About the Artist

Predominant use of graphite or ‘pencil’ is the hallmark of Michelle's work and a relatively uncommon way of working, being more readily used as an occasional alternative to more conventional colour media such as watercolours or oils. Careful use of different ‘grades’ of pencil allows for the inclusion of the tiniest details, and for almost limitless textures and tones to be recreated so that even the ‘whitest’ subject can be captured successfully.

The end result is a truly unique picture, stunning in its contrast and with the timeless appeal of an old sepia photograph.

“Aside from the usual lessons received at school, I have no formal fine art training, relying instead on the experience provided by a love of the combination of animals and art that began very early on in life.

On leaving school I chose a career in graphic design and for a while training for this suited me well. It was at university where I began to feel pressurised into working in a way that I found neither interesting nor natural, consequently dropping out of the degree course two thirds of the way through. Leaving was a decision I have never once regretted and shortly afterwards, around the same time I (finally), got my own horse, I found a ‘new’ occupation, one which I have been training for since childhood, the one on this website.”