About Me
I've worked as a freelance artist for several years now, mostly painting horses, dogs and wildlife, but my work seems to have evolved again, and more recently I have been concentrating my time and energy into refurbishing and restoring rocking horses.
I always dreamt about having a rocking horse as a child, but I had to wait until I was 41!
My first one was "Adi", a small Collinson & Sons horse, that had had a bit of a crude repaint, with no mane or tail and was off the stand. I still thought she was cute even in the state she was in, but knew I could bring her to life.
Using my love of horses, experience of painting and the skills I picked up from working in the building trade. She was stripped sanded and rebuilt.
From then on I've been hooked!
With several sympathetic restorations, as well as my realistic refurbishments under my belt, I feel I have learnt so much over the past couple of years. I'm still obsessively reading and researching, soaking up as much information as I can. there is just so much to learn, but I'm loving every minute of it.
I am now confident carving new legs, replicating old paintwork and stitching together saddles, I am so exited to find out wat else I can achieve.
The best way to find out what I'm up to, is to follow my Facebook page, which is updated regularly with my current projects.
https://www.facebook.com/ellenwilkinsonart
My horses do tend to sell quite quickly, but please keep an eye on my Rocking Horses for Sale page to see what I have in stock and some examples of sold stock
Ellen Wilkinson
Art & Design
My Story
Well, I took after my mother (Sculptress Fiona Wilkinson) and showed artistic flare from a very young age, going on to achieve a GCSE at A* level, however, I left formal education and followed my heart into a career with horses. Still my passion for all animals, but horses in particular is a major source of inspiration.
My first job out of school was as a commercial sculptor, working mostly in wax for toy companies. But it didn't last long as I longed for the great outdoors. Freedom from walls and rules! So, I worked for several years with horses, but after the birth of my fist son, I decided this line of work was too risky.
I then moved on to work as an interior painter and decorator, but longed to do something more creative again. So in 2015 I took the plunge and swapped my paintbrushes for the more artistic kind, initially just for fun, but I soon started getting requests for pet portraits and then human portraits, although it was my more impressionist fish paintings that really took off.
After an extended maternity break, I have taken a bit of a change of direction, working mostly on rocking horse restoration. It seems to suit me, combining many of the skills I have learnt over the years, and challenging me with many more skills that I am learning along the way. Including carving and woodwork, leathercraft and even sewing, which I must admit is my weakest area at the moment!
I really enjoy the challenge though, and love to bring these poor unloved creations back to life. I learn something new from every one.
My Vision
I dream of a free world where everyone can live their own dream, I've always struggled to fit in and tow the line, it just doesn't seem human to me.
I have done many jobs, chased many ambitions and realised many dreams, I have been incredibly blessed. I hope others will be inspired to follow their heart and just give things a go, for life is not about arriving at the destination, it is learning to enjoy the journey.
Art for me, is a very personal thing, I give a little bit of myself away with each piece, and with each piece comes my love care and attention. You don't have to like it, you don't have to accept it, but know that it is there.
As a single mother, everything I earn at the moment goes towards supporting my children, but as both my business and my children grow I hope to buy a piece of land , build an eco home and plant lots of trees.