Meet the Artist Behind Wildlife in Ink & Painted Chapter

If you’ve been following my artwork for a while, you might already know a little about me — but I thought it was time for a proper introduction!

Hi, I’m Holly, an independent artist and illustrator based in the UK, and I’ve been creating and selling my artwork for over 10 years.

Over those years my art has taken me in lots of different directions, from colourful wildlife paintings and pet portraits to the fantasy, book-inspired artwork and little collectible pieces that have become such a huge part of my work today.

Where it all began

Wildlife has always been one of my biggest inspirations.

For many years, a huge part of my work was creating original wildlife paintings and pet portraits. I’ve painted everything from much-loved family pets to large, colourful animal canvases, experimenting with different styles and ideas along the way.

One of the things I love most about being an artist is that my work is constantly changing. I’ve never wanted to stick to just one subject or one style — if an idea inspires me, I want to see where it goes!

From wildlife to fantasy worlds

More recently, my love of books, fantasy and beautiful old-world imagery has found its way into my artwork too.

Dragons, fairies, enchanted forests, moons, stars, gothic architecture, vintage illustrations and magical creatures now sit alongside my wildlife pieces.

This side of my work became Painted Chapter, where I create bookish and fantasy-inspired art, prints and gifts designed especially for readers and fantasy lovers.

I particularly love creating pieces that look as though they could have been discovered inside an old storybook, tucked away in an antique shop or found somewhere in an enchanted library.

My monthly Mail Clubs

Another part of my little business that I absolutely love is my monthly Art and Book Mail Clubs.

Each month I choose a new theme and create a collection of artwork and paper goodies around it. Previous themes have taken inspiration from everything from dragons and fairytales to flowers, blue pottery, mushrooms, forests and magical worlds.

I love the idea of something creative arriving through the letterbox — especially in a world where so much of what we receive is digital.

Seeing the clubs gradually grow and knowing my artwork is travelling to homes both around the UK and further afield is incredibly special.

Life behind the artwork

When I’m not painting, designing new products, packing orders or coming up with yet another idea that I definitely need to make immediately, I’m usually spending time with my family and animals or getting outside.

Nature is still a huge source of inspiration for me. A walk through the countryside can quite easily turn into photographs of mushrooms, flowers, birds and interesting little details that eventually become the starting point for a new collection.

And that really sums up the way I work — I never quite know where the next idea will come from.

Thank you for supporting an independent artist

Running a small creative business means that every order genuinely matters.

Whether you buy an original painting, choose a print for your wall, pick up one of my bookish pieces, join one of my monthly mail clubs or simply follow along and share my work, you’re helping me continue doing something I’ve loved for more than a decade.

There’s something amazing about creating a piece of artwork at home and then knowing it has ended up on somebody’s bookshelf or wall somewhere else in the world.

Thank you for being part of it.

Holly x

Wildlife in Ink | Painted Chapter
Original artwork • Fantasy & bookish art • Prints & gifts • Monthly Art & Book Mail Clubs