Pride of Guernsey: 'She's a brilliant artist'

'Every year she enters a piece into the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. As far as I know she hasn't been placed as a finalist, but I expect she could pull it off in years to come.'

Always a keen artist, Sharmane paints mainly in watercolour.

'But not in the normal style,' she admits. 'Usually watercolour is light washes, but I build up in layers. I was always taught that there was no true white or black, so for the black I go through a lot of burnt umber and ultramarine.'

1n 1999, she entered the Paint a Wildlife Subject competition that was run by Roy Chaffin Studios and won the young artist award for her painting of a macaw. She then entered and won the non-youth award three times.

'I've always liked wildlife. Both my dad and I are Leos and he's always loved big cats.'

Sharmane has been involved with the Skipton Art Festival since it began last year. She is the secretary and website coordinator.

One of her pieces in the Open Exhibition, Clowning Around, which depicts three puffins, has been snapped up.

'An American gentleman on a cruise ship saw it and liked it so he bought it. He lives in Maine, so he sees puffins there all the time.'

A man of few words, nominator Mr Rowe would like Sharmane's work to speak for itself rather than wax lyrical about it himself.

'I wouldn't like to go into detail, as I don't know enough to do so. All I know is that she's a brilliant artist.'