Interview with Lyn Wells: “Animals’ eyes convey such honest emotion”

Lyn Wells (Artful Creatures) is a professional artist who produces natural history illustrations for publishers and takes commissions for wildlife paintings and animal portraits.

KYLE CHRONICLE: When and why you decided to become an artist?


Lyn: I don’t really remember making a decision about that. I started painting and drawing when I was a small child and just never stopped! My whole family were artistic in a variety of ways so there was plenty of inspiration at home. I was fascinated by wildlife and trying to draw the animals that I saw helped me understand their behaviour.


KYLE CHRONICLE: Why wildlife painting?


Lyn: Wildlife was, and still is my great passion. As I was growing up I loved to study the animals I saw around the countryside local to our home. We did a lot of walking as a family, so I got lots of opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat. I wanted to understand their behaviour and drawing and painting helped with that. I remember particularly a family holiday that we took on a cruise boat along the Thames. I spent the whole time drawing the animals using the river and was able to get a real insight into their behaviour as they tend to ignore the boats passing by.


KYLE CHRONICLE: Are animal portraits any different from human portraits?


Lyn: To me, yes! Animals don’t dissemble. They are what they are and don’t try to present an image of themselves. I especially like to paint animals’ eyes as they impart such honest emotion.


KYLE CHRONICLE: What is your preferred technique?


Lyn: I paint almost exclusively in watercolour, even though it is a difficult medium. I love its natural flow and vibrant colours. It takes on a life of its own and its very transparency gives it more depth and naturalness. I also enjoy using graphite pencil, as the tonal range is fantastic especially when illustrating an animal close-up.


KYLE CHRONICLE: And your favourite animal?

Lyn: Very difficult to pick one! In a British context it has to be otters. I have painted them, studied them and just love their joy of life.


KYLE CHRONICLE: Do you prefer working in your studio or do you enjoy outdoor sketching as well?

Lyn: I prefer working in my studio. I find it quite difficult using watercolour outside. I have worked outdoors on many occasions and used to do a lot of sketching especially when abroad, but you tend to be very exposed to the elements! I have worked on several projects overseas, using art as an environmental awareness tool. I was working in Cuba a few years ago where the humidity was so high the paper was curling as I painted and the colours just wouldn’t dry. Difficult to say the least!

KYLE CHRONICLE: What is the most unusual commission you’ve painted?

Lyn: I think perhaps a bat with deer antlers for the label on a Russian Whiskey. Looked very odd and I still don’t really understand the concept!


KYLE CHRONICLE: What advice would you give to someone wanting to learn wildlife painting?


Lyn: Get out and study your subjects. Really understand what motivates them. Until you do that you will never really capture the spirit of the animal you are trying to paint or draw. I have learnt so much just sitting and watching wildlife or looking for the signs they leave and trying to interpret what they mean. Because most mammals are shy and elusive and often crepuscular or nocturnal, it is difficult to see them in the flesh, so these signs are invaluable in understanding their behaviour.


KYLE CHRONICLE: Do you have a favourite spot in the Kyle of Sutherland area?

Lyn: Probably, the area around Migdale and Ledmore woods. I have spent a lot of time there, studying otters and other wildlife. The oak woodlands there are glorious, providing a rich habitat for a huge variety of wildlife.

Lyn Wells

Lyn Wells was born and brought up in Sussex. After studying Scientific and Natural History Illustration at Blackpool College, she went on to complete a Master of Philosophy degree in Natural History Illustration and Ecological Studies at the Royal College of Art (RCA), London. She moved to the Highlands in 1997 and works as a freelance natural history illustrator, also taking private commissions and regularly exhibiting her original artwork. She can be reached on her website www.artfulcreatures.co.uk Facebook page (Arftul Creatures), email or phone 01408 641 204.