Fern & Footprints

Fern & Footprints Led by Bramblefoot the otter, Fern and Footprints brings you hand-drawn tales of forest magic, distant worlds, and curious creatures.

A whimsical art journey—just beginning.

The Bow of Feather and Fur 🌲🪽🦦Deep within a pine woodland, where sunlight filters softly through the branches and bluebe...
08/03/2026

The Bow of Feather and Fur 🌲🪽🦦

Deep within a pine woodland, where sunlight filters softly through the branches and bluebells carpet the forest floor, Bramblefoot the otter encounters a noble hippogriff.

Rather than fear, the two share a quiet bow of respect beneath the dappled light. The hippogriff carries the warm chestnut and brown tones of a tawny owl, giving it the feeling that it truly belongs among the pines.

I imagined this moment as one of those rare woodland meetings where creatures of river and sky recognise each other as equals.

This piece continues my love of blending wildlife with folklore, capturing small magical moments that might exist just beyond the edge of the everyday world.

—
Fern and Footprints











A lantern’s glow, a winding forest path, and the soft rustle of autumn leaves… 🍂✨As the Spooky Season series unfolds, Ce...
23/10/2025

A lantern’s glow, a winding forest path, and the soft rustle of autumn leaves… 🍂✨

As the Spooky Season series unfolds, Celandine the stoat and Bramblefoot the otter step deeper into the woodland shadows. Will-o’-the-wisps drift like tiny stars between the trees, and ahead, the faint figure of a stag spirit emerges — antlers shimmering like branches tipped with moonlight.

This is only a glimpse of what’s to come… the second piece in our Spooky Season journey. Stay close — the forest still holds its secrets. 🌙🦌🕯️

Under the October moon, Celandine the stoat and Bramblefoot the otter sit among softly glowing pumpkins, their light fli...
22/10/2025

Under the October moon, Celandine the stoat and Bramblefoot the otter sit among softly glowing pumpkins, their light flickering like tiny hearths in the woodland dark. 🍂

From between the trees drifts a whisper of magic — a Kitsune spirit, its nine tails shimmering like moonlit mist. As Bramblefoot sketches quietly by lanternlight, the night hums with that old, familiar folklore rhythm — where autumn’s chill meets wonder, and every shadow might hold a story.

The first in our Spooky Season Series, this piece captures the gentle balance between mystery and warmth — the heart of Fern and Footprints’ October. 🦊🎃🌙

✨🍂New piece & Character introduction🍂✨High above the sea, where Scarborough Castle watches over the waves, Celandine the...
05/10/2025

✨🍂New piece & Character introduction🍂✨

High above the sea, where Scarborough Castle watches over the waves, Celandine the stoat pauses upon the ancient ruins. Her gaze drifts wistfully toward the horizon, lost in thoughts as old as the stones beneath her paws.

Around her, the dusk is alive with quiet magic. Small glowing wings, delicate as butterflies, drift through the air — the only sign of unseen fairies. They flicker like lanterns in the twilight, carrying secrets of another realm.

It is in these quiet moments, balanced between history and wonder, that the wild truly whispers its stories. ✨

🌿✨ The Barghest of Whitby Abbey ✨🌿Most tales tell of the Barghest at night — a shadow in the dark, haunting the ruins of...
18/08/2025

🌿✨ The Barghest of Whitby Abbey ✨🌿

Most tales tell of the Barghest at night — a shadow in the dark, haunting the ruins of Whitby Abbey. But I wondered what it might be like to glimpse this folklore guardian in daylight, wandering the stones with the sun at its back. Painted in soft watercolour tones, the Abbey glows in sunlight and sky, while the Barghest lingers as a dark shape against the light — a creature of mystery, even when the world is bright.

This marks the end of one little chapter — but also the beginning of another. Coming soon, Fern & Footprints will introduce a brand new character: Celandine, a thoughtful little stoat who loves to sketch alongside Bramblefoot 🐾✨

Thank you all for your patience while I’ve been away due to work— I can’t wait to share the next steps with you. This was a change to my usual style and a chance to try the watercolour brushes!

And just like that… our Summer Nights: Magic & Folklore series is complete ✨We began under stardust skies with Bramblefo...
10/08/2025

And just like that… our Summer Nights: Magic & Folklore series is complete ✨

We began under stardust skies with Bramblefoot and Tidewhisper watching the Perseids, then journeyed to moonlit waters where the kelpie waits—a shape-shifting spirit of the deep, beautiful yet dangerous, glistening under the August Sturgeon Moon.

Now we end with something darker still… the song of the siren. Set on a lonely coast, this final piece captures the haunting pull of the sea—where music drifts on the tide and the waves seem to breathe. Her gaze is as beautiful as it is dangerous, and her story lingers long after you’ve turned away.

