Talented Threlkeld artist Pauline Stuart has completed her first ever coloured pencil portrait and has perfectly captured the rugged features of the late legendary fell runner Joss Naylor.
Pauline, whose work normally focuses on dogs and wildlife, said she was inspired to give portraiture a go after seeing a stunning photo of Joss by Danielle Ledbury at the Armitt Centre in Ambleside where an exhibition about fell running is being hosted.
“I took a picture on my phone and tracked down Danielle to ask permission to use it as a reference,” said Pauline, who is a former champion fell runner herself and is married to another elite Lake District athlete, Kenny Stuart. “Thankfully she said yes!”
Joss sadly died on June 28 and hundreds of runners turned out for his funeral at Wasdale Head last month.
“Joss inspired me to take up fell running in the 1970s after I saw him rounding up sheep on Yewbarrow running alongside his dog,” said Pauline. “I was working at Wasdale Youth Hostel at the time.
“Little did I know a few years later I would end up being a three-time British Champion and my thanks go to Joss who was always very supportive. He was a great character who could spin a yarn and talk the hind leg off a donkey!
“Ken did a couple of talks with him at Keswick Mountain Festival and at Brathay Hall and couldn’t get a word in edgeways! He was a joy to draw with such a characterful face and will be greatly missed.”
Pauline put coloured pencil to paper after retiring and is now receiving international recognition. Readers can see more examples of her jaw dropping work and learn about how she approaches her hobby in the August 23 edition of North Lakes Living which is free with The Keswick Reminder next week.
