An artist who had her own gallery in Lyme Regis has helped bring to life a children's book highlighting the damage done by littering.
Emma Bowring, who used to run Edwards & Parr gallery in Broad Street, Lyme Regis, created beautiful illustrations for When Little Mouse Got Stuck, which was authored by her sister, Ruth Owen.
Emma, who lives in Membury, Devon, and Ruth, who lives in Cornwall, had long spoken about creating a book with Ruth’s words complemented by Emma’s watercolour illustrations.
Both women felt compelled to produce the book after becoming concerned about bottles, cans and food wrappers dumped in lanes and hedgerows and wanted to raise awareness of the dangers it poses to wildlife.
And when chatting about the litter problem; knowing that it is going to be children who inherit the mess we leave them, it was decided to get the message to them in a way they could relate to.
After a day picking up rubbish while out walking, the idea for Little Mouse’s story of how a plastic bottle thrown from a car impacts on her life and that of her babies, came to life.
Emma and Ruth said: "We wanted to create a story that would inspire children to shout 'Don't throw that litter from the car!'"
The story of Little Mouse was born - the book tells of how the harvest mouse, who lives in the hedgerow with her babies, becomes trapped in a plastic bottle but has a happy ending thanks to some hikers.
Emma, who has had four paintings accepted to show in the David Shepherd Week of Wildlife Art at the Mall Galleries in London, closed her gallery in Lyme Regis in 2019 to focus upon her artwork. She continues to work with animal charities whilst selling her work with the help of galleries.
Emma previously featured in the News when she helped Devon Wildlife Trust raise money to help keep the beaver population on the River Otter.
She began painting as a hobby, but she soon realised she could possibly link her love of animals with her talent as an artist.
When Little Mouse Got Stuck has been published and is available from RubyTuesdaybooks.com
For more information about Emma see her website www.emmabowring.co.uk
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