About Rachel Singleton | UK Wildlife Artist
Visionary Wildlife Watercolour
I am Rachel Singleton, a UK wildlife artist working in watercolour. My paintings are known for their visionary and mystical qualities, capturing not just the likeness but the spirit and presence of British wildlife. From the flickering dance of a charm of goldfiinches to the rooted stillness of the heron, my work is fuelled by the energy and mystery of Nature. I love to paint as if I am reaching beyond the boundaries of my own sight.
Rooted in the Wild
My paintings begin in Nature: walking the oak and birch woodlands near my house, sitting quietly by the river, roaming the UK shorelines, or resting in the corner of a field. These are the places where the ordinary becomes extraordinary — where a roe deer ambles into view, an otter slips out of the water and a kingfisher flashes past me like a jewel.
I paint not only what I see but what I feel in those moments: a sense of wonder, reverence - and something a little bit otherworldly!
Each painting is a glimpse into the fleeting presence of wildlife - a way of holding it and offering it back to you.
Alight
Aware
Curious
I return to the medium of watercolour again and again because it has its own wildness. The element of water, together with the paint, has a way of playing and running on the paper in ways that cannot be fully controlled.
I love workign with the freedom and unpredictability of this - responding to the unexpected, and allowing the painting to grow intuitively. This process mirrors Nature itself: moving, shifting, responsive and alive.
An Intuitive Approach
As my art is inspired by wildlife and seeks to honour the creatures around us, then the materials I use must also reflect that care. Since 2021 I have been sourcing vegan and environmentally responsible art supplies — from paints and brushes to paper and inks. Recently, I have also begun experimenting with plant-based acrylics, and I look forward to seeing how they may weave into future work.
This is not always the easiest path, but it feels the truest one: to create art that celebrates the natural world without compromising it.
A Thoughtful Practice
Exhibitions
My work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across Cumbria and beyond. Highlights include:
Upcoming
Ambleside Art Society Annual Exhibition — October 2025
Affordable Art Fair, Green Door Artists — November 2025
Winter into Spring, Fawcett Mill, Sedbergh — January 2025
Harrogate Art Fair - March 2026
Recent
Wild of Wing — Solo Exhibition, Brantwood House, Coniston (2025)
All At Sea, Upfront Gallery, Penrith (2025)
Green Door Artists 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Kendal (2025)
Wilder Lakes Exhibition, National Trust Beatrix Potter Gallery, Hawkshead (2024) — a collaboration with textile artist Jane Exley and oil painter Joy Grindrod, exploring the wild land and creatures of the Lake District
Art For Conservation
There is both fragility in the natural world around us, and exquisite, precious beauty. I don’t think any of us want to see this being chipped away in our time, and yet this is happening.
Even here, in the Lake District where I live — a National Park and World Heritage Site — habitats are being degraded, and animals, birds, and insects all show signs of struggle.
Can a painting change this? I don’t know. But I am willing to try.
Every time I tune into a bird, animal, or insect to paint it, I find myself drawn into the wonder of it. The resulting painting feels like a prayer, a blessing. It is my hope that each work helps to keep this wild, beautiful world at the forefront of our minds, rather than in the background.
Contact me
Do you love wildlife? Are you interested in my paintings? Would you like to connect about the beauty of the natural world? Please get in touch.