Market Drayton artist to exhibit her work at Chester Racecourse

Louise, from Loggerheads, near Market Drayton, has been invited to exhibit at the Deepbridge Chester Arts Fair at Chester Racecourse.

There will be more than 2,000 pieces of art by British and international artists on display as well as demonstrations and live talks.

Having originally trained as a graphic designer, Louise started painting after she became a full time mum.

She said: "In 2012 I was looking through some family holiday photos and one of my daughter on the beach caught my eye.

"For some reason I felt totally compelled to recreate the image on canvas. I hadn't painted since college nearly 15 years earlier, but I was pleased with the results and loved the feeling it had given me. This led to painting more family portraits and then other influences in my life such as horses and the wildlife and characters of the Shropshire countryside.

"I started selling my work at farmers' markets, going on to hold an exhibition with my sister and exhibit at Gallery at 12 in Eccleshall. I was starting to receive commissions for pet portraits when I had my second child.

"My son was born in 2014 and I didn't paint again until I met a new artistic friend who influenced me to start painting again.

"That was August this year and in October after calling the events team at Chester Arts Fair for a bit of advice on the world of arts fairs I was invited to exhibit my work."

Louise said she worked day and night to produce 15 paintings for the arts fair.

She added: "I couldn't have managed this without the total support of my husband and parents who have managed both my children and my home.

"Painting gives me time to myself to achieve for me personally, while being at home with my family. I dream of my images being used for designs on contemporary country gifts and also to illustrate my own children's British Wildlife Encyclopaedia."

The fair is open from 10.30am to 5pm. For more information about Louise go to www.overthehedgeart.co.uk