Naturally Creative

Based in Sherborne, Dorset, West Country artist Jacqueline Redfern has enjoyed drawing and painting the natural world from an early age. Whether depicting wildlife or picturesque country scenes, Jacqueline usually works with oil paint, soft chalk pastel or pen.

Together with nature, she's also inspired by urban environments like French towns and English backstreets. These elements combine to create a varied portfolio, with her art covering many subjects from realistic canal boats to more fantastical Wonderland-inspired works.

Why do you create?

I create because I feel compelled to respond to beauty whenever I encounter it - whether it's in colours, shapes, light, or shadow. I'm especially drawn to the natural world, and when something makes my head boggle at its beauty, I feel a need to capture or recreate it. Sometimes I do that through photography, just to hold onto the moment, and other times I'm driven to paint or draw it.




This instinct has been with me for as long as I can remember. My mum still has a painting I made of a squirrel when I was about five years old - I must have seen it, thought it was beautiful, and felt I had to paint it. That same impulse has stayed with me throughout my life.

Creating has always been a constant thread for me, shaping not only how I express myself but also the work I've done, from interior design to working with young people. It isn't just something I choose to do - it's something I've always felt I need to do.

How and where do you work?

I'm based in Sherborne, Dorset, right on the edge of Somerset and not far from Wiltshire, so I often think of myself as a West Country artist. I spend a lot of time moving around the region, and wherever I am, I tend to be drawing or painting.




My practice is quite fluid - I work both at home and on the go. When I travel or go on holiday, I always take a sketchbook with me, along with a small gouache set. I make quick pen and ink drawings or little painted studies that act as a kind of visual diary, capturing moments and impressions as I experience them.

At home, I have a studio in Sherborne where I do most of my work these days. It's also a space where I teach and share what I do with others, which feels like a natural extension of my own creative practice.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I find my inspiration in the natural beauty around me - what I see as God's creation. The sky, the sea, changing light, and the colours of the landscape constantly draw me in.

I don't limit myself to one subject; if something feels beautiful or visually interesting, I feel compelled to paint it. That said, I'm especially drawn to skies and landscapes - winding roads across moors or through country lanes, scenes that invite you to look a little further, around a corner or over a hedge.




Spring and Autumn are my favourite seasons, when the colours in nature feel particularly rich and harmonious. I love the challenge of trying to capture that balance and depth. One of my pieces, 'Over the Hedge', is inspired by the view from my studio - old chimney pots lit by the early morning sun. It reflects that sense of quiet, everyday beauty that I'm so often drawn to.




I work across a range of mediums, including oil, acrylic, pastel, and ink, as well as pencil and pen. I don't see myself as having a single style; instead, I choose the medium that best suits what I'm trying to express.

For example, I love using pastel for skies because of the softness and depth it can achieve, though I also enjoy building layers with oils. Alongside nature, I'm also inspired by built environments - French towns, English backstreets, and cottages with character and charm.

What influences your work?

I wouldn't say that my work is heavily influenced by external factors or trends. I don't take myself too seriously, and I create because I feel the need to, not because of commercial pressure. I've always painted and drawn for the love of it, and I would continue to do so whether my work sold or not.

I first began selling my work simply to cover the cost of materials, starting with small commissions - my first being a golden retriever, followed by other animals. While I was grateful to be paid for doing something I loved, there came a point where it began to feel more like repetition than creativity, almost like a conveyor belt. At that stage, I chose to step back and return to painting what truly inspired me.




What does influence my work is a desire to share the beauty I see in the world with others - to help people notice and appreciate those moments in the same way I do. That sense of wanting to communicate and share visual joy is what continues to drive me.

When it comes to pricing, I'm very mindful of accessibility. I don't believe most artists are ever truly paid for the hours they put into a piece, and for me, it's important that my work can be enjoyed by others without being out of reach. That's one of the reasons I offer prints and cards, so people can still connect with my work in an affordable way. At the same time, I recognise the need to balance this with covering costs and, for those who rely on their art as a livelihood, ensuring it remains sustainable.

Where do you sell your art?

I sell my work wherever I can find the opportunity. This includes taking part in art fairs, seeking out exhibition spaces, and entering competitions when possible. I also have prints and cards available in a local café gallery, which has been a lovely way to share my work within the community.




Finding space can be challenging, and it often requires a proactive approach - approaching new businesses, having conversations, and being open to different possibilities. I'm always looking for places that are willing to display my work or stock my cards.

Alongside this, I'm currently having a website built, which will include an online shop. Once completed, this will provide another important avenue for selling my work and making it more accessible to a wider audience.

How do you promote yourself and your work?

I tend to promote my work in a fairly natural, ongoing way, mainly through social media like Instagram and Facebook. I've been trying to build more of a presence there and share what I do more regularly. With AI becoming more common in the creative world, I've become more aware of how important it is to be open about my process.

My work is always hand-painted or hand-drawn, and because people sometimes ask if I use AI, I've started filming parts of my process and sharing those videos. It's a lovely way to show how a piece comes together, and to bring people along with me as I create - something I personally enjoy seeing in other artists' work too.




I also take part in local art shows and competitions when I can, as a way of getting my work out into the world. Recently, I was really pleased to win first place in a competition with a painting of Portland from the lagoon, which is now hanging in a show home in Weymouth. Moments like that are encouraging, and I'm looking forward to continuing to share my work more widely.

What are your future ambitions?

My future ambition is to reach a point where my art can support not just myself, but others too. I would love to be in a position where selling my work allows me to offer free art days and workshops within the community, giving people the chance to experience the same sense of freedom and connection that art has always given me.

This is something I've been able to do in small ways before - working with different groups, including during my time living on a narrowboat, and contributing to community projects and events like Bristol Mental Health Week. Those experiences have stayed with me, especially moments where I've seen just how powerful creativity can be. One person once shared that they'd spent two hours not thinking about drugs while taking part in an art session, and that really affirmed for me how important and meaningful this kind of work can be.




For me, art offers a quiet space - an opportunity to step away from external pressures and connect with something more personal and internal. When I teach, I always encourage people to trust their own vision: if what they've created reflects what they imagined, then they've done it right. Being able to help others reach that place is something I value deeply.

Looking ahead, I simply want to make art more accessible - to create opportunities for people to explore and enjoy it, regardless of background. I'm also beginning work on an art workbook for young people, designed to help them engage with creativity and better understand the world around them. Ultimately, my goal is to share what art has given me, and to open that door for as many people as possible.

Do you have any advice for other artists?

Be gentle with yourself and don't give up too quickly. So many people try something once - often watercolour, which can be quite a challenging medium - and decide from that one experience that they can't paint. But that really isn't the case. It's often just about finding the medium that feels right for you, something you enjoy and feel comfortable exploring.

Allow yourself the freedom to experiment. Try different materials, different approaches, and see what feels natural. Sometimes things won't go to plan, but that's part of the process - there can be real beauty in those unexpected moments, the so-called 'happy accidents' that end up adding something special to a piece.




Most importantly, if you like what you're creating, then you're doing it right. If what's in front of you reflects something you imagined or felt, that's enough. Try not to let it become something heavy or pressured - art should be something you can enjoy and get lost in.

It's also worth making the most of the opportunities around you, whether that's connecting with others, sharing your work, or exploring what's available online or through courses. But above all, just keep going. Be curious, be open, and trust your own way of creating.


Thank you, Jacqueline for answering our questions. If you'd like to see more of Jacqueline Redfern's art, you can follow her on Instagram.