Chesca Burrows
(Four Paws and a Pencil)

I describe myself as something of an 'accidental artist' - as a child I could often be found sketching horses, but art was never a subject I was 'good at', in fact I was actually told I was no good at school, and so it wasn't until I was nearly 40 that I began to pursue 'arting' again properly... But throughout my young adulthood, I made 'pin money' by leaning in to my strong attention to detail in creating hand painted wooden stable plaques, first for my own horses, then friends, and eventually the wider world. 

I started off with simple lettering, sign-writing if you will, until one day I was asked if I could paint a picture of the horse alongside his name. No, I thought, I'm not an artist... But I'm not very good at actually *saying* no, and so I did it, and it wasn't a great painting if I'm honest, but the client liked it, and it took off - suddenly there I was painting miniature horse portraits on stable plaques for the next decade!

Well known throughout my childhood for my attention to detail and perfectionism, it now seems odd to me that I wasn't even aware of the genre of Miniature Art until quite recently, when I took up pencil work. It was a casual google that led me to discovering The Hilliard Society and the RMS in 2022, and here we are - I've found my calling in the art world. (Better late than never!).

Often joined in my art room by my cat Squeaky, my passion is drawing animals - horses and cats being particular favourites - and I love to capture the character and individuality of my subjects. My first original miniature, 'Oh Hai!', that won me Best New Artist at my first Hilliard Society exhibition in 2024, sums up the kind of art I like to produce - a face that draws you in, makes you smile.

('Squeaky')

I work predominantly in coloured pencil or graphite, but as I still paint the odd stable plaque it's certainly not impossible I may delve into creating miniatures in paint one day!

Many of my miniatures are available as Limited Edition fine art prints, and I am also able to take a limited number of pet portrait commissions (up to 8x10") each year - full details of all my work and commission prices can be found on my website www.fourpawsandapencil.uk. I am also on Facebook/Instagram as Four Paws and a Pencil.

(An example of one of my hand-painted stable signs)





'Easter Treat'


2 1/4" x 2 1/4" Coloured Pencil 

£190 (framed and ready to hang)


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My two Hilliard submissions from 2024

(squirrel 'Oh Hai!' and robin 'Frosty Morning' - both sold)

'Moorland Kinship'

'Eye Spy'