News & Events
LATEST NEWS

Portrait availability info
My diary for pet portraiture commissions is now fully booked for 2021. It’s going to be a busy few weeks pre Christmas. 🎄
I’m now taking bookings for my 2022 diary. So if there is a significant date such as a birthday/anniversary/wedding etc then I’d suggest getting in touch to grab your slot.
To secure a slot I take 1/3 of the total cost as a deposit & then the remainder is paid prior to handover.
Please message me if you have any questions

Letter from Her Majesty The Queen
The 4th September marked 3 years in business as an artist at Banks Mill Studios – my goodness it has flown by! It’s been an amazing journey so far, filled with making an impact on people & charities with my artworks.
And what better occasion to share with you this amazing letter I received last week from Her Majesty “The Queen” herself!
Yes you read right! I wrote her a letter a few weeks ago to share with her my journey & some of my artworks. Especially the painting of her favourite military horse “Mercury” who she named & met on several occasions. She would have been sad at the news of his passing.
I was so shocked when a letter with the postmark from Balmoral landed on my doormat at home. I’m still pinching myself & will treasure it forever.

Upcoming events for September

July Offer
Wow !! I can’t believe we are into July & approaching the school summer holidays! What a year it’s been but it also feels like time is flying by!
If you are like me & have been mulling a purchase over or needing to get a gift organised then now is your chance.
I’m offering free postage this month on orders over twenty pounds on my website , plus you can combine it with my mailing list sign up discount which gives you 15% off your first order.
This also applies to ORIGINAL ARTWORKS!
So go on treat yourself- you deserve it after the last 18 months we’ve had!

Up to date availability for Commissions
It’s been a busy few days of enquiries & deposits being paid to grab slots in my diary! So here is the up to date info on my availability
For more info & to get booked into my diary, you can either message me on here or give me a call to chat it through.
Ps Sorry about the mention of Christmas!

Exciting Charity Commission unveiled
I am proud to announce that I have been specially selected by a leading animal charity to help celebrate its 135th Anniversary.
The Horse Trust, which provides retirement and respite care for horses and ponies that served in the police and military, has commissioned myself to create a portrait of three of its most famous horses.
The ‘Horse Trust Legends’ artwork, features the heads of three famous horses from the charity’s history. The late Sefton, a British Army horse, who served for 17 years and survived the Hyde park bombings has been honoured within the piece. Met Police horse, Boris – who was awarded the PDSA’s order of Merit for showing outstanding bravery during the Tottenham riots – and Viscount, the longest serving military horse in history, has also been included.
Now that the painting has been unveiled, the artwork has been made into limited edition prints signed by myself. There will be 250 of the prints available, available in both A4 and A3, with 100% of the profits being donated to the charity.
Follow this link to the Horse Trust Website
The beautifully framed original artwork is available on my website with 25% of profits also being donated to the Horse Trust. You can find it in my online shop

Awarded by Theo Paphitis
On Monday 22nd March it was announced on Twitter that I had been chosen as a weekly award winner of Small Business Sunday #SBS by Theo Paphitis (of Dragons den). To find out more about what this means & the benefits, follow the link – www.theopaphitissbs.com/about

Exciting Birthday Offers!!
Omg! I’m turning half a century this week & to celebrate I have 3 fantastic offers for you.
Please sign up for my newsletter to hear all about them!!

Shortlisted for an Award
I’m super excited to announce that I have been shortlisted for an award by Derby Mainframe. I’m in the final 3 for the category of “ Creativity for good”
Mainframe highlight the creative & digital communities in Derby & Derbyshire of which I am proud to be part of!
I can’t wait for the awards ceremony on 27th April. Fingers crossed!
To read more about mainframe & the awards here’s a link to their website

Valentine’s Gift Ideas
Check out this great gift guide I’m part of, for Valentine’s gift ideas. Click on the link – https://modernguy.co.uk/alternative-valentines-gifts/
UPCOMING & CURRENT EVENTS
Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th July 2022
Patchings Arts Festival
Patchings Art Centre, oxton Rd, Calverton, Ng14 6nu
Chatsworth Country Fair
Chatsworth House
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th September 2022
Melbourne Arts festival
St Michaels House next to The Rectory behind Melbourne Parish Church, Church Close, Melbourne DE73 8EN.
Southwell Winter Fair
Southwell Minster, Church St, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0HD
Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th November 2022
9.30am – 5pm
Haddon Hall Mercatum Winter Fair
The Gatehouse of Haddon Hall, Bakewell, DE45 1LA
Friday 25th to Sunday 27th November 2022
5pm – 8pm Friday
10am – 5pm Saturday & Sunday
Banks Mill Open Studios
Banks Mill Studios, 71, Bridge Street Derby, DE1 3LB
Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th December 2022
9.30am – 5pm
Haddon Hall Mercatum Winter Fair
The Gatehouse of Haddon Hall, Bakewell, DE45 1LA