About Me

Hi I’m Angela Hennessy (also known as @raspberrythief), Chief Noticer and a nature journaling artist living near Leeds, in West Yorkshire. 

 

Specialising in watercolour. I’ve been keeping a nature journal of ‘my patch’ here in the UK for 7 years. I live in an ex-mining town on the outskirts of Leeds.

 

I’m an artist with a passion for being outside with nature, observing the seasons and the small changes that occur over the year.  Using phenology as my inspiration, noticing the small details.  Being outside, observing and noticing are a huge part of my practice. My nature journals are created in a concertina style sketchbook that I feel unfolds the story of the year as I create. These are then created into handbound books.

 

In the last seven years I have done several projects, making my own work, learning and exploring different areas of nature. Using my observations and work as a way to help others connect with nature on their doorstep.  Which I have freely shared on my Instagram page (I’m in the process of adding these projects to my portfolio page).   I have also created work and taught workshops in my community.

 

I make work based on my observations and nature journal of my local area, often with an educational/conservational message that I sell in my shop. I also teach how to connect to nature through art and seasonal living online and in person in my community.  Please explore my work in my portfolio and my Etsy shop. If you’d like me to run a workshop, or are interested in commissioning a painting I’ll be happy to discuss the project with you.

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My Background

I have a varied background.  Starting out with my love of language learning (speaking Spanish and French), I spent my 20’s as a senior florist and manager (working in Hull, London and Leeds for mainly corporate customers).  My attentions then turned to books and I briefly worked as a librarian at Leeds University.  After becoming a mum I had my own business manufacturing and selling bespoke baby slings, until motherhood became a full-time career.  I am a constant learner, as you can tell my interests are wide and varied but all have a common thread, creativity.  I’ve always drawn, doodled, and designed, and since my youngest started full time school I decided art was a passion that I needed to explore further, combined with my love of the outdoors.

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What’s Raspberry Thief?

Raspberry Thief is the name I use for my Instagram Account and Etsy Shop.

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Raspberry Thief is a name that I’ve used for blogging and social media for some time.  The idea for the name came from a funny moment when my then 3 yr old (now 19) came in the house with a face covered in raspberry juice, she had been sat in our raspberry patch picking all the berries, we coined her ‘The Raspberry Thief’.  It was a nod to being in the moment, and enjoying the little things, taking notice of the small things, noticing the details.