Welcome to the blog, where you can read about my design and making process, my business ethos, inspirations and how I run my business.

PROCESS

  • A close up pf my sketchbook, featuring two pages of black cockatoo parrots.

    Sketchbooks

    Drawing and fact collecting are two of my favourite things

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  • A view of my work room, specifically a desk view, looking at some half made foliage on my desk, with an owl sculpture on the wall in the background.

    My work room

    Loving working from home, at my big desk under the window, watching the clouds roll by

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  • A drypoint handmade print of some leaces, with a lino print overlay of a tree trunk.

    How I learned about printmaking

    From falling in love with the etching press at 18, to creating my own methods for monotype screen printing

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  • Making barn owl sculptures. In the foreground is a half made sculpture of a barn owl. In the background you can see my desk, with hand cut feathers, a glue pot and some scissors can be seen.

    Turning prints into sculptures

    Turning a two dimensional print into three dimensional sculpture

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  • A desk view of making my handmade paper bird sculptures

    Designing sculptures

    From sketchbook doodling to paper and tape prototypes

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  • A group photo of some of my handmade paper sculptures, featuring birds perched on a handmade tree stumps. From left to right, there is a barn owl mother and baby, perched on a stump adorned with flowers; a housemartin sculpture, and an osprey.

    Tree stumps

    When a gallery offers you shelf space, it springs this maker into action to design miniature habitats for my birds.

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  • A close up of some tools on my desk that I use while making my paper sculptures, including a glue stick and pot, spring loaded scissors

    My favourite art tools

    Every artist has their favourite tools for making.

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  • a handmade paper sculpture of a tawny owl on an oak leaf wreath

    Owl designs

    Where I began building my menagerie

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  • an osprey paper sculpture

    The Osprey

    Making a large bird of prey

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ETHOS

  • My recue parrot Pidgeon, inspiration for my paper sculpture business. Pidgeon is looking directly at the camera with his friendly face.

    How being a vegan informs my business practice

    It’s hard not to care about the environment when your best pal is a rescue mini raptor

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  • A photograph of my desk where I have been making paper flowers. My scissors are in the foreground, with handmade leafy stems and hydrangea blooms strewn across the wooden desk.

    Recycled

    From recycled papers to repurposing peanut butter containers, treading lightly on the environment is important to my business.

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  • A photograph of a cheerful paper sculpture, depicting a barn owl surrounded by a wreath of pink and purple flowers. The barn owl sculpture hangs on a blue wall above a fireplace.

    Why cheerful décor is important

    Why shouldn’t an object’s function be to make us smile?

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  • A collection of handmade owl sculptures, perched inside floral wreaths of paper flowers. They are all displayed together on a blue wall.

    Running an online business

    Face to face sales fill this introverted hermit with dread, so I’m finding my place online.

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  • My hand holding a handmade sculpture of an osprey bird. I am holding his feet, and the bird sculpture is looking directly at the viewer.

    Why I love birds

    From a childhood love of the peregrine falcon to being an actual bird lady, in business and at home

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  • A desk shot of sketchbooks and Caran Dache gouache paint, paint brushes. The sketchbook depicts drawings of swifts.

    Cruelty free art supplies

    My favourite brands and ingredients to look out for

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INSPIRATION AND ADVENTURE IN THE COUNTYSIDE

  • A photograph of my dad's garden. In the foreground there are red and green apples on a branch. The background depicts a long lawn of grass, with a variety of plants and flowers.

    My Dad's garden is my favourite place

    Doodling on the lawn and stealing allotment produce

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  • This photograph depicts a beautiful lake on a sunny day, framed by foliage from trees and shrubs.

    A walk in the woods

    The perfect remedy to blowing away the cobwebs

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  • A photograph of a grey squirrel, with his hand and fingers pressed up against a window pane, looking at the viewer. In the background are houses in a suburban street.

    Nature loving city living

    It’s okay when childhood dreams of becoming a country bumpkin don’t work out.

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  • Chatsworth House, illuminated by lights in the night time.

    Visiting Chatsworth

    A favourite family picnic location

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RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS

  • Pots of handmade flowers on my desk. The main pot is terracotta, with cartoon eyeballs and little feet. The flowers depicted are various shades of red and pink, and include chrysanthemum and gerberas.

    Imposter Syndrome is rubbish

    Judging a school art competition really made me think about self worth and confidence

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  • A close up of a handmade paper sculpture depicting a long eared owl perched on a wreath of white and yellow tree blossom flowers. The owl sculpture is made from handprinted papers in gold and brown.

    Product photography

    Running a business yourself often means it’s just you, doing all the jobs! So I’m learning photography as I go.

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  • A postcard of my business, Kaper. The postcard contains writing and some images of my sculptures, including flowers, a robin, a red squirrel and a lilac fronted Amazon parrot.

    Marketing for shy people

    Making peace with the fact my business might be in better hands with an extrovert

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  • A paper sculpture depicting a white faced owl perched on a wreath festooned with tiny pink flowers.

    Sculptures are my only source of income

    Can one run a business with only one source of income? I have not yet got to grips with multiple income streams!

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  • The copyright symbol

    Copyright theft

    The perilous business of being small when your designs are stolen

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  • A photograph of my artist's booth at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester. There is a sign that reads 'Kaper' above a variety of paper sculptures depicting wildlife and flowers.

    How to support small business (without spending money)

    Sales are vital for small businesses to survive, but there are plenty of ways to be an independent ally without spending a penny

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  • A photograph of my workspace. A desk is in the foreground, with artist's materials and handmade paper sculptures is disarray on the desk. In the background you can see a wall with handmade owl sculptures perched on floral wreaths.

    Working from home

    A typical day as a designer maker

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  • A collection of handmade paper flowers, collected on a wooden floor. The flowers aare all different types, including gerbera, chrysanthemum, peony, hellebore and leafy stems.

    Being my own boss

    Working for yourself gives you lots of freedom, but also all of the responsibility

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  • sketchbook page featuring drawings of hoopoes.

    Draw A Bird Day

    Enjoy a cheerful activity every 8th April

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