Sue Powell

Smallholder, Artist, Author & Illustrator

Deciding to retire early, after a teaching career in Gloucestershire lasting 33 years, and with my husband looking for something new after many years running his very successful fisheries business, we started our new life in the beautiful Cambrian Mountains of Ceredigion, reviving a rundown smallholding. With our two sons going off to uni and leaving 'the nest', we decided it was time for an adventure of our own, before we were too old. How naive we were!

Living less than half an hour from Cardigan Bay, I am in my element. The coast inspires me to be creative, and what started with me making a few things for our new home, now sees me with my own company - Pebbles in the Sand! (www.pebblesinthesand.co.uk)

I'm a felt artist, and particularly known for my pictures of seabirds using carded fleece. Puffins are a very popular subject with customers, especially those who have visited Skomer Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast, to see these comical little birds.

It was my work with Puffins that inspired Fiona Hankin to write her Pipkin books, and it was a huge honour to be asked to illustrate her books...not to mention a great excuse to get together to bounce ideas around over a coffee and a cream cake!

It's amazing what life brings you, if you just let it.