Val Wakenshaw was born in a tiny village in Hertfordshire and grew up with a deep love and respect for the countryside that surrounded her. As urbanisation encroached into the Home Counties, Val and her family moved away to the peace and unspoilt beauty of the Tamar Valley in Devon. It was here that her natural talent grew and she began accepting commissions, ranging from guinea pigs to prize-winning bulls.

Val's fascination with natural history and the tremendous variety of wildlife in her area have lead to this dominating her work, in her words she is "charmed by their beauty and driven by a deep desire to capture their spirit".

Her style is detailed, and being wholly self-taught she has developed a technique with water-colour which sets her work in a class of it's own. Her skill has developed from a deep love and understanding of the subject and has inspired her to gain a Distinction in Zoo Animal Management.