Catkin van Hoppe

Red Route

My art is inspired by the artists of the Golden Age of children’s literature and illustration — an age when fairyland was considered a worthy subject for painting and storytelling. The delicate lines and enchantments of Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter, John Bauer, and the living illustrators Angela Barrett and Gennady Spirin have long guided my own imagination.
I create paintings that explore the realm of story and imagination through the language of illustration — a language of our childhood that bypasses the logical mind and speaks straight to the heart. Each work acts as a portal, inviting viewers to step gently into landscapes that might feel half-remembered, where fairy tales and quiet magic linger in the air.
In these imagined worlds, subtle paths wind through dappled woods, glades glimmer with hidden light, and corners of the landscape hold secrets that invite lingering and discovery. The air itself seems to shimmer with quiet possibility, and within each scene, hidden stories and gentle wonders wait quietly to be discovered, allowing the imagination to move freely between the seen and the unseen, between memory and story.
At the heart of my work is a desire to reintroduce magic and wonder to our senses and imagination, so that we may see the beautiful world we live in and recognise ourselves as a part of that great magic. The Old Burrow, both studio and imagined sanctuary, is a place where silence, imagination, and quiet attention converge, offering a space for reflection, inspiration, and the gentle curiosity that allows the imagination to wander.

Behind the Scenes
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About My Practice

My work is rooted in the delicate, story-driven tradition of the Golden Age of children’s literature and illustration, inspired by Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter, John Bauer, and the living illustrators Angela Barrett and Gennady Spirin. I create paintings that explore the realm of story and imagination, seeking to capture moments that feel both familiar and half-remembered, where fairy tales and quiet magic linger.
I begin my paintings by sketching, often directly onto watercolour paper, allowing texture and light to suggest shapes and characters. The paper is then gently washed with a subtle tint of burnt sienna, leaving only highlights untouched, and I build the image gradually. Translucent layers of watercolour and a muted palette help create harmony, mystery, and the soft ethereal qualities that define my work. I often place a small “way-in” for the viewer — a woodland path, a glade, or a hidden corner — inviting a sense of quiet discovery.
Since my last Spring Fling, I have completed a children’s book, and I continue to explore commissioned work and personal projects that deepen my storytelling. My ongoing practice includes developing small stories and vignettes within the Old Burrow world, where imagination, silence, and quiet attention converge, allowing the fantastical and the everyday to coexist.
At its heart, my practice is about offering moments of wonder, reconnecting viewers with the imagination of childhood, and creating spaces where stories can breathe, curiosity can flourish, and magic may be rediscovered in the world around us.

Tools & Materials

My studio is a small cottage garden space, filled with quirky and curious objects that inspire the imagination. Books of stories and illustrations I love surround me, and from the windows I watch the vegetable beds, the waving fir trees, and the birds that visit. I begin with pencil sketches, then bring the images to life with a variety of brushes, each with its own character, and with Winsor & Newton watercolours on Arches cold-pressed paper. While waiting for paint to dry, I often listen to quiet films or audiobooks, their gentle, nostalgic rhythms threading through the air. Here, with only paper, brushes, and paint, whole worlds can appear, and the studio itself hums with possibility.

Examples of work

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Spring Fling Activity

Try a small watercolour activity at your own pace, with gentle guidance available, and enjoy a warm glimpse into The Old Burrow’s quiet, otherworldly charm