GROWING up on a Dorset farm instilled in Anne Shingleton a life-long passion for animals and nature that has been at the heart of her artistic work ever since.

The internationally acclaimed painter and sculptor says she has fond memories of her childhood.

“As well as being a farmer, my father was also a keen naturalist and instilled in me a deep respect for the animal and plant world, teaching me to observe carefully and patiently.

“My mother was a teacher and encouraged me to draw what was around me from an early age.”

Anne says her desire to paint has always been a part of her: “I can’t imagine doing anything else. Nothing else gives me that buzz.”

She was aware of her artistic flair from a young age when she was singled out at the age of six by her school teacher to show the rest of the class how to draw an otter.

But she says natural talent is only the beginning: “As in any vocational career, developing that talent requires constant study and practice.

“Becoming a professional artist involves no less hard work than becoming a professional scientist.”

And like many artists, Anne is also her own biggest critic: “I’m often so critical of my work that I stop, turn a picture to the wall or put a sheet over a sculpture for a couple of weeks and work on something else.

“Looking at it later helps me see it objectively and I can identify the bits I’m not happy with.”

Anne was born in Salisbury in 1953 and studied at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art in the late 70s.

She went on to study zoology at university before attending a private art school in Italy.

Although Anne now lives in Tuscany, she exhibits regularly in Dorset, including displays at the Peter Hedley Gallery in Wareham, and last year her paintings concentrated on the swans at Abbotsbury.

These pictures have been published in a new booklet (see details, right) and some are now on show at wildlife exhibitions in London and America.

“People often ask me why I like to paint white animals. It’s surprising how many animals are white, so many wild and domestic bird species, cats, cows, horses, lambs,” she explains.

“White animals give me the opportunity to develop my interest in colour and tonal balance and give more scope. This is because anything white reflects the colour of the light falling on it.

“So many painters have placed something white in their landscapes or interiors exactly for this reason.

“Women in flowing white dresses have mostly filled the bill here. I prefer white animals.

“Sometimes I think I must be mad to attempt to paint moving objects in changing lighting conditions.

“However I remain tantalised and challenged by nature in all its beauty and enjoy learning more each day… |so I reckon I’d better continue!”

• Light on White by Anne Shingleton (price £10) contains 46 images of paintings and drawings and a piece about her personal approach to painting.

For more information about Anne’s forthcoming exhibitions, including an exclusive Christmas show in Dorset, visit her website anneshingleton.com