Meet the Yorkshire mother and daughter from a family of artists who have set up a pet portrait business

“Mum is a fantastic artist, so was my granddad Dougie, Douglas Anthony Heald, who many will remember for his wonderful watercolour works of places all around York and the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors,” says Esme who found herself following the family line when lockdown came.

“I was into my horses and sport before then. I had dabbled with art but had never taken it seriously until I started working on picture framing in mum’s previous business.

“It was lockdown when I started painting and began doing pet portraits. That grew quite quickly. Mum and I were working alongside each other and everything was great but then mum had to move away to the Lake District for dad’s job.

Paula’s initial thought had been that she and Esme might perhaps work together over in Cumbria, setting up a studio and gallery in Kendal, but Esme says there was a special reason why she couldn’t move.

“I’d got together with Alex by then. That’s when I started working with Cooper with the horses. I was still doing some pet portraits but we were rehabilitating and rehoming horses and that was full-time and was really good fun. I still love it now, and Alex is doing so well with Tanora and we are looking good for maybe another successful season next year. But my art has never left me since starting. Once I was hooked, I was hooked.

“During lockdown mum and I had the idea of creating the business we have now. It was originally going to be under the name Fern & Fell, but we were miles apart. It was when mum and dad moved back to Yorkshire that it seemed natural to get properly underway and then we found we couldn’t use that name, as someone else had just started with it. We love Howell & Heritage because it’s us and has a nod back to my granddad.

Howell & Heritage was born earlier this year when Paula and husband Darren returned to Yorkshire. It has blossomed almost immediately with regular commissions, stands at local shows and lots of ideas that Paula says Esme is the driving force behind.

“Esme has all the drive in the world. I have always been an artist and just love colourings and all kinds of paintings. We sit in this kitchen on this big island that my husband has built me and paint opposite each other. It’s just fantastic. I couldn’t be happier.

“My father had a couple of galleries in York and was known for doing paintings of York Minster and ink and watercolour washes of York scenes. The idea behind the name ties up the three generations and like dad we want to present the beautiful English country heritage in all our work while also remaining family oriented.

“We’re doing homeware, pet portraits, framing and we’re making everything at home. We had an idea for candles and in two weeks we made over 200. The house smelled amazing and they took off very well. We just keep having new ideas. The colour schemes we use are all traditional English heritage and wildlife and we make timeless products that represent the Yorkshire we love.

“We had such a good time talking with new customers at the Yorkshire Game & Country Fair last month.

Paula’s early ambitions in art didn’t quite work out as planned.

“I trained as a potter and went into ceramics. I was going to do a degree in art as I wanted to be an art teacher but I didn’t go as life kind of got in the way. I worked on graphic design at a printer in York before going self-employed as an artist.

“That’s when I followed in my dad’s footsteps. I started going around York painting pictures of pubs. My father had done that when he was young too.

“My picture framing life started when I took my works to a picture framer called Richard Morton and that led to painting for him on Victorian board, old school style. That’s also when I started my art more seriously with animals.

Paula says she has always been able to work quickly.

“Overnight I painted some cockerels, Richard then aged them up and we went into business together selling these antique boards with my paintings on to an interior design company that refurbished pubs up and down the country. I had a studio above the frame shop and would take orders for portraits.

“When our son Javan and Esme came along I started painting commissions for children’s bedrooms. I’d paint things like fairies or whatever anyone wanted.

“Richard passed away suddenly in 2011, which was when I decided to set up in business on my own as a picture framer in Huby. That’s where Esme worked with me initially.

Esme says that hers and her mum’s ways of painting and drawing or quite contrasting, especially in the time they both take.

“I love a really fine detailed portrait. My favourite would be doing a spaniel for commission. I also have a big love for illustrations as well. I’ve written my own children’s book and I’m in process of creating whimsical illustrations. There’s a lot of joy getting lost in that.

“I’m a bit anal about detail and might take hours getting one eye painted the way I want it. It’s the placement of colour. I’ll sometimes say I can’t get this right and mum will come over and go this, that and the other really quickly and it’s done.

Paula describes her approach to art.

“My passion is to doodle, really quick art, but still accurate perspective wise. It’s free flowing. I’ve always been crippled with realism and trying to make things look like a photograph. I doodle out quickly within minutes and then use watercolour washes.

Esme and Paula are looking forward to seeing many more prospective commissions from those who visit their stands at other agricultural shows this summer and Paula and husband Darren are hoping to move to Hovingham in the near future.

“We’re planning on getting to as many shows as we can this summer,” says Esme. “We are definitely going to be at Huby & Sutton Show and Aldborough & Boroughbridge Show. Please come along and see us or visit our website www.howellandheritage.co.uk