< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE T he spark of creativity is so often kindled in childhood, where a painting or poem can galvanise the imagination and begin a lifelong fascination. This was certainly the case for Samantha Greenhill who first discovered an interest in art from an early age after being enamoured with illustrations in a copy of Aesop’s fables. A move from the metropolitan hubbub of London to Bournemouth instilled within Samantha a deep respect and affinity for the sea – something that would come to define her in the years to come. After coming to the decision not to attend art school, Samantha instead followed her dream of travelling. To accommodate this, she became a croupier and worked firstly in London and then on the cruise ships sailing from Miami and around the Caribbean. Here she was surrounding by the sparkling oceans and the stunning marine life that inhabited them. After returning back to Bournemouth some time later, Samantha began again to pursue her love of art. This she accomplished by studying A-Level art at night school. Little by little, her career as an artist was coming together, selling paintings and taking on commissions. However, she became ill with M.E. (a neurological condition which most commonly manifests as severe and persistent fatigue or exhaustion). Rather than let the illness dominate her, Samantha was determined to rebuild her life, something she attributes to resuming painting and taking up yoga. Our lives are guided as much by our own hands as by chance meetings with others, something that has had a profound impact on Samantha’s life. “Fate intervened and quite by chance I met an established artist who was having an exhibition at my local gallery who recommended I should send my work to Samantha Greenhill’s inviting animal portraits offer an intimate look at the natural world. Orange skyLazing on a sunny afternoon Ursa Major wild things The wayward beauty of 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 15:54 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Buckingham Fine Art,” she says. “I have been painting in earnest ever since and am absolutely delighted to now be a working artist on the Buckingham Fine Art’s team, a dream come true. I feel that I am just starting out on a voyage of discovery and am so excited to be painting again, hopefully my work will continue to evolve and change as I experiment and gain in confidence.” Though Samantha’s style renders each of her animal subjects in exquisite detail, there’s something more intimate to her paintings than realism alone. Each piece has the sense that a subject posed for her and, in the great portrait tradition, she brings out something of her subjects to the canvas. Guiding us through her creative process, Samantha says: “When I paint, I feel and experience the world around me on a much deeper level. This helps me to explore, understand and ultimately feel a close connection to my subject and the world around me. When I am not at my easel, I enjoy being in the countryside, at the beach or practicing yoga. I am inspired by life - I love light and colour, especially the way they interact to describe a subject. My aim is to capture the wonder that I feel at the sheer beauty and perfection in nature.” You can see Samantha’s paintings for yourself at The Little Red Gallery in Lincoln and Stamford. THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. 8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134 8 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk Curiosity The Art of Flight Shining Bright WinnerHighland Stay up to date with all of Samantha’s works on Facebook by searching Samantha Greenhill Art. 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 15:54 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explores the importance of maintaining our gardens in these unprecedented, uncertain times. come up with suggestions for things that you would never have thought of. Here at Fullers, we pride ourselves on created outside spaces that suit each individual client’s budget regardless of the area’s size and shape. I have built up the family company over the last nineteen years to provide specialised services in garden design and landscaping. With every project we do we work closely with our clients to create your perfect garden and help you use your space more wisely. This can be through innovative and inventive designs or by making some small changes that can make a big impact. Therefore, if you want to transform your external areas then we could help you realise its potential. Creating a safe outdoor space A s I write this, we are back at work, keeping to social distancing and ensuring we do all we can to keep our clients and employees safe. This has been a strange time for everyone, and I hope that your garden has provided you with a safe outdoor space to ease the pressure of quarantine. Gardens are important to our well- being and so it is worth having an outdoor space you can enjoy. You may have spent a lot of time recently in your garden and would like to upgrade it or make some changes and create a more useable space. You don’t always need a design but if you want to give your garden a makeover and don’t know where to start then I can help. I can give you ideas, and maybe even Creating a safe outdoor space 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 15:55 