Val’s sculptures in papiér mâché present a highly personalised and quirky view of animals. 

In 1981 Val moved to her present home in Somerset with 3-acre field, at the edge of the Mendips, here began her fascination with native animals. Both animals of the countryside and more exotic creatures form her subjects for painting and sculpting in papiér mâché, aiming to capture the movement of the animal and a sense of the wild. Using bright colour and elongated forms her pieces raise a smile.

Val graduated with a BA in Art and Design (Fashion and Textiles) from Gloucestershire College of Art and Design. She worked as a fashion illustrator, copywriter and studio manager before becoming a freelance illustrator. She specialised in humorous illustration which included covers for ‘The Oldie’ magazine for a number of years.