I am Shell, otherwise known as @michellepickeringprints

I am an outdoorsy, adventure seeking, 40 something, office worker by day, artist and illustrator by night. I create hand drawn or lino cut greetings cards and prints,which capture the joy I find in all things mother nature creates.

My love for colour developed at an early age, as I’ve always been drawn to big bold contrasting saturated colours. I want to share with the viewer the happiness and magic that bright and vibrant colours give me.

In my youthful years I did a degree in Textile Design and Surface Pattern, where my fascination for flowers and plant drawing also began. All my work is created onboard my 57-foot narrowboat, which is currently moored in a countryside village on the outskirts of the beautiful city of Chester.

When I’m not creating,I can be found gardening, baking, wandering the towpath’s or exploring the great outdoors for more inspiration.

I will be keeping a record of my journey within our blog posts, hope you can follow along?

  

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Into the 2nd week of our tour of the Outer Hebrides. We have been so lucky with the weather, it’s been amazing and sunny!! Today has been rather soggy though, so I’ve spent the day in our Campervan drawing 3 new Christmas card designs. I
Sleepy Fox 🦊 all ready to carve!! Wanted to give the feeling he is being hugged by nature and kissed by the moon and stars! I have recently become obsessed with oak trees🌳🌳🌳!! I can’t stop looking at them. My phone is full of photos of the
That’s a wrap!!! The bug and flower colour fest mural @ Guilden Sutton COE Primary School is done. ❤️💛🧡🩷💜🩵💙💚 Its turned out so much more brighter and more awesome than I expected. Thrilled to bits with it!!! Thank you Guilden Sutton COE
Nearly finished the mural!!! The colour really started to pop today!!! So pleased with how it’s looking. Working with @sophiasillustration has been one of the many highlights. Loving collaborating and creating with this beautiful human being!!
Sophias Illustration and I had the honour of meeting the Ethos Ambassadors on Thursday to discuss the mural we are creating for Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School. Can’t wait to get painting again this weekend. This project has bee
Sabotaging an old linocut, that I never liked the composition of once I’d finished it. I loved Daisy the Duck 🦆 however, so I’ve set her free from the weight of her surroundings 🤣🤣🤣 Stick around to see what I print with my new solo
Hell yeh!! My dragonfly prints are done. They are drying and will be ready to send out in a couple of days. I’m so pleased with them. It’s been such a lovely project to work on over the year. I think there are over 100 hours carving in t
Last test print done wooo hooo 🥳🥳🥳🥳 I have a whole afternoon set aside tomorrow with my new baren and posh paper. Can’t wait to print the final prints. They will be in our shop on Monday/ Tuesday next week. Thanks for all the well wishes
2nd test print of the dragonfly. Approximately another 20 hours carving since the last test print. Been carving most of the weekend. Mostly done. Just have 3 more wings to neaten and some water texture to add in. I’ll do this over the evening
Me cooking by the log burner and doing the last finicky bit of carving, before a print run tomorrow. #carvingprogress #linoprint #linocut #theendisnear #femaleartist #dragonfly #femaleprintmaker #printmakersofintagram
Hurray!!!! 1st test print of my dragonfly!!! I’m determined to get this finished by the end of March, as I’ve got so many more carving projects buzzing around my head. I’ve lost count on how long this has taken me, but there are ov
“Shelly” my aptly named linocut Easter Egg card! Produced a little late as I’m currently caring for my Mum and Dad. But the time spent carving and printing has given me some welcomed head space. I can’t believe Easter is near
Test print of my Easter Egg lino print. Thanks to those who voted for which colour I should print this in. 😘😘😘Lilac won 💜💜💜 It’s been amazing to use a new colour. Never printed in purple before. I will be adding more white on the final