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 Specialised Services in Garden Design Landscaping and Tree Maintenance Backed by a highly-skilled and experienced team, we’ve built our reputation on an ability to provide professional, tailored gardening and forestry FULLERS Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden •Plant out annual summer bedding plants now the risk of frost has passed •Plant up containers, hanging baskets and planters •Pinch out the tips of Fuchsias to encourage more flower •As soon as your sweet peas start to flower, keep picking them to encourage more blooms •Harvest salad crops and re-sow every 2 weeks for a constant supply of tasty leaves •Start to prune your plum or cherry trees now •Protect any developing fruits from birds and squirrels by placing netting around your plants •Use water butts as much as you can to water your plants •Keep removing blanketweed from your pond to allow the plants and fish room to breathe © Shutterstock / Sofiaworld © Shutterstock / korkai 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 15:56 Page 2England has something of a love/hate relationship with the badger, with its iconic black and white hide adorning The Wildlife Trusts’ logo and the pages of The Wind in the Willows. But the blame for spreading bovine tuberculosis has been saddled on the badger, though some reports have indicated that it’s more an issue of cattle management. Although related to stoats, weasels and otters, the badger dwarfs them all and takes the top spot as England’s biggest land predator. Although as common as that other bemoaned beasty, the red fox, the badger errs more of the side of caution, sticking to strictly nocturnal activity and giving would-be watchers the slip. Although its diet most certainly deserves its carnivore status, the badger has no qualms eating plants, cereals and root tubers alongside a buffet of insects, earthworms, mammals and carrion. Kenneth Grahame might have portrayed the badger as a grumpy loner in The Wind in the Willows, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Badgers are generally peaceable animals and have even been known to share their burrows with rabbits and red foxes. As a social animal, the badger has extensive underground setts, with tidy burrow entrances marked with piles of used bedding such as hay and leaves. They even have latrine pits where they leave their droppings. But the badger isn’t to be underestimated, and will prove ferocious when provoked, something that has been exploited for the barbaric blood sport of badger-baiting. Fortunately, this cruel practice is now illegal. Spring was the season for the next generation of badgers to emerge and frolic throughout the summer until their own sexual maturity occurs somewhere between twelve and fifteen months of age. Badgers are remarkably clean creatures and will regularly clean and discard their old bedding. Spring cleaning is connected with the birth of cubs as a means of preventing the build-up of parasites, something that continues through summer. Although the badger has its share of friends and enemies, Lincolnshire is largely in favour of the animal, with the County Council spearheading a campaign in 2014 to ban badger culling on all its owned land in the wake of the TB scare. Even after damaging flood defences around the River Steeping in Wainfleet, the offending badgers were moved to a new site rather than given the business end of a shotgun. For Lincolnshire locals, the issue on badger welfare is far from black and white. 24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY This month, we take a closer look at the badger, an animal that’s loved and loathed in equal measure. Lincolnshire wildlife 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 16:13 Page 1© Shutterstock/ Miroslav Hlavko LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 16:13 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY As many readers have already no doubt noticed, the lockdown has been a blessing for wildlife. Coupled with the mild weather and it’s been a good spring for all the furred, feathered and scaled neighbours we share the world with. Over the last few months, there’s been pictures of deer walking around vacant town centres, peacocks strutting down high streets and many more besides. Here we showcase some beautiful snaps sent in by readers who have captured our county’s graceful wildlife in all its glory. What a wonderful world 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 16:15 Page 1WILDLIFE IN LOCKDOWN Photographs courtesy of Stephen Plant (www.snap-net.uk) 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 16:15 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Masai With a colour palette evoking the natural world, either of these amazing outfits from Masai would leave you looking and feeling like a goddess this summer. 28-37.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 16:18 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 FASHION Style all summer long Style all summer long There’s no denying it – summer is upon us. So it’s time to bring out those loose flowing dresses with the pastel shades and floral prints. There’s no denying it – summer is upon us. So it’s time to bring out those loose flowing dresses with the pastel shades and floral prints. 28-37.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2020 16:18 Page 2Next >