ABOUT ME

“My life has led me to this point, and finally everything makes sense.”

I have always been artistic and worked alongside my mother, a sculptress, after leaving school — but it wasn’t to last.

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All I wanted was horses.

As many will appreciate, it’s an expensive way of life, so I took on several different roles over the years to support that passion.

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“I did bar work which led on to building work, which then led to painting and decorating. I swapped the paint brushes to concentrate on fine art and pet portraits, with a touch of upcycling vintage furniture to keep the pennies rolling in!”

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It’s a long list, but all those years gave me the confidence — and the practical ability — to get started in the world of rocking horses.

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I reluctantly gave up real horses after having my children and finding myself unable to look after both humans and horses well. It felt like having my arms cut off for some time. My whole identity had been built around horses, and suddenly I was trying to fit into a world without them.

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Rocking horses became the perfect replacement.

“They are safe, cheap to keep and if you look after them, they will literally last forever!”

Over the past few years I have restored and refinished many antique and vintage rocking horses, sharing my passion for art and horses alike.

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“It may sound silly, but they are alive to me. Each one has its own character. The old ones have so much history — the things they would say if they could talk.”

Many people think of a rocking horse as a child’s toy, but for me — and for many of my collectors — they are far more than that.

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“They evoke such feelings of fondness. Whether it’s remembering the love of a real horse or stirring childhood memories, there is something very special about them.”

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After many restorations and refurbishments, I began wanting to take things further.

I built a following of people who enjoyed seeing me transform old horses into more lifelike pieces, but the stylised carving and strong history that comes with most antiques is usually best honoured by returning them to a near-original finish. On a realistic refurbishment, the finish can only ever be as good as the carving allows.

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I have often re-carved Collinson horses. I’ve always liked their solid, chunky outline as a base to work from. But however much I reshaped them, I was still working within someone else’s original proportions.

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Over time, I wanted more freedom than that allowed.

I began designing my own forms so I could create horses that feel more lifelike and balanced from the outset — without compromising my values around sustainability. Wherever possible I use reclaimed materials and thoughtful processes that reduce unnecessary waste.

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You can be sure that every piece is made by me, one at a time (with a little help from a select few), with love and close attention to detail.