My children love the old classics like 'Winnie the Pooh' and 'Peter Rabbit'.  Reading them has brought back so many memories of the stories I also loved as a child.  I started to find inspiration in those old classic books and fables, bringing all their wonderful creatures into the realm of realism.  As an adult I've started to see the symbolism and deeper meanings behind characters and their personalities. It's interesting seeing how those messages come through into my paintings. Having only ever worked in realism I've had a lot of fun bringing a bit of 'edge' to my pieces, creating something more fantastical which is only found in the imagination.