Judy Musselle Art

All pieces included here are available to buy as a limited edition giclee print. Please complete the contact form with any enquiries.

• The Proposal

  Inspired by Medieval church tapestries, my intention was to create a scene of bucolic joy and celebration.

• The Witching Hour.

  It's the middle of the night when we might feel something unexplainable or the sensation that an otherworldly being was nearby. An hour evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue, a time when the supernatural is at its most potent.

• Two Swans

  A perfect night for swimming in harmony.

• Forest Faun

  Part woman, part goat, she possesses characteristics of the Siren. Upon looking at her beautiful face and her apparent gentle nature she will cast a spell on young woodsmen so that they instantly fall in love with her. She will then seduce him and lure him to his death in order to protect the forests.

• The Thieves

  The proud king ignored his courtiers’ warnings about riding through the forest at night.

• The Cormorants of Anvaer

  Outside Andvær lies an island, the haunt of wild birds, which few men can land upon, be the sea never so quiet; the sea swell girds it round about with sucking whirlpools and dashing breakers. An eery Norwegian fairy story inspired this painting, a story of enchantment, deceit and unrequited love.

• Wolf Waltz

  I love to read fairy tales and examine their dark interpretations; the wolf is often represented as menacing and predatory. Here the wolf has actually been charmed by a strong and confident young woman, and she’s teaching him to waltz. I had an inexplicable fear of wolves as a child and painting Wolf Waltz has been therapeutic.

• The Pigeon Prince

  The story of a prince who has been turned into a pigeon by a sorceress, his only hope of transforming back to a man is when he sets eyes on his betrothed.

• The Green Serpent

  Inspired by an old Balkan tale of love and longing. The serpent believes he is not worthy of the feisty girl who preoccupies his thoughts and so stays silent and invisible to her, unable to admit his feelings.

• The Juniper Tree

  From a macabre 16th century story of Flemish origin; a tale too dark to share but one that haunts my dreams.

• The Winter Bride

  An enchanting and romantic wedding is prepared but the bride follows her instinct. She makes a bid for freedom, carrying the wedding cake, through the newly fallen snow. Acrylic on Canvas SOLD Giclee prints available

• Rabbit in the Grass

  Lola was the most inquisitive of the three rabbits who came to live with us. One moonlit night she scampered off to find adventures beyond our garden walls.. We later found out he was a male rabbit called Shadow. I like to think he’s still exploring. Acrylic on Canvas SOLD Giclee prints available

• Gretel and the Swan

  An interpretation of a scene from Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel, and inspired by Victorian book illustrations. The swan symbolises freedom and joy, a white bird emphasizes its spiritual mission.

• The Drowned City

  An Austrian story from 300 years ago with a magical twist. A beggar woman curses the inhabitants when they cast her out and she commands the skies to rain for a year until it becomes an underwater city.

• I Spied a Peacock with its Fiery Tail

  I’ve taken the title from an anonymous nonsense rhyme which I found evocative, but the story is inspired by an 18th century Italian folk tale; Princess Rosette.

• Safe

  Owls have long been considered symbols of intelligence, wisdom and cognition. An owl is also often seen as a sign of spiritual enlightenment because they are revered for their knowledge and ability to see clearly in the darkness. I wanted to characterise an owl as guardian and protector, symbolically representing myself keeping watch over my child.

• The Cat and the Fiddle

  Inspired by the independent, female character from the folk tale ’The Goose Girl’ and the popular nursery rhyme ’Hey diddle-diddle’.

• Black cat in the Flowerbed

  Inspired by my own cat’s adventures and the cat and the Moon by WB Yeats "The creeping cat, looked up. Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,"

• Red Fox in the Marsh

  One gloomy evening, a magnificent, red fox raced past me as I waded through the sodden marshes of the coastal path. Hearing me squelching, he suddenly turned around and our eyes briefly met; it was a magical moment for me. Then off he scurried because Mrs Fox was waiting for him in the tall sedge grass.

• Fox and Hummingbird

  ‘Fox and Hummingbird’ was a private commission to celebrate the unexpected but joyful union of two long-lost sisters from either side of the Atlantic, previously unbeknown to each other. Foxes and hummingbirds are the sisters’ individual favourite creatures, but the setting is inspired by walks at sunset through woodlands close to me.

