Nature of Caledon inspired author to write and illustrate book

February 24, 2022 · 0 Comments

By Rob Paul

Inspired by the nature around her, former Caledon resident Kathleen Davies decided it was time to write and illustrate her own book.

The book is called “Stories from the Back Garden” and what started her on this journey was returning home to Caledon East and she began illustrating the creatures around her.

From those illustrations of local animals, the story grew into the book.

Though she no longer lives in Caledon, the Town was the inspiration behind her book, and she spent many years as a committed member of the community.

“I grew up in Caledon East and returned to the family home after being away for many years,” she said. “I painted a series of water colours in my back garden in Caledon East. They are of the small animals that occupy our back gardens and are based on real observation. There is a family cat who is a bit of a villain in the story and a little girl called Kate who is a friend to all the animals, especially a little chipmunk. The animals and Kate have adventures which are described in rhyming verses.”

Davies has a particular passion for the arts and environment, two avenues that hold a strong place in the hearts of Caledon residents, and over the years she wore a handful of hats working in Caledon as an advocate for both.

“I was involved in the art community in Caledon and held many art shows from my home in Caledon East,” she said. “I also worked in an Art Gallery at the Alton Mill for two years. I have taught art to community groups in Toronto, Brampton, and Caledon. I have a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from York University and was a volunteer on the Caledon Environmental Advisory committee for a few years. I am currently living in North Bay, Ontario but I hope to return to Caledon in the near future.”

It was never about writing her own book; for Davies she was just following her heart as she nurtured her love of art through the nature she saw on a daily basis in the beautiful setting Caledon provides.

“At the time I created the watercolours that make up the book, I wasn’t thinking about a book,” Davies said. “I am a country girl and grew up with animals around me. I painted what I observed the animals around me doing, which was based on what was actually happening. It was fun and playful. Each watercolour inspired a short rhyming verse to accompany it. It was only later as I was looking over my work, I thought it would make a good children’s’ book.”

The idea to follow through with the book came about because she hoped to inspire a younger audience to take the time to enjoy their surroundings and take in the wonders of the natural world while spending more time reading than in front of a screen.

“Children are on iPads and looking at screens all the time but there are real dramas going on in their own back gardens and maybe my book will inspire them to look there,” she said. “Because the verses rhyme, they are easy to remember. Parents and grandparents may enjoy reading them to young children.”

The role Caledon played in Davies writing the book is immeasurable because without her time painting at home in Caledon East, she may have never found the inspiration to go forward with it.

“Caledon is home to me,” she said. “I have lived in other places for short or long periods of time, but I grew up in Caledon and it is still home to me.”

Though it is Davies’ first book, she’s not sure when or if there will be another, but one thing she is sure of is that she has plenty of ideas and illustrations that could lead to at least one more.

“With regard to other books, I have stories in my head or something I see will inspire a story which I can bring to life with illustrations, so there may be more books to come,” she said.

The book was published by Rock’s Mills Press in Oakville and is available at Forster’s Book Garden in Bolton.