Kerrie remains enchanted by nature

KERRIE Ann Gardner’s love of nature shines through in her words as well as her pictures.

A writer and poet as well as an artist and photographer, her social media accounts reveal a young woman “enchanted by the natural world, angered by our treatment of it” and “always happier outside”.

A keen runner, she relishes early mornings when the air is cold and the sun casts an amber glow over the landscape, or at nightfall when the indigo darkness descends on the lanes round her home in East Devon as the rooks and jackdaws return to their roosts.

“Running, I think, is my favourite way to pay attention,” she writes. “For a time, I tried to run faster, to challenge myself, break records. But I soon realised that this is not the reason I run. Running, for me, is not a competition. It is, in fact, more like a prayer.”

Kerrie studied fine art at A-level, and loved taking photographs as a teenager, but it wasn’t until more recently, when she acquired a Nikon D7000, that she started getting the sort of photographs she had always dreamed of.

Whether that means snatching the briefest glimpse of an owl or woodcock, marvelling at the rare glory of the aurora borealis or simply catching the morning mist lingering over the local landscape, those early starts and dusk outings provide the perfect opportunities to see the local landscape at its best.

“Our home is nestled within the beautiful borderlands of Dorset, Devon and Somerset, which affords me ample opportunity to get outside and capture some breathtaking scenes,” says Kerrie.

“I am an avid lover of the British countryside and the wildlife within it and want little more than to be outside experiencing it as much as possible.”

It might be a pair of tawny owlets capturing her attention, delightfully fluffy hungry siblings out in open sunlight begging for food.

“I have a soft spot for owls,” says Kerrie. “They have always beguiled me. I think it’s their eyes – those unfathomable, obsidian-like eyes, Guinness-dark and knowing in ways I can only imagine.”

But it might as well be an unusual cloud formation, or a long-deserted road through the woods which conjures up thoughts of the clatter of ancient cart wheels and all the feet which once walked there: drovers, animals, vagabonds and priests.

As well as her passion for photography, her interests range from horticulture to sea swimming, astronomy to dinosaurs.

She enjoys growing her own food and is fascinated by birds and folklore, interesting weather, fungi and the night sky, as her blog, poems and Twitter and Instagram profiles reflect.

From silhouettes of winter trees to hard frosts and full moons, her interests are reflected in her delicate artwork too.

But although she always had a love of art, formal study stifled her creativity, making it hard for her to translate the scenes in her imagination onto the page.

Social media can be an inspiring and engaging place, but it can also sap your confidence, she believes. “On bad days, it can seem like every other artist is producing amazing work while your own stuff never meets the mark.”

Now 38 and a full-time artist and writer, the former ecologist switches the mediums she uses quite regularly, but often uses a blend of soft pastel and acrylic paint for the haunting landscapes that feature as fine art Giclée prints in her online shop.

Recurring images include the bare bone silhouettes of winter trees. “A lot of my inspiration comes when I’m running the lanes near our house,” she says. “I find movement invaluable for that. It stills my mind and allows me to see with more clarity so ideas can amalgamate.”

“As for social media, it’s been brilliant for getting my artwork seen which I am very grateful for, and I’ve had opportunities arise as a result, like being asked to contribute a piece to the BTO’s Red Sixty Seven book, which wouldn’t have come about otherwise.

“But it can be a difficult tool to negotiate during periods when you haven’t created much, as it can feel like everyone else is making while you’re falling behind.”

Her work for sale includes original drawings, prints and painted stones, the latter mainly focusing on birds.

And as well as revamping her online shop for 2024, she promises we’ll see more of her photographs too.

“I don’t really buy into the whole New Year’s resolution thing, especially as to my mind the winter months are a time for hibernation and deliberation,” she says. “And yet, I do think it’s good to voice intention in these darker months. It’s like planting a bulb the right way up, making it easier for the ensuing plant to break the soil and reach the light.

“So I’m sending down roots to remind myself that next year there needs to be more photography in my life and that it needs to be shared, because it’s not much use stuck on a hard drive.”

Kerrie’s work can be found on her website, Instagram and Twitter feeds.