The ‘bird painter of Haslemere’, Jo Shepherd, will open her studio in Pitfold Avenue to the public over the next two weekends, as part of Surrey Artists Open Studios’ Christmas event.

Jo, who is also a portrait painter, began painting birds during the lockdown in 2020 and hasn’t looked back since.

Her colourful birds fill her Haslemere studio and have been flying off to collectors around the world over the past three years – as well as featuring on Christmas cards now on sale at the post office in Haslewey.

Jo was even commissioned to paint ravens for the latest series of Peaky Blinders!

Her work has also been exhibited at the Royal Academy summer show and at the Mall Galleries.

Her portrait exhibition Face to Face, which celebrated people with profound disabilities, was featured on BBC South Today.

She will open her Bird House garden studio at 20 Pitfold Avenue, Haslemere, from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, November 26-27 and December 3-4, as well as next Wednesday, November 30.