We are delighted to welcome Lydia Mackie as our latest featured cARTridges artist.
Lydia is an emerging local artist currently studying Fine Art at Exeter College. Working in a realistic style, she creates detailed artwork inspired by her love of animals.
“My favourite piece is the deer. It is my proudest work to date.”
About Lydia and her work
Lydia has always enjoyed art, but it became her main focus after leaving secondary school and achieving a grade 8 in her Art GCSE. She is now building on that accomplishment, continuing her studies at Exeter College.
Realism is central to Lydia’s developing style. Inspired by her love of animals, she enjoys capturing the individual appearance and character of each subject.
Lydia likes to start her artwork with sketches, using them to establish the shape and details of her subject before developing the finished piece.
Pet portrait commissions
Alongside her wider artwork, Lydia accepts commissions to create personalised drawings of people’s pets.
One of her recent commissions was particularly close to home for us at Cartridges Law, as Lydia created a portrait of a cat belonging to one of our employees. The finished portrait reflects Lydia’s careful attention to detail and her ability to capture each pet’s individual character.
Anyone interested in discussing a pet portrait commission can contact Lydia through her Instagram account, @artbylyds_.
Lydia’s advice for aspiring artists
For those beginning their own creative journey, Lydia recommends asking lots of questions and reaching out to other artists:
“I have messaged other artists that I admire and learnt so much from them.”
Connecting with other artists has helped Lydia to expand her knowledge and continue developing her creative practice.
See Lydia’s work in Exeter
Lydia Mackie’s artwork will be on display at the cARTridges Gallery in our office on Cowick Street, Exeter, from October to December 2026.
How to take part in our Local Art Scheme
You can find out more about cARTridges, our local art exhibition scheme, here.
If you’re interested in exhibiting your work with us, please email hannah.mooney@cartridgeslaw.co.uk with:
- Your name, email, telephone number and address
- A digital sample of your artwork or a link to your social media so we can get a feel for your style
- Your social media handles (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn)