I’m a self-taught artist specialising in realistic pastel portraits, particularly of your beloved animals. Alongside commissioned work, I offer private and group lessons, helping people build confidence and skill in drawing and painting with pastels.

I first found my love of drawing in my twenties and thirties and illustrated several published children’s books under the name Fleur Orchard, written by Cat Fisher. After losing my mum in 2021 — my biggest supporter — I stepped away from art for a time. A few years ago, a chance purchase of pastels reignited my creativity, and I set myself the challenge of learning realism from scratch. What began as a personal journey soon grew into a passion for teaching after I shared a simple lesson and saw just how transformative it could be.

I’m a wife to a wonderful husband and a mum of three incredible children — two grown and one little diabetes warrior — and I bring patience, encouragement and joy into everything I create and teach.