About Dee

Dee’s Art, Experiences & Values

Art has been woven into Dee’s life for as long as she can remember.

As a child, she spent hours drawing cartoon characters and comic scenes, never imagining that one day, art would become her sanctuary. In 2019, however, a profound life change inspired her to challenge herself artistically and embrace a new path.

Dee was diagnosed with cancer and an inoperable tumour—a battle that demanded immense strength for many months. While she ultimately beat the disease, the treatments left lasting effects, including significant internal damage and spinal injuries that resulted in disabilities. Her once-envisioned future had shifted drastically, leaving her unsure of what lay ahead.
Amidst this uncertainty, Dee returned to art. She unearthed her old pencils, picked up reference images of horses, and began drawing once more. Experimenting with various styles, she eventually found her ideal medium in soft pastels and pastel pencils, which allowed her to express emotion and detail like never before.

By the end of the year, she had mastered drawing horses and frogs with remarkable depth and precision. With this growth came the realization that her art needed a new identity, leading her to rebrand from DeeDackelsArt to Hooves & Frogs, a name reflecting her love for both equine beauty and amphibian charm.
Over time, Dee expanded into acrylic paintings, particularly nude portraits that captured movement and form with grace. Yet, her greatest passion awaited discovery: sculpting.

Sculpting became the heart of her creativity, allowing her to bring wildlife to life in tangible, expressive forms. After beginning with air-dry clay, she transitioned to kiln-fired clay, determined to refine her craft and establish herself professionally. Her dream is to acquire her own kiln, ensuring each sculpture is perfectly fired and ready to share with the world.

Enjoy More of Everything About Dee

This time, she didn’t return to cartoon characters—she craved a challenge. Horses and wildlife became her focus, and she explored various mediums until she discovered her favourite: soft pastels and pastel pencils. As her skills grew, family and friends began requesting pet portraits, and DeeDackelsaArt was born—a name that paid tribute to her own identity and her favourite dog breed.

Although she loved creating commissioned artwork, the pressure of perfecting each piece became overwhelming. After stepping away for a break—which eventually stretched into a year—Dee took a leap in a completely new direction: drawing frogs. That single decision rekindled her joy in art, leading her to explore amphibians, fish, and other wildlife.

This fresh creative energy inspired a rebrand. Wanting a name that captured both her love of drawing horses and her newfound passion for frogs, she settled on Hooves and Frogs—a name that beautifully bridged her artistic worlds.
As her art evolved, Dee experimented with new mediums, from expressive nude portraits in acrylics to model and diorama building, expanding her creative universe. But one discovery changed everything: sculpting.

A Lifelong Love for Animals & Conservation

Dee’s passion for wildlife stretches far