About me
I’m Cheryl, a wildlife artist based in Nottingham. My art is inspired by my love for animals and I strive to capture their beauty and personality in each drawing that I create. My work has been included in online exhibitions with the International Guild of Realism, Association of Animal Artists, and UK Coloured Pencil Society.
When I started my art journey in 2023, drawing realistic animals quickly became my passion. I love everything about the process, from searching through wildlife reference photos for inspiration, to drawing my initial sketches and choosing my colour palette, to the slow and gentle layering of coloured pencils to create the final piece.
During the drawing process I always feel a strong connection to the animal, as I spend a lot of time closely studying the details of its appearance. Every pencil stroke on the paper is an effort to capture the array of colours and textures in fur, scales, skin or feathers.
I work with lightfast coloured pencils as they allow me to achieve high levels of detail. Each piece takes many hours to complete, with gradual layering to create a realistic effect.
My favourite part of a drawing is always the eyes - capturing a serene gaze, a curious glance, or an intense stare. For me, this is what really brings an animal to life on the paper, and it’s this vitality and essence that I seek to portray to the viewer.
If you would like explore some of my work, please visit the gallery