“In a world of fables and mystery there lies The Whispering Wild where creatures are born with wildness in their souls and songs in their hearts”
This is the warm and inviting welcome we receive when we visit the website of the artist we are featuring on this new blog entry at The Beatrix Potter Society. This month of October, we are celebrating an artist whose creations capture the gentleness and the beauty of the small wonders in the natural world. Lucy Pendrick writes, illustrates and needle felts. Lucy’s art is full of warmth and quiet magic. It captures the gentle rhythms of nature, encouraging us to slow down and look closer at the changing of the seasons and all the beauty around us.
Lucy draws inspiration from peaceful landscapes, woodland creatures and the timeless charm of Beatrix Potter’s works.
We had the pleasure of connecting with the artist herself, and invited Lucy to tell us more about her artform and her creative intent as an illustrator, a writer and a needle artist.
“My art is all about introducing people to characters that I discover whilst out in nature or ones that I have known in human form that cross over to the wild in my mind. I believe in a quiet magic, unseen by many that exists should we wish to find it. All my work carries a vein of nostalgia and childhood innocence with a little humour thrown in for good measure. I offer my art as originals, quality reproductions in the form of cards and prints and sculpture commissions. I am most often found working on that elusive book so that one day this world that has been my solace for so many years may hopefully become someone else’s too.”
”Autumn fruits” by Lucy Pendrick
Lucy’s love for the outdoors shines through her work and it is obvious that nature, contemplation and the world of imagination play an essential role in her art as it did in the case of Beatrix Potter’s work. With this connection in mind, we were keen to know more about this.
How did you first discover Beatrix Potter’s work?
It would be almost impossible for me to share with you when I first discovered Beatrix Potter. When I think about it there were no other artists in my life that became so entwined in my awareness as a child that they became part of who I am as an adult, but Beatrix certainly did.
I have fond memories of staying at my grandparents sharing a supper of apple and cheese, kissing my grandad goodnight whilst he told me ‘That cheese ul make e dream’ Then my sister and I would head upstairs to bed with my nan.
I was always allowed to choose a book for bed, and we would snuggle down under the covers to listen to the comforting sound of my nan tell us all about Jeremy Fisher, Mrs. Tiggy-winkle or that old Tailor of Gloucester. Oh, and dream I did! The next day still full of tales we would walk in the woods and fields and see if we could find any of the characters, and although my adult mind tells me it is unlikely I still have that same feeling that I knew these anthropomorphic creatures, and that If I was quiet enough, or paid enough attention to the comings and goings of nature, I would one day see the little jackets and shoes of Peter and his friends.
Lucy also told us about the parts of Beatrix’s work that really speak to her and that inspire her to create in her own little studio that opens onto a woodland.
What aspects of Beatrix Potter’s work inspire you the most?
There is so much to be inspired by with Beatrix’s work. I suppose my main inspiration would be the humble origins of her stories and characters. Really, they aren’t grand tales (apart from maybe Pig Robinson!) They are simple, everyday happenings that become something other. Beatrix took the time to notice what many would pass by and in her own unique way she turned them into the most magical of stories.
“Fox and Badger” by Lucy Pendrick
I also feel deeply inspired by her love of place. Growing up in Devon amongst the beautiful hedgerows and lanes, I can understand why these landscapes worked by the hands of those who know them are so inspirational. Sadly, I feel much of that is now lost where I grew up but about ten years ago, I visited Near Sawrey and now not a year goes by where I do not try to visit. Feeling that old, loved landscape still in the lakes and the place she called home.
Lucy’s understanding and love for Beatrix Potter’s gentle work is clearly demonstrated in her stunning creations, so we were curious to know if Beatrix’s storytelling or illustration style had also influenced her work and if so, how.
