My paintings begin long before I pick up a paintbrush. They begin with time spent watching, listening and noticing.

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Most of the wildlife I paint isn't rare or exotic. It's the birds, animals and native plants that are quietly going about their day while most people walk straight past them.

Those moments are what inspire my paintings.

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Rather than working from a single photograph, I use the images I've taken and the experiences I've had in the field to create original compositions. My goal isn't simply to paint what I see, but to create paintings that feel true to the places and moments that inspired them.

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I work in oils, building each painting slowly with layers of colour and detail. It's a process that gives me the time to refine every feather, leaf, petal and texture until it feels complete.

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More than anything, I hope my paintings encourage people to pause for a moment and notice the wildlife and landscapes around them. There's so much beauty in the ordinary if you take the time to look.

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Michelle xx