A young artist from Pateley Bridge has used lockdown to find new inspiration in the outdoors much closer to home .. his garden.

James Owen Thomas, who has autism, uses disused materials such as scratchcards and ring pulls to create art with a message.

He likes to express emotion in his pieces, whether it is through the beauty of the outdoors or the importance of recycling.

After finishing a two-year art course at the Bradford School of Art, James is now studying a business and computer course in Harrogate. He hopes his new skills will allow him to improve his art blog and use his social media for business use.

James uses household objects such as scratch cards to create art.

During lockdown, James wasn’t able to travel far to find his inspiration and found himself looking out of his window more often. He said:

“Looking out of my window at home at our cherry tree I knew that it would soon be in blossom as spring was on its way. I decided to create a collage involving the tree with materials I already had at home that could be recycled.

“I feel that the covid situation has led to more people appreciating nature whether in gardens, parks or the countryside.”

Read more:

• Nidderdale artist says lockdown has given her a new outlook on the nature around her. 
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His cherry tree in blossom project is part of a collaboration with Caudwell Children, a charity that helps disabled children.

James wanted to give back to the charity that helped him when he was first diagnosed with autism, aged three.

Art and pictures have played an important part in his life and more-so during this time of isolation. He added:

“As a small child I liked nothing more than being taken to art galleries. I also enjoyed collecting litter in parks and playgrounds and disposing of it correctly. Perhaps this is how my interest in recycling and collage art started.

“My artwork is also therapeutic and I include everything important to me in my ideas for collage – nature, places I have visited and special occasions.”

Another example of James’ work.

He says he will continue showing in a different light items that other people throw away.

“What I am proving is that art isn’t what it’s made from, but what it has become.  My art is making a positive statement about recycling.”

“People have said it’s amazing how something as disposable as scratchcards can be turned into such beautiful works of art.”

To visit James’ website, click here.

When Rachel Mundy was made redundant during the first lockdown, she decided to embark on a major career change.

She had always toyed with the idea of photography and, after 15 years in fashion, decided this was her moment.

Rachel, from Harrogate, set up Boo Boo Photography and rented a studio where she could do shoots of babies and families.

Another of Rachel’s pre-lockdown family shoots. Photograph: Boo Boo Photography

She said:

“There was massive anxiety because I was no longer in my full time job and that feeling of being without security is difficult.”

But her plans were thrown up in the air again when the second lockdown was announced suddenly.

She had only officially set-up business in the last week of October and just as she was trying to build momentum, everyone’s movements were restricted again.

So she went back to the drawing board and decided to start offering doorstep photoshoots in the hope she could continue building her business safely during lockdown. She says:

“I was feeling really down. I thought I’d need to get another job but my husband convinced me to stick with it.”

Read more:

• Lockdown Stories: Harrogate DJ forced to swap his decks for twins. 
• His image of the night sky won Tai Ripon Grammar School’s Lockdown Photography Competition.

Christmas doorstep shoots are among her offerings now. She is donating 10% of profits to Leeds Cares, the charity of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, in honour of a friend’s son who is battling cancer.

Christmas doorstep shoots are allowing Rachel to continue earning. Photograph: Boo Boo Photography

Rachel’s struggle has brought her closer to other small, local businesses who have offered to collaborate on projects. She says working with other businesses in the same situation has been a positive experience:

“There’s been so many other small businesses working together and seeing how we can help each other. It’s kept me positive too as I know I’m not alone.”

Do you have a lockdown story to tell? Get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk as we’d love to hear from you.