Discovering Animals

Baby Fox was discovered as recently as May 2019, our last hiking adventure in England. We were staying in a cottage in the Cotswolds and exploring nearby attractions when we met him. We were visiting Snowshill Manor  in the Visitor Centre when suddenly a scurrying creature captured my attention as he left the office. I rushed outside to see where he had gone and saw him and another little fox disappear under a hedge after having passed several visitors sipping cups of tea in an outdoor tea room. I slipped past and caught a glimpse of him peering at me from under the hedge and I was able to take his picture.

     I asked a guide about the fox as no one seemed to be concerned about his presence. It appears that a mother fox had given birth to several cubs on the property and they regularly used the site too play and dash about. The outdoor tea

room was of particular interest to them because of the possibility of scraps of food being available. They explored in the visitor centre and other public areas and were safe from staff and visitors alike. Staff put water out for them and left treats. How delightful to treat wildlife in such a kind and accepting way. Lovely experience.

We discovered Hmmff one day when we were hiking along the North Cornwall coastline close to Godrevy Lighthouse north of Hayle. We had just sighted  the seals who were basking on the 

rocks far below the path, when we turned the corner and came upon some cows in the fenced field beyond the path. As is normal 

with cows, some of them came over to see us. Cows are curious. Where sheep usually keep their distance, cows will come over to inspect this person who is invading their space. The fence, which was a stone wall, was between us and this cow who peered over it to inspect us. I just loved the expression on her face. Nose up in a haughty manner while she eyed us as we returned her gaze. I could not resist a picture. I have painted Hmmff twice as the original was sold. She again gazes down at us from her place on the wall reminded us of the occasion when we first met her in Cornwall.

I belong to a hiking club in Wales - "Walk 1000 Miles" where the members post inspiring pictures of the places they hike. This on line club and my interaction with its members has been instrumental in increasing my appreciation for the effort and inspiration these walkers make. Paul Booth is one such member. While Paul does not live in Wales, the same as many of us. he posts the most marvelous pictures of animals with his excellent camera which tops my I Phone in quality. He posted one such picture of a deer. I wrote and asked him if I could paint his deer and he was happy that I did. This is a closer version of his original picture. His eye and lens were able to capture the face of the deer from a distance. My camera would not have been up to the job. The background is a variation on the original. We see many deer on our hikes but always from a distance. I was most appreciative of having this close up to work from and the resulting painting.

On our numerous hikes along the South West Coastal Path, we see many sheep along the way. Most have their heads down grazing, as sheep do. Others keep their distance, especially in lambing season in April-May which is when we are in England. Occasionally, they venture closer to have a look at you which is what this little lad is doing. Perhaps he felt safe because of the fence, but he left the herd and came to look at us passing by. Sheep are shy by nature and to have them come close to you is indeed a privilege. I was happy to take his picture and remember him as the one who came to say hi to us as we hiked along.

The photograph leading to this painting was taken in 2003, when we traveled to England with our two daughters to hike in the north. We were staying in Kettlewell, a small village in the Yorkshire Dales. We had just completed a 6 mile walk from Kettlewell to Grassington and eaten lunch in the Dales Cafe in town. We were heading back to our cottage in Kettlewell and were walking on the Dales Way, a long distance path of 84 miles when we noticed these sheep standing quite close to the path we were on. 

The scene looked so "Yorkshire Dales". The half ruined stone wall snaking up the hill, the moorland with its spongy turf and of course the presence of sheep. I took the picture and later painted it - twice.

I found taking pictures in the Dales often presented a problem. There was expansive space but no focal point unless you could find a stone cottage or hut or in this case, sheep. I was pleased to be able to take these sheep who stayed where they were as we passed by and gave me that focal point to later use in the painting.