Being someone who shies away from big, complex stories, I have often questioned my place as an artist and writer. Having some publishers say to me ‘It’s lovely and old fashioned but children want more now, more excitement and boldness’. For some time, it put me off and made me think perhaps my work isn’t for the world at this moment. However, being bold doesn’t mean changing who I am, being bold means sticking to what I truly love and believe in and there is no writing more inspiring to support me in that decision than Beatrix’s. She took her ‘Little bunny book’ and showed the world how something gentle can also become the magic needed in the lives of so many children and adults alike.
Her affinity for the natural world and for Beatrix’s work is unmistakable so we decided to dig a little deeper and we asked Lucy about her favourites in the Beatrix Potter universe.
Do you have a favourite Beatrix Potter book or character? Why?
Of all the questions this is probably the hardest! I think if I was true to Lucy as a child, I would have to say Mrs. Tiggy-winkle. It would often be the bedtime story I would pick and the 90’s television series, The World of Beatrix Potter and Friends was my absolute favourite programme with Mrs. Tiggy-winkle being the one I loved most, she was enchanting to me especially as she was voiced by the wonderful Prunella Scales. I also dressed up as Mrs. Tiggy-winkle for world book day at primary school and have some great photos of a very pleased, spikey looking me! Oh, and of course there is Little Lucy in the book which added to the appeal. I climbed Cat Bells last year and whilst up there I did take a moment to look down towards Littletown in the hope I may just see that hedgehog sized doorway.
It is here that one can see how close Lucy is to nature and what a strong connection she has with the environment. It was a truly joyous moment for us in The Beatrix Potter Society to see an artist so inspired and enchanted by the natural world around us, just like Beatrix was in her time.
Next up, we wanted to talk a bit more in depth about her creative process and Lucy told us that “it always starts with a walk where the smallest thing can spark a story or develop a character. I have hundreds of notebooks and scrap papers where I quickly jot down ideas. They often linger here in this half state for some time but there will always be one or two that I feel drawn to. Whether I make that character as a needle felted sculpture or a watercolour painting is entirely based on a decision, I have no idea how I make. Once I start though I can become lost to it for a very long time and the character always changes as I create. I often feel like they are telling me their story as I make them. I very rarely turn an idea into both a sculpture and a watercolour but whichever I chose there will always be a story that emerges.”
And naturally, building on that thought, this led us to ask about the techniques and materials that she uses for her creations. Lucy revealed that “in no way would I ever like to put myself anywhere close to Beatrix’s work but being so inspired by her there are crossovers. I absolutely love working in watercolour, the softness you can achieve with it is unique. I find watercolour invites me in to be a part of it where other paint mediums leave me feeling outside. It took me a long time to paint having had a bad experience at school I was sure I would never be able to do it. It doesn’t come particularly easy to me, and I have had to work hard at it but then there are days where I am sat up on the moor painting the heather where it feels like the most easeful thing in the world.”
We were keen to learn which themes from the Beatrix Potter’s stories resonated more with her. Lucy explained, “I grew up with tales told to me by deeply Devonshire voices, they were whimsical and gentle and yet somehow had the edge of something darker. I feel this in Beatrix’s writing and illustrations and it’s something that really resonates with me. It’s about humanising these characters yet not removing them from the wildness that makes them so enchanting.
“Mouse” by Lucy Pendrick
Lastly, and to conclude, we had been wondering what Lucy wanted people to achieve from her art that is inspired by Beatrix Potter, and her hopes were heartfelt and full of beauty and value, “If I could achieve something great it would be to inspire even just one child to listen closely to nature and not only respect it for what it is but for its magical possibility.”
We are very grateful to Lucy for taking the time to share with us more about her art and creative process and how her imagination was nurtured by the whimsical world of Beatrix Potter.
You can explore Lucy’s portfolio and follow her creative journey online by clicking in any of the links provided below:
Website: www.thewhisperingwild.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewhsiperingwild
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_whispering_wild
Lucy will be holding a solo exhibition at the newly opened “Tabitha Twitchets” bookshop in Hawkshead in the heart of the Lake District. Lucy says that this exhibition “will be a magical, immersive experience with sculptures and paintings, oh! and stories, always stories!”
*Photographs provided courtesy of Lucy Pendrick
