Yorkshire Dales Artist Turns Studio into Wildlife Rescue Haven for Hedgehogs, Owls and Injured Birds
By Nature Correspondent
A Yorkshire Dales artist has found herself running an unofficial wildlife rescue centre from her studio, where baby hedgehogs, owls and injured birds often end up alongside her paintings.
For Penny Hunt, life in the studio near Horton in Ribblesdale rarely stays focused on art alone. Between gathering stones for pigment and working on landscape pieces inspired by the Dales, she is regularly bottle-feeding rescued animals or tending to birds brought in for care.
She co-founded Yorkshire Dales Wildlife Rescue, which last year looked after around 1,000 animals and birds from across the region.
The group, formerly known as Craven Wildlife Rescue, now operates as a registered charity from a former school building.
At times when young or injured animals need constant attention, they are brought back to Hunt’s studio so they can be fed around the clock while she continues working.
“The first animal I found was a hedgehog crossing the road in daylight,” she said. “I didn’t really know anything about them, but I knew that wasn’t right. I ended up having to take it all the way to Manchester because there was nowhere closer.”
What began as isolated rescues soon turned into a wider effort with fellow volunteer Jane Carpenter, who was dealing with similar cases.
“I had hedgehogs in the conservatory and the shed,” Hunt said. “Jane had them in her spare bedroom and even cormorants in her bath. Then more people got involved and we became a charity in 2024.”
“We’ve got all sorts in at the moment. There’s a red kite being released today. We always have buzzards, lots of owls, and hedgehogs coming through.”
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The same landscape that brings the animals to her door also feeds her art.
Hunt makes her own materials from what she collects on walks — grinding stone into pigment, burning twigs for charcoal, and using reeds or bamboo sticks in place of brushes.
She often sketches outdoors before returning to the studio to develop the work.
“It’s about capturing a feeling of place rather than an exact place,” she said.
Hunt’s work is currently on display at the North Yorkshire Open Studios Spring Showcase at Inspired By… gallery in Danby, with her studio also open to visitors during June as part of the wider NYOS programme.
