About me
Hello. I'm Wendy Dewar Hughes and I'm an artist, a writer, and a creative entrepreneur.
From my studio in a village in British Columbia, Canada, I spend my time painting charming and whimsical watercolours, and writing and illustrating books. In the past, I created my own line of stationery products that sold in gift stores worldwide, and some of my watercolour paintings hang in homes on three continents. My licensed designs have also graced numerous gift products.
I have an unobstructed view of a mountain peak, which at certain times of year has its own snow angel.
For several years as a book coach and designer, I helped numerous clients write and publish dozens of books. Since the late '90s, my focus has progressed from art, to gift design plus wholesale and retail, to writing, to coaching, and back again to art and writing.
From my studio in a village in British Columbia, Canada, I spend my time painting charming and whimsical watercolours, and writing and illustrating books. In the past, I created my own line of stationery products that sold in gift stores worldwide, and some of my watercolour paintings hang in homes on three continents. My licensed designs have also graced numerous gift products.
I have an unobstructed view of a mountain peak, which at certain times of year has its own snow angel.
For several years as a book coach and designer, I helped numerous clients write and publish dozens of books. Since the late '90s, my focus has progressed from art, to gift design plus wholesale and retail, to writing, to coaching, and back again to art and writing.
Come and join me. The village where I live is surrounded by green fields, farms, and towering mountains. Lakes and rivers are nearby, and though the city is not far away, I like village life best. There is a green grocer's store around the corner from where I live, and my local library just a six minute walk from my front door. (And I love my library!)
It's quiet here. There is only one traffic light. When I meet people on the street, we smile and often we know each other and stop to talk. The train goes past several times a day, heading east toward the Rocky Mountains and the rest of Canada.
It's quiet here. There is only one traffic light. When I meet people on the street, we smile and often we know each other and stop to talk. The train goes past several times a day, heading east toward the Rocky Mountains and the rest of Canada.
My art studio is in what is supposed to be a family room and is by shelves full of books. As a writer, books are one of my passions and I find it hard not to collect and keep them—a lot of them. There is plenty going on in my studio space so it's not always the neatest area of the house. But you know what they say about neatness and creativity. They don't usually go hand in hand. See what I mean?
Always going places. Come along.
Some things you may not know about me:
- I grew up on a prairie farm that has been in my family for over 100 years.
- I started drawing before I was three years old with crayons on walls and floors. My mother firmly re-directed my efforts to more suitable media.
- I studied piano for twelve years, sat my Grade 8 Royal Conservatory exam—and passed—and my Grade 2 Music Theory exam.
- I have written novels, novellas, novelettes, short stories, articles, and non-fiction.
- I have helped my clients write and publish over 50 books in the past few years.
- My mother taught me to sew when I was a child and I’ve made my own clothes, and clothes for my family, since I was ten years old.
- I was my high school valedictorian in the largest graduating class the school had ever had. There were 33 students.
- I love the beach and the ocean, especially if there are palm trees nearby.
- Now I live in a village on Canada's west coast, amongst farms and surrounded by mountains.
- I have two daughters and one (so far) little granddaughter.
- I usually have more than 20 books borrowed from my local library at any one time.
- I lived in the South of France, and have travelled to Europe multiple times, both with companions and alone.
- I have been both a travel agent, and a sales manager for a hotel, though not at the same time.
- I have been married to the same husband since I was 20 years old.
- My dad was a cowboy and my mother led the local 4-H Horse club for many years. I still own a saddle, but no horse.
- I created my own line of stationery for the gift market featuring my own artwork and operated a wholesale business for many years. My art has also been licensed to products sold around the world.
- I am a Christian and love Jesus.
- I shared store space in a farm cheese store for ten years, selling gourmet foods and gifts.
- Bugs don’t bother me unless they come in my house. Then they will surely perish.
- I’m not a cat lover but I do like small, quiet dogs.
- I love to read and create new things.
- One of my goals is to visit all ten Canadian provinces (I’m skipping the territories), and all 50 US states. So far I’ve been to six provinces and twenty-two states.
- My list of places to visit is long and includes Rome, the Cook Islands, and Santiago, Chile.
- I collect flamingos—not the live ones.
- I'm a watercolour artist.
- I'm an outgoing introvert, which means I like meeting new people, but I need lots of quiet alone time.
Outstanding in my field.
Sharing stories connects us all and we are all captivated by real stories. In my lively newsletter and on my blog I share what's going on in my life and in my studio, and I love to know the stories of your life. Be sure to subscribe so we can keep in touch.
A good hair day.
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On writing my novel, Picking up the Pieces
The idea for Picking up the Pieces came to me several years ago while driving in the city. Like most ideas, it suddenly popped into my head and from there I began to muse on the possibilities of the story.
I have always been interested in history, particularly in ancient cultures. I think that stems from looking at the artwork in National Geographic magazines as a young person where the day to day life of ancient peoples was depicted in full colour. As an artist and story-teller, those paintings spoke to me.
Gradually the story for Picking up the Pieces began to come together. I wanted the protagonist to be an ordinary woman to whom extraordinary things happen and who was old enough to have experienced some life. Jill Moss became that character.
I had to write whenever I could steal a bit of time so it took me more than a year to create the first draft. Most of the story was developed in my mind as I did other things, like driving, cooking, walking, or sewing then I would sit down and type it up when I had a spare hour. My husband often teases me that my mind is elsewhere and while developing the plot for Picking up the Pieces that was certainly the case. I might be peeling potatoes or creating art while my thoughts raced through a starlit night across the South of France or went diving for treasure in the Caribbean.
I hope you enjoy reading Picking up the Pieces as much as I have enjoyed writing it. The story is exciting and compelling and I believe that the message of faith woven through it will inspire you.
The second book in Jill Moss Adventures, The Glass Dolphin, is also available now.
I have always been interested in history, particularly in ancient cultures. I think that stems from looking at the artwork in National Geographic magazines as a young person where the day to day life of ancient peoples was depicted in full colour. As an artist and story-teller, those paintings spoke to me.
Gradually the story for Picking up the Pieces began to come together. I wanted the protagonist to be an ordinary woman to whom extraordinary things happen and who was old enough to have experienced some life. Jill Moss became that character.
I had to write whenever I could steal a bit of time so it took me more than a year to create the first draft. Most of the story was developed in my mind as I did other things, like driving, cooking, walking, or sewing then I would sit down and type it up when I had a spare hour. My husband often teases me that my mind is elsewhere and while developing the plot for Picking up the Pieces that was certainly the case. I might be peeling potatoes or creating art while my thoughts raced through a starlit night across the South of France or went diving for treasure in the Caribbean.
I hope you enjoy reading Picking up the Pieces as much as I have enjoyed writing it. The story is exciting and compelling and I believe that the message of faith woven through it will inspire you.
The second book in Jill Moss Adventures, The Glass Dolphin, is also available now.