Mr Walton quickly recognised my early ability to draw and paint accurately, and for this reason, he encouraged and nurtured my artistic development throughout my years at Morcott Hall School and as I completed my Art O Level. He then encouraged me to continue with A Level studies as the next stage of my education at Rutland Sixth Form College in Oakham.

Taking Mr Walton’s advice, I chose A Level Art alongside A Level History of Fashion. With some spare time available, I was encouraged to take up pottery as a hobby. However, my pottery teacher, Mr Ned Heywood, immediately recognised my potential and said, “You should do this for O Level, Penny.”

At the following lesson, he added, “And I think you should do this for A Level too.” Taking his advice, I did exactly that.

Looking back, these three subjects proved to be an excellent combination. Together, they gave me a well-rounded understanding of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional perspective, while allowing me to develop my artistic skills across a variety of disciplines.

Pet Portrait Artist went to Loughborough College of Art and Design

After completing my A Levels, I successfully applied to and attended Loughborough College of Art and Design. There, I studied life drawing, clay sculpture, photography and three-dimensional work. These studies helped shape my artistic direction and set me on the path I am still following today.

My career as a pet portrait artist began after I left Loughborough Art College in 1984. I started painting pet portraits on my father’s farm at Cold Overton, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. What began there has developed into a lifelong passion and career.

Art has always been an important part of my family heritage. There is a long line of artists in my family. My maternal grandparents both painted in oils. My grandfather was an accomplished architect who also painted landscapes, while my grandmother painted beautiful studies of fruit and flowers. She was also a highly skilled seamstress.

My mother, who sadly died from multiple sclerosis when I was just twelve years old, studied at Harrogate School of Art during the 1940s. During the Second World War, she became a Red Cross nurse and recorded many fascinating scenes from that period. Using pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour, she depicted the everyday lives and activities of ordinary people in their workplaces, including nursing, the fire service, hairdressing, trams and dockyards.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my mother teaching me to draw when I was between five and eight years old. Her pencil sketches and watercolour techniques were remarkable. I remember being fascinated by the way she could capture people, places and everyday scenes with such skill and sensitivity. Those early lessons left a lasting impression on me and undoubtedly helped to nurture the artistic instincts that have remained with me throughout my life.