For the fifth year running, a festive winter scene created by Sheffield artist Margaret Ellis is set to bring Christmas card cheer to thousands of homes across the region. When it comes to sending season’s greetings, Margaret’s work is a firm favourite with supporters of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. Some 10,000 cards depicting her snowy images of famous local landmarks have been sold in total.
In 2016, her watercolour of Sheffield Cathedral, complete with carol-singers, sold out. And a Clumber Park scene used in 2018 was a best-seller. This year, the artist — who has adored painting since the age of three — has created another picturesque Yuletide greetings scene… and this time, it’s of Chatsworth House. With snow-laden skies and grazing deer, the image is exclusive to Bluebell Wood.
Margaret gained an Art Teachers’ Diploma at Sheffield School of Art and Sheffield College of Education before teaching in schools across Derbyshire and Sheffield. After retirement she swiftly found that local amateurs wanted to learn from her, and still teaches from a purpose-built studio at her home in Ecclesall. Her work is often seen in local galleries, at the Great Sheffield Art Show and Art in The Gardens. She has also recently illustrated a series of children’s books.
“I am delighted to help Bluebell Wood once again,” she said. “It’s lovely to think that for the fifth year running, my work will be displayed in people’s homes at Christmas-time.
“But the main thing is that these cards raise money for the hospice so it can care for families who need its support. It’s nice to know that what I do best helps hospice staff to do what they do best.”
Sunny Alison, Head of Retail at Bluebell Wood commented: “We sell thousands of our Christmas cards every year online and in our eight charity shops.
“Our supporters love the local connection. So, this year, for the first time, we have introduced the work of another Sheffield artist.
“Kate Morgan has created an exclusive image for us of Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens. Her style is whimsical and sweet and will appeal to a different audience.”
A member of Sheffield Creative Guild, Kate is a freelance artist who combines traditional methods with digital techniques. Her images, which are reminiscent of children’s book illustrations, begin life as doodles in a sketchbook and are then scanned into her computer, where Kate uses Photoshop to create the final piece.
For the Christmas card, Kate transformed one of her favourite images, a summer scene of the Glass Pavilions at Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens, into a festive winter wonderland. With trees decked with fairy lights, a flurry of snowflakes, sledges and snowmen, it’s a hospice exclusive.
Bluebell Wood Christmas cards are on sale now at £3.00 per pack of 10 cards and can be bought at any Bluebell Wood charity shop or online at www.bluebellwood.org/shop.