), when I decided to start my business I invested in an iPad Pro and dived further into the latest digital drawing software.
One of the primary reasons I started using my iPad for most of my work is because I can put it down and pick it up at my convenience, whilst being a mother to our son. There is no mess and no toddler covered head to toe in paint ripping up my artwork. Drawing digitally also enables me to create adaptable designs which can be mended to fit various types of merchandise. I use software which mimics traditional techniques that allows me to create vibrant landscape and wildlife art that truly showcases the beauty of Scotland.
A Peek into My Creative Process: From Sketch to Final Art Piece
Creating a piece of art is like embarking on a journey. It starts with a simple sketch, a rough outline of the vision in my mind. From there, I carefully choose the layers, colours and highlights that will bring my vision to life. It's a process that requires just as much patience and attention to detail as traditional drawing, and seeing the end result is incredibly rewarding.
Watch the video below which shows the various stages of creating a cartoon for the monthly Skye & Lochalsh Echo magazine:
Finding Inspiration in Scottish Flora & Fauna
Surrounded by the beauty of the Scottish flora & fauna, I find endless inspiration for my artwork. The razor sharp mountains, tranquil lochs, and diverse wildlife offer a wealth of subjects to capture. Whether it's the elegance of a red deer or the charm of a puffin, each animal possesses a unique beauty that sparks my creativity.
One of my favourite illustrations of a Scottish animal is of the iconic Highland cow. Whilst the cow is a favourite, so is its surroundings. This illustration below was based on a view you find on the road to Elgol, where you will often find a herd of Highland cows on or beside the road. With the Isle of Rum in the background and the winding single track road, this illustration was directly inspired by my own surroundings at home.
I hope you enjoyed my little blog post on how I started and created my art business. I would love to hear your comments!