I’m also making a small change to one of our other folklore friends—the Barghest. Originally envisioned as a moody, night-time guardian at Whitby Abbey, I’ll be bringing him into daylight. The new setting will keep his eerie charm but allow those Abbey ruins to shine in a different light. Think folklore under a summer sun rather than shadows.

Thank you for joining me on these summer nights—I can’t wait to see where the next season’s folklore will take us. 🌿🎨

🖋️ Art & stories by Robyn |

A Glimpse Behind the Whimsy: Barghest in the RuinsBefore a scene springs fully to life in ink and colour, it begins as a...
07/08/2025

A Glimpse Behind the Whimsy: Barghest in the Ruins

Before a scene springs fully to life in ink and colour, it begins as a whisper—just lines on a page, mapping out where the magic will settle.

Here’s a little peek behind the scenes at Fern and Footprints—our preliminary sketch for a new piece featuring the ghostly Barghest among the moonlit ruins of Whitby Abbey. 🐾

This early stage is all about composition and storytelling. It’s where we plan the layout, the shapes and shadows, and make sure every curve of stone and flick of fur feels just right. There’s no detail yet—just the bones of a story waiting to bloom. The Barghest is watching from the crumbling arches, a spectral guardian of Northern folklore, and soon the atmosphere will deepen with ink, texture, and a wash of eerie moonlight.

We can’t wait to show you more as this mysterious piece takes shape… 🌒🐺

🌕✨ August Full Moon Magic – The Kelpie Awakens ✨🌕As the Sturgeon Moon rises over still lochs and wild moorland, ancient ...
05/08/2025

🌕✨ August Full Moon Magic – The Kelpie Awakens ✨🌕

As the Sturgeon Moon rises over still lochs and wild moorland, ancient stories stir once more…

This month’s full moon brings with it our latest piece in the Fern and Footprints summer folklore series:
“Moonlit Tides: The Kelpie’s Watch.”

In the silvery light, a shape waits at the water’s edge — dark-eyed, wild-maned, and ancient as the deep. A creature of myth and mist, the Kelpie is both guardian and trickster, said to lure the unwary into the water with haunting beauty and unknowable eyes.

This piece captures that eerie stillness just before the creature stirs — a meeting of moonlight, magic, and watery fate. 🌊🐎🌕

We’re so excited to share this one with you as August’s full moon (the Sturgeon Moon) approaches — a time of mystery, transformation, and deep reflection.

Let us know what stories or folklore this piece stirs in you. 🌕

Hello lovely souls 🌱I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for your patience recently — life’s been a bit of a whirl...
05/08/2025

Hello lovely souls 🌱

I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for your patience recently — life’s been a bit of a whirlwind and I’ve had to step back from posting while I catch my breath.

On top of the usual real-life busyness, I’ve also made the leap from IbisPaint to Procreate, which has been a bit like switching sketchbooks mid-story! It’s exciting but also a little disorienting, so I’ve been taking time to learn all the tools and find my rhythm again.

That said… the magic is still very much alive here at Fern and Footprints 🍃 and I’ve got some new pieces on the way that I can’t wait to share with you. Thank you for sticking around — your support truly means the world.

🌌✨ New tales, creatures and summer folklore coming very soon!

With muddy boots and starry eyes,
Robyn x

Under the Perseids: A Night with TidewhisperUnder the shimmering veil of the Perseid meteor shower, Bramblefoot and the ...
27/07/2025

Under the Perseids: A Night with Tidewhisper

Under the shimmering veil of the Perseid meteor shower, Bramblefoot and the Tidewhisper Selkie share a quiet moment atop the ancient walls of Scarborough Castle. His satchel and sketching tools rest gently beside him, the remnants of a day spent capturing the world’s wonders. Beside him, the selkie’s delicate hand reaches toward the glowing meteors, as if inviting the celestial lights to dance closer. Her black shimmering hair ripples like moonlit water, and subtle seal-like patterns grace her skin beneath a flowing white dress. Behind them, seals shimmer beneath the moonlit waves, a silent chorus of the sea’s magic. Together, they watch the night sky weave its stories of light and wonder — a peaceful friendship forged between land, sea, and stars.

🌿✨ Thank You So Much for the Support! ✨🌿I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s followe...
23/07/2025

🌿✨ Thank You So Much for the Support! ✨🌿

I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s followed, liked, or shared Fern and Footprints recently — your support means the world to me! 💚 I’ve been up bright and early this morning working on our summer Bramblefoot piece, and I thought it would be fun to share a little sneak preview of the preliminary sketch as a treat while it’s still taking shape.

I’ve also just upgraded my stylus (finally!), which should make the finishing touches even smoother once it arrives — and a lot more fun too! ✏️🌌

This project has been such a joy to work on already, and I can’t wait to share the full scene with you all very soon. Thank you again for being here — this little creative journey wouldn’t be the same without you! 🦦💫

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Scarborough
North Yorkshire

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