Hilary is a retired dentist and life-long artist and has lived with her husband Tim in a small coastal village in Dorset for nearly 30 years, where they brought up their 4 daughters.
She exhibits her art locally, further afield in Barbados and paints in oil, ink and watercolour and also regularly sketches figures on her iPad.
Hilary and Tim are patrons of the Dorset branch of Samaritans based in Weymouth, and organise and host the annual Chesil Rocks music festival at their home. The event raises funds for the branch, and since the first event in 2012, the festival has raised more than £100,000 for the charity. Hilary is also the event art director, and each year creates a beautiful setting for musicians from the locality and beyond to perform in.
Inspired by homework her eldest daughter once completed at primary school, she has now written and illustrated her first children’s book, entitled Hide and Sleep. Always captivated by her daughters’ movements, mannerisms and behaviour, she has captured many of these in her watercolour illustrations.
Intended for 3-7 year olds, the book is designed to be read with family, carers or teachers. Although the story is fictitious, the family and location are real and is set at her eldest daughter’s 7th birthday party at their home. The story, featuring a very sleepy guest and a funny cat, contains an element of discovery, with messages about empathy, kindness and understanding.
Hilary has produced a second book entitled Tiptoes Goes Too, and which is based on her family experience and their funny cat Tiptoes. In summer months, they would sometimes take their canoe across a fleet of water near their home and enjoy time on Chesil Beach. The family and location are real and the book shows the beautiful area in which her family grew up.
Hilary is now working on her third book of the series.
In May of 2022, Nataliia and Max came to live with Hilary and Tim as refugees from the Ukraine. With her superb photography and IT skills, Natalia helped Hilary get the books to print. All proceeds from the sale of 'Hide and Sleep' — the production costs of which Hilary financed herself — will go towards helping the people of Ukraine.
Hilary enjoys gardening and runs her village garden club. She is a member of the village book club, art club and enjoys knitting, crocheting and dressmaking.
She also uses her electric bike to get out and about and wild swims whenever she can persuade someone to join her!
Hilary plays the piano and formed a Christmas band ‘Yule of 6’ during lockdown with 5 others. The band will be playing at the local pub this year and practice sessions are about to start.
Since 2020 Hilary has been modelling at wedding fares and photoshoots for No 6 Boutique in Poundbury, Dorchester where she found her beautiful mother of the bride outfit for her daughter’s wedding.
