AN award-winning pet portrait and wildlife artist has returned home from a sell-out workshop tour of America.

Lisa Ann Watkins said the trip was very successful, with two more tours planned next year, but she had a narrow escape from Hurricane Irma when she was evacuated straight after her last workshop.

The Ruardean artist said: “My last class was in South Carolina on the weekend that Irma struck Florida. It was touch and go, but there was no way we were cancelling the workshop after so many people had waited for months for me to teach them.

“Arrangements were made to get me out of the venue literally at the end of the teaching session and I headed straight to Columbia and then Atlanta, where I was on one of the last flights out before Irma headed in.” 

Graphic design graduate Lisa only started drawing again five years ago after a 20-year career in the costume and bridal industry.

And her tour of the US, taking in Seattle, Dallas and South Carolina, came after she was invited across the Atlantic by Ann Kullberg, one of the world’s leading figures in the pencil art industry, who publishes the world’s leading coloured pencil magazine.

“The first shock to me was when workshops sold out within the first two weeks and started to build large waiting lists in each area,” said Ann.

“Lots of preparation went into the build-up to the tour and I was extremely nervous to say the least. Not only was I travelling alone, but this was my first trip to America.

“Just six years ago, before I picked up a pencil and started drawing I suffered from severe panic attacks to the point where I could not leave the house.

“Now, here I was, flying halfway around the world to teach in front of classes three times the size of those I teach here.

“To my surprise I was totally relaxed. I also have a fear of speaking in front of people, but there is something about wanting to help others to learn that makes me push on through my own nerves to give them what they need.”

Lisa, whose award-winning Hee Haw picture of a donkey hangs above the fireplace at the Miners pub in Sling, added: “The feedback has been amazing and I am now planning to return for at least two more tours next year.

“I am also looking at running super workshops here in the UK with other artists and possibly even running a workshop cruise to Norway.”

After arriving home to the Forest, she also discovered she had been placed second in the prestigious Ken Bromley Art Supplies cover competition out of 800 entries, with her work to be published in a book in November.

As an ambassador for stationary and art firm Faber-Castell she will be appearing on TV for them next month, while in November she has a double feature in Dogs Monthly magazine.

For more information, see her website animal artbylaw.co.uk and her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnimalArtbyLAW

Details about her Ken Bromley success are at www.artsupplies.co.uk/covercomp