Artist Sarah Baskerville originally trained as a teacher but loved art so much she decided to spend her time at an easel instead.

The former design and technology teacher was clearing out her mother's belongings when she came across her brushes and paints.

Instantly, the 66-year-old grandmother-of-four felt a bond with the paints and picked up a brush and started painting herself.

Sarah with her tripod all ready to start work. (Photo: Nub News)

Now many years later, Sarah, who lives at Pump House Farm near Rode Hall at Scholar Green, is renowned for her watercolours and cards featuring local scenes from Sandbach's Crosses to Little Moreton Hall and lots in between.

Sarah's work is renowned in the local area and her cards are on sale at various places from Flowers on the Cobbles in Sandbach to Bidlea Dairy, Rosie's Refills in Alsager, Spark Lane Nurseries and Cuttleford Farm Shop in Congleton.

Living in the shadows of Rode Hall, many of Sarah's cards feature scenes from the nearby country house and estate.

"I've always loved art," said Sarah. "I just love capturing local scenes and painting them using water colours or Gouache."

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Some of the local scenes Sarahhas painted. (Photo: Nub News)

Married to a farmer, Tony Baskerville, Sarah gets inspiration when she's out walking the dog, noticing the seasons and the impact this has on the landscape.

"I take photographs and sketch from those often," she said.  "I'm always looking at light which is forever changing. My grandchildren sometimes paint with me."

The farmhouse kitchen at Pump House Farm contains paintings which Sarah did a while back while the study, which doubles up as an art studio, contains boxes of Sarah's cards and a copy of her annual calendar.

Once a year, Sarah combines some of her work into a calendar featuring, this year featuring over 30 printed works including commissions card designs and prints of local views, animals, wildlife and historic buildings.

Sarah enjoys painting outside and her new 'toy' is a tripod which will enable her to paint in plein air, capturing local scenes.

""There's so much beauty around us and I'm just capturing it. We live in a very beautiful world and it's such a gift to be able to paint."

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