Painting of Harland and Wolff cranes by Sandra Shaw - photo shared by Bout Yeh photography and video production Belfast

Laid back artist.

I paint mostly wildlife and landscapes, particularly those of our beautiful country.

As a child, I always loved to draw and I remember always asking for new colouring pencils and felt tips for my birthday and Christmas. My art teacher at school was very encouraging and Art soon became my favourite subject. My passion for art had begun.

After leaving school, I studied education with art as my main subject at Stranmillis College, Belfast. On graduating, I became a primary school teacher – a challenging and rewarding experience. I got married and had 3 great children.

We live on a dairy farm. Busy times.

Roll on 28 years. Turning 50 last year I decided to take a break from the day job and pursue my love of art again.

I enjoy art so much that I have become inspired teach others the skills they might need to enjoy it too.

I started giving art lessons at my home, just outside Hillsborough and particularly like teaching people who are absolute beginners – I just love the look on their face when they see what they can do.

The way I see it, most people’s experience of art in school is in big classes of 30 with only one teacher, of pupils messing about (cause it was easier to do that in art class), terrible paintbrushes and those awful set of 6 block paints which the previous class hadn’t cleaned.

Under these circumstances, learning art was very difficult. My art classes provide the exact opposite, as they are in small groups with lots of guidance and in a relaxed environment.

At the moment, I enjoy painting on wood using acrylic paint. I like the way the paint glides effortlessly over the smooth surface of the wood and how the grains in the wood show through. I particularly enjoy painting detail but also love the effect random flicks and splatters make.

I hope you enjoy my art pieces as much as I enjoyed painting each one of them.