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Shirley Barber
Islands are magical places, and Shirley Machon, growing up on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel, was always conscious of the special-ness of her home place, whether walking down country lanes between banks of wildflowers, or climbing to a windy hilltop with the sea all around her. The little triangular island, only 15 km, on its longest side, has belonged to England since the Norman Conquest, and many stone buildings date from the 11th century. It is an island rich in beauty, with its thatched cottages set in fairytale gardens, ferny dells and rippling streams, and has long been a favourite spot for artists and authors; Victor Hugo had a house on the island, and the annual Eisteddfod still draws visitors from far and wide. Shirley's mother and grandmother were both well known local artists, specializing in portraits and flower studies, and the little girl always knew she would be on too.
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