The sketches for this print began in late spring at dusk — that in-between time of year when the evenings stretch long and summer is almost here. The bluebells seemed to glow beneath the hawthorn tree, the air soft and warm.
The seeds of this print were sown in collaboration with my friend Rene, who had seen a deer in this spot the evening before. We returned — she to write, me to draw — wanting to weave our ideas together, as we did with our Under The Hawthorn Tree print and poem book.
This piece also holds my own memories of the deer I regularly see near my studio. It brings together both of our fleeting encounters — a shared sense of place, the hum of life in Cornish hedgerows, the awakening of nature, and the quiet magic of creative collaboration.
I gain a deep sense of place by revisiting the same locations to draw and paint from direct observation, exploring the colours and fauna as they change with the seasons and time of day. Back in my studio I create detailed botanical studies of the plants I’ve collected. Gradually I develop the compositions and colours for my prints, often layering the minutia of nature within larger landscapes. This print measures 30 by 40 cm.