Nel’s New Studio is in the Twisting Gallery at Sunnybank Mills, 83-85 Town St, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5UJ.

Nel Whatmore has been a professional artist for over thirty years. During these unprecedented times of the pandemic she is not able to go to her wonderful studio at Sunnybank Mills in Farsley, so she has made her garden her outdoor studio and is currently recording all the flowers in her garden and taking part in the #artistsupportpledge initiative. This was started by Mathew Burrows to help support artists during this time. So all artists produce small unframed works for less than £200 and when they have sold a £1000 worth they pledge to buy another artists work.

Last year her series of paintings called ‘The Wonders of Water’ focused on the beauty of the sea and rivers around the UK. She travelled to the far north west of Scotland, studied the Cornish and Devon coasts, and rivers nearer to her home in Yorkshire. Her interest in water also continues.

Nel is a regular exhibitor at Chelsea Flower Show where her stand has won multiple awards . Her work can be seen in many forms all over the world. She has a loyal following with many private collectors who have also now become friends.

She started her working life as a professional artist in 1986 with the help of The Prince’s Trust in a bedsit in Leeds. She met her husband the writer Mark Morris while at University. They live in North Yorks and have two children, Polly who is studying Performance Costume at Edinburgh College of Art and David who is a Physicist!

Nel was invited to Clarence House to a special reception with HRH the Prince of Wales where she presented his Royal Highness with one of her original paintings as part of the Trust's 35th Year Celebrations.

She seeks to constantly explore mediums and their ability to convey emotion.

Nel has had six books of poetry published called the ‘Reasons to Be’ series, which are now sold out, and also has designed fabric collections for Westminster Fibres' Freespirit brand in the States.

Her work is licensed worldwide and she is represented by Jewel Branding in North America , and at all major shows including Surtex in New York and Brand Licensing in Las Vegas.

All her Pattern Collections are inspired either by her fine art paintings or from natural forms. They have a hand made, painterly feel and are always in uplifting colour palettes.

“Being a painter is a life long challenge to try to say something of worth. If my work moves people, raises a smile or lightens your heart, then that makes it all worthwhile.” Nel x