• The Snow Angel

  Here comes the Snow Angel, riding in on the cold easterly wind. She brings with her a sprinkling of silver flakes to the white woodland where the girl and her foxy companion dance together to celebrate the beginning of the winter solstice. This piece has been inspired by the anticipation felt as the seasons change and thoughts turn to the festive season. I’ve created the Snow Angel character with elements of both Fairy Godmother and Baba Yaga. The shells are included because they remind me of coastal woodlands near where I live, where the land meets the sea.

• Seven Swans

  Seven Swans is an homage to love and loyalty, based on a Danish fairy tale about a princess with seven older brothers who she saves from being turned into swans forever.

• Velvet Trail

  The Velvet Trail follows the edge of the tideline on the Sefton Coast through undulating dunes, amongst sand couch and marram grass. It’s a place of peace and isolation. This painting is inspired by meandering walks amongst the otherworldliness, lost in contemplation and imagined far-off lands. The Golden Goose has escaped the sleeping giant and flown down from the castle at the top of the enchanted beanstalk and joined me on my wanderings.

• The Archer

  The scene was inspired by the topiary in the grounds of Levens Hall in Cumbria. The story is of a mismatched couple on their wedding day who have reluctantly come to terms with their mistake just in time. The bride is hopeful for a prospective suitor, the groom accepting of a solitary future.

• Magic Hare

  I have an enduring fascination with the image of the brave female protagonist flying through the night sky, riding a magical, giant hare. The character has to fly across the whole world in order to save her family from an evil and powerful wizard.

• Blackbird

  I painted Blackbird in response to the guilt and sadness I felt in springtime when my cat would stalk and terrorise the blackbird and her young. A spiritual creature, symbolic of mystery and intuition, the blackbird to me represents resilience and its beautiful voice floods our garden throughout the summer months.

• Sleeping Fox

  Dreaming of the fox who caught her heart. So often quick and cunning but vulnerable and enchanting in sleep.

• Midnight Escape

  The owl is associated with the mystery of magic, silent wisdom and vision. While we may be afraid of the night, the dark and unseen, the night is the owl’s ally.

• The Birdcage

  The Birdcage is an exploration of love, possession and power. It’s a response to the popular themes in traditional tales where a girl is locked up and overpowered by a male character, then saved by another male character. In contrast to the customary relationship between fairy-tale characters, my lead protagonist has confined her beloved in a birdcage, but the imprisonment represents a mistaken attempt at capturing his heart and conquering his love to make him belong to her.

• Songs of the Sea

  Mysterious voices singing from across the sea, is it her lover calling her towards him and undiscovered adventures.

• Drinking Tea in the Apple Tree

  A celebration of childhood friendship, the two girls are high in the tree away from the rest of the world.

• The Key

  A private commission by a couple who dreamed of leaving the big city one day for a rural and idyllic life. The key to their destination is carried by the owl, acting as their spiritual guide through the shadows.

• Blakeney Marsh

• Daisy Queen

  An homage to my daughter and her fascination with the enchanted fairy world in which she inhabits in her dreams. She is of course ignoring the advances of the Frog Prince.

• Whale and Mermaids

• Winter Magic

• Release the Stars

  A celebration of the affection and comradeship between sisters. The satyrs have been held captive deep in the wild woods but have now killed their captor and are freeing the ensnared birds from their cages. In turn the birds release the night stars they have been forced to conceal.

• The Frog Escapes

  The concept of an animal bridegroom is found throughout folklore around the world often in the form of a frog. My interpretation has upturned this idea, the frog is determined to escape the inevitable kiss from the headstrong princess.

• The Mermaid Costume

  A fancy dress competition goes awry.

• The Rehearsal

  In the twilight setting of Levens Hall gardens, I imagined a group of ballerinas rehearsing for a special performance the following day.

• Symmetry

  A shared love.

• Viola Player

  A magical musical dream.

• Teenage Dreams

  A teenage daughter is a complex creature.

• Facing Fears

  The original painting relates to my childhood dreams and facing up to fearful creatures.

• Pigs Crossing

  A celebration of my love for pigs!

• Big Catch

• Mermaid in the Harbour

• Catching Stars

  Searching for the right path through life's journey of discovery.

From leaving art college in the late 1980's Judy worked as a successful illustrator. Her work was sold all of the world in the form of greeting cards, book jackets, educational books, advertising and magazine content.