A Squirrel's Tail | My Forest Holiday

I met this guy on a forest retreat somewhere in Hampshire. I stayed in a gorgeous cabin in the woods for five days to celebrate my birthday.

I didn’t catch his name, but he was a very polite fellow, helping himself to the nuts and bread we’d left out for the local wildlife. His friend was even brave enough to take a piece of food straight from my hand before scurrying away!

I knew I had to draw him.

This tiny squirrel portrait is only a few inches wide, drawn in coloured pencil on toned paper. I loved working small to capture the soft details of his fur and that sweet, curious posture.

The cabin had stunning views of the forest and a private hot tub on the decking (which I made full use of!). I’d sit there watching the light stream through the trees, or the rain fall around me (classic March weather!) I even managed some stargazing when the clouds cleared.

It was such a lovely, peaceful trip—and this drawing is my way of bottling up a moment from it.