Into Faerie...

I loved making props and models. Every day was different, the people I worked with were brilliant.  I made trees for Hogwarts, weapons for Chucky, palm trees for Tracey Island. The hours were long, but the job was fun and well paid. I would have cheerfully kept doing it forever. Unfortunately....

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There was a lot of uncertainty during this time, it was hard to find props work. I started temping in an office. I was used to leaving home at 5.30am, and getting home at 9pm. Suddenly I was getting home from work four hours early!

During my extra free time I came across a few of my old drawings. They... maybe weren't that terrible?

So I tentatively started drawing again. Just a little bluebell faery at first. I showed my husband, and he thought it was good.

In between temp jobs I drew more. One of my temp jobs was at Palgrave Macmillan. With no sign of the film industry picking up, (pre- streaming boom. I have the worst timing.) I stopped trying to find work and took an editorial assistant position at Palgrave. When I got home from work I'd paint. A year after the bluebell faery came this one...

Mr Dawe is one of the best people, and the most supportive husband in the world. He bought me a scanner and printer, and encouraged me to try and sell cards and prints of my artwork. Some local shops stocked them, freinds and family bought them. I had a few commissions. I kept drawing and painting, and thought maybe I was getting better?

We decided to have a go at a faery themed craft fair, and booked a stall.

And there I met Brian and Wendy Froud, the artists responsible for Labyrinth, the movie that got me out of the oubliette. I stammered out a few words, afterwards Mr Dawe muttered, 'You were practically curtseying.'

Somewhere Mr Dawe and I got married, had children, and moved to Devon. I painted around childcare, sold my work online and at craft fairs. I've been lucky enough to meet the Frouds several times, and many other Chagford artists and residents. I've even been invited to exhibit with some of them at the Widdershins exhibition in Moretonhampstead.

Props, models, art, fantasy, film, and stories have woven through my life and allowed me to meet wonderful people and have incredible experiences.

As I painted my head would be filled with stories. But it was a while before I thought to write any of them down.