Meet Bree Merryn: The Artist Behind the Animals
Bree Merryn is one of the UK's leading and best-loved wildlife artists, celebrated for her remarkable ability to capture not just the beauty of animals, but their individual personalities, expressions and character.
From mischievous Highland cows and adorable farmyard favourites to magnificent wildlife and much-loved pets, Bree's distinctive artwork brings animals to life with warmth, humour and extraordinary attention to detail.
Her work has found its way into homes across the UK and beyond, with hundreds of thousands of customers enjoying her beautiful prints, gifts and creative collections. Today, Bree's artwork is available through more than 1000 retail outlets, while selected specialist manufacturers bring her designs to customers around the world.
A Family Business in the Heart of Yorkshire
Founded in 2016, Bree Merryn Art Ltd is proudly independent and family-run.
Bree and her husband Barry work together to bring her artwork to life, combining Bree's creative talent with Barry's many years of business experience. While Bree is happiest with a paintbrush in her hand, Barry looks after the day-to-day running of the business and everything else that keeps it moving forward.
Their home and studio are nestled in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, surrounded by rolling hills, picturesque villages and the wonderful countryside that provides endless inspiration for Bree's paintings.
Despite the growth of the business, the values that inspired its beginnings remain unchanged: creativity, quality, individuality and a genuine passion for bringing happiness into people's homes.
A Creative Journey That Began in Childhood
Bree's love of creating began at an early age when her grandmother taught her to sew. What started as a simple childhood pastime quickly developed into a lifelong fascination with making things.
Drawing, knitting, sewing and crafting filled her younger years, with Bree constantly experimenting and finding new ways to express her imagination.
It wasn't until her late teens that she discovered the wonderful world of fine art painting. While sitting as a model for a local art class, she became fascinated by the paintings taking shape around her. Inspired by what she saw, Bree exchanged her pencils for paints and brushes, opening the door to an entirely new creative adventure.
Rediscovering Her Passion
Life soon took Bree in another direction. She met Barry, they fell in love, married and started a family. For several years, family life quite naturally took priority over her artistic ambitions.
But her passion for painting never disappeared.
In her mid-thirties, Bree made the decision to enrol on a fine art course at her local college, a turning point that would ultimately change her life.
For the first time in years, she had the opportunity to dedicate herself fully to developing her artistic skills, exploring different techniques and discovering her own distinctive style.
She specialised in portraiture and figurative painting, developing a deep understanding of anatomy, movement, expression and character.
These skills would later become fundamental to her wildlife paintings. Bree discovered that her greatest pleasure came not simply from recreating an animal's appearance, but from capturing something far more special: its personality.
A curious glance, a mischievous expression or a gentle moment of affection could transform a painting into something with a story of its own.
Alongside her fine art studies, Bree explored printmaking, silversmithing and upholstery, further developing the creativity and craftsmanship that continue to influence her work today.
From a Passion to a Thriving Business
Following college, Bree painted whenever she could, experimenting with acrylics, watercolours and pastels while developing her unmistakable artistic style.
Her paintings began attracting increasing attention, and requests for original artwork and commissioned pet portraits from friends and family grew steadily.
Then, in 2016, Bree and Barry decided to take a leap of faith.
Together, they established Bree Merryn Art Ltd, initially offering high-quality prints of Bree's original paintings.
What began as a small family venture quickly developed into a successful and much-loved British art brand.
With Bree continually creating new artwork and Barry using his commercial experience to develop the business, their collections expanded and demand grew from customers and retailers alike.
Bringing a Little Happiness into Every Home
Today, Bree's artwork can be enjoyed across an ever-growing collection of beautiful products, including framed prints, canvases, greeting cards, luxury cushions, mugs, craft kits, paint by numbers, home accessories and thoughtful gifts.
Each collection begins with Bree's original artwork, created with the same care, imagination and attention to detail that have defined her work from the very beginning.
Whether it's a characterful Highland cow that makes you smile, a cheeky robin that reminds you of someone special or a treasured portrait of a family pet, Bree believes art should create an emotional connection.
It should make you smile, bring back a memory or simply brighten your day.
For Bree and Barry, the greatest reward is knowing that something created in their little corner of Yorkshire has found a special place in somebody else's home.
They remain enormously grateful to the customers, retailers and supporters who have helped turn their dream into such a wonderful success.
And with Bree's imagination showing no signs of slowing down, there are always new characters to meet, new stories to tell and new creations just around the corner.
Thank you for being part of our story.
Bree & Barry