Hares, Spring, and a Little Bit of Magic...

A few thoughts on spring, symbolism, and the long-eared creatures that frequently hop into my work.

Why do I love drawing hares and rabbits (especially in spring)?

It’s that time of year again… everything is starting to feel a little lighter, a little greener, and I’ve found myself (once again) drawing a lot of rabbits and hares.

I always seem to come back to them. Long ears, bright eyes, those twitchy little noses-there’s just something about them. They feel like spring to me. Soft, secretive, quick. Full of meaning I can’t always put into words.

When I draw hares, I like to give them extra long ears and extra wild whiskers. A little exaggeration to catch their otherworldly energy and character!

The very first time I saw a hare in real life was around Easter, many moons ago. I still remember it clearly - how still it was, then how it ‘lolloped’ rather than hopped and then how suddenly gone. That moment stuck with me. I’ve drawn hares ever since.

Some of the pieces in this post are from that continuing love - paintings, prints, and characters that seem to hop out of my sketchbooks again and again.

And recently, I started wondering… why are hares and rabbits so symbolic this time of year? Why do they turn up in old stories, old celebrations? Why do they feel so magical?

I did a little digging. Here's what I found out:

• Hares and rabbits have been symbols of spring and renewal for centuries. In ancient folklore, they’re often tied to the moon and the cycles of nature.

• The hare is sacred in many cultures, sometimes linked to goddesses of fertility and rebirth (like Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who may have inspired the word “Easter”).

• They’re wild and elusive. You don’t often see a hare-but when you do, it feels like a magical gift. A flash across a field. A pause in the hedge. A quiet moment at dusk.

• And they’re fast, clever, hard to pin down- signs of life waking up after winter.

No wonder they keep hopping into my work…

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A few notes about the artworks in this post…

I love to create my artwork in many different ways. The large prints on cream paper you can see in this post are silk screen printed. I love using block colour through screens - there’s something satisfying and bold about it, and it’s how I make a lot of my larger pieces.

The smaller pictures are painted in acrylic ink (FW Daler Rowney is my favourite-the metallics are especially lovely to work with) and finished with watercolour and pencil.

Some of the pieces here are top quality archival giclée prints - limited edition copies of pictures I have made in the past. It is very clear how each piece has been created if you click through…

My book work is usually a mix silk screen printed backgrounds with ink and watercolour characters layered on top.

I’ve actually written one stand-alone picture book about a hare - Harris Finds His Feet-and a whole series of four books starring Molly the hare. The series is called ‘Molly, Olive and Dexter’.

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Easter Sunday felt like the perfect moment to share this collection of long-eared friends with you. Some of these bunnies have hopped out of the pages of my books, while others are new arrivals - but all are available to purchase if one happens to catch your eye. Prices range from £45 to £640, with sizes from a petite 11cm x 12cm up to a statement-making 66cm x 80cm.

And finally, if you know any little ones (or if you're a hare lover yourself!) - I've even printed a few of these bunny friends onto the sweetest little pieces of clothing. Super soft, super cute, and made for tiny adventurers.

Thanks so much for reading - and if you’ve spotted any real-life rabbits or hares lately, I’d love to hear about it. I actually saw three this morning while out walking. It felt a little bit magical, especially as I’d already started writing this. They really do seem to carry a bit of wonder with them.

Wishing you all a peaceful, happy Easter,