This exclusive chart was created from a photograph Simon took on the Shetland Isles and we've got a special insight into the story behind that picture just for you. So, scroll down for an interesting insight into his world of wildlife... and craft!
Wildlife expert Simon King has been painting and drawing for as long as he can remember, and with his creative sister Debbie Cripps offering cross stitch as inspiration, he’s a man who knows a thing or two about craft! “This puffin photograph was taken in 2006 at Sumburgh Head in mainland Shetland, home to a colony of around 2,000 pairs of puffins alongside guillemots and razorbills. Treshnish, Farne Isles, the Isle of May and Lundy are but a few place to see puffins in the wild, but the Shetland Isles are one of the few places in the UK where you can get within a couple of meters of them!”
Besides his passion for the natural world, Simon has always had a lively interest in crafts. He grew up in a creative household, so it’s not surprising that he’s already worked on a series of cross stitch kits for his sister’s company ‘from Debbie Cripps’. “Debbie and I don’t have many opportunities to work together,” says Simon, “so to see one of my photographs turned into cross stitch with such sensitivity and flair is wonderful.”
But, it’s not just sister Debbie who is a dab hand with crafts! “I’ve had a go at sculpture and wood carving too!” says Simon. “I think birds make particularly good subjects for craftsmen, especially when they’re in flight. They make such beautiful shapes!”
It was the work of Sir David Attenborough
and cameraman Hugh Miles that inspired Simon’s career in wildlife photography,
but what is it about puffins that made Simon head to Shetland to study them in
their natural habitat? He says, “They’re everyone’s favourite birds, you’ve
just got to love them! Puffins are utterly charming. They’re sweet, pompous and
comical. You can really see their gentlemanly characteristics as they strut
along cliff tops!” When it comes to travelling, Simon’s had his fair share of exploration but when it comes to favourite places his little puffin friends make the Shetland Isles hard to resist. Simon said: “As far as the most inspiring place I’ve ever visited, there really is too many places to mention. I suppose if pushed it would be hard to choose between Shetland and Africa as they are so diverse.”
You'll find Simon and Debbie's puffin chart in issue 223 of CrossStitcher, which is on sale until 25th February.
PS: Don’t forget to drop us an email if you stitch this chart... as always, we love to see your finished pieces!
