Kenilworth Nub News aims to be supportive to every element of the community from businesses, shops, and people, to charities, clubs and sports organisations.

We will be profiling some of these local businesses, and groups regularly over the coming weeks in a feature called 'Up Close With'.

The next in this series is with Natalie Thurman Art and Photography.

"As a child I wanted to be a cartoonist, I wanted to write poems and illustrate them, but life sometimes takes you in another direction."

These are the words of Natalie Thurman, the woman behind Natalie Thurman Art and Photography.

Many people in Kenilworth will now be familiar with Natalie's work, her photographs of the castle at sunset, her book 'Kenilworth in Pictures' as well as the watercolour paintings that she is now doing by commission.

Following the release of her newest book, 'The Legend of DogDog!' this week, we spoke to Natalie about her life and her career up to this point.

Childhood Dreams

Natalie grew up in Camberley, where from a young age she realised that she had a natural aptitude and passion for drawing.

When she was twelve she wrote a comic at school called 'Frog Fun,' did all the illustrations herself, and shared it amongst her classmates to great reception.

Natalie says that "I was very shy at school, so drawing was a way to express myself."

Having then studied art at GCSE she realised that "I wanted to be a cartoonist, I wanted to write poems and illustrate them," but was pushed away from the idea of taking up drawing professionally by her teacher.

Natalie went on to study German and Economics at university, and then began a career in account management and sales in her early twenties. The dream of becoming an artist and illustrator was seemingly forgotten.

Rediscovery

Now married with small children, Natalie and her family moved to Doha, Qatar in 2013, where she would begin her photography career.

"I've always wanted to be a cartoonist, but I started taking photos of my children at the nursery and schools there, and other people started asking me to do it for them.

"Then I was doing shoots for the schools, for the British Embassy, for the Chamber of Commerce, and it really took off! I do love taking photos but I didn't really get to draw anything."

Natalie and her family remained in Qatar for three years, during which the photography was her full time employment.

When they moved to Kenilworth in 2016 however, her artistic inclinations were once again put slightly to the side. After the return to the UK, she worked in sales and marketing once more.

In her last role, working in negotiation training, Natalie was commissioned to do the illustrations for a training book that the company was producing, and is yet to publish.

Making the most of lockdown

Following in what is perhaps becoming a familiar story, Natalie was able to use her extra time during lockdown to rekindle some old interests.

"When lockdown started I thought should I look for another job, or should I take this opportunity?"

The answer was obvious.

In March she collected all of the photos that she had taken of the local area over the four years previously. She then pulled them together to make the book 'Kenilworth in pictures' which features a series of her images which have been edited to produce artistic affects. Launched in August, the book can still be purchased on Amazon, and from Kenilworth Books.

Natalie also took the opportunity from April onwards to start taking photos of local people and families once again. Her 'doorstep photography' allowed people to have family portraits taken from the safety of their own homes, with the money raised being donated to the NHS.

Still wanting to live her childhood dream of being an illustrator, in May Natalie reproduced the Frog Fun book she had made at school, this too can now be purchased on Amazon and Kenilworth Books.

The beginning of July saw Natalie's childhood dream become a reality, as she began trading under the name Natalie Thurman Art and Photography.

Since then she has been available for commissions, doing vividly-coloured watercolour animals, as well as local scenes. She is currently working on a commission for a large impression of Kenilworth Castle in acrylics.

More of her art can also be seen in her latest children's book 'The Legend of DogDog!,' which is based on a poem that she had written.

Thinking of inspiration, she for the illustrations "I thought I'll paint my dog, a black Labrador, but I'll do it in lots colours." The book now features impressions of sixteen local canines, and again can be purchased locally or online.

"Everytime I do anything, I want to give something back, so this time I thought that I would support the local dogs trust;" 20% of the profits from each sale goes to Dogs Trust.

What is next?

Natalie remains available for commissioned work, whether it is family or school photography photograph opportunities, composite photography opportunities, painting animals, or painting the local area, she is happy to help customers.

Her vivid animal paintings have captured the imagination of Kenilworth locals and she has since been commissioned to paint zebras, sloths, gorillas, and a host of other animals.

"Its stretching me, to try these different things."

Prints of her earlier works are also available, via her Etsy shop.

Two things stand out from Natalie's story when you speak to her. Firstly, as she continues to establish herself in the town again, she has realised the depth of community spirit in Kenilworth.

"People here want to help each other, you just need to not be scared to ask."

Most importantly however, she has said that "I want to do it for my children as well, I've always had a gift to be able to spot a picture, or to be able to just draw an image.

"I want them to know that they can follow their dreams."

If you would like to see more of Natalie's work, you can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and have a look at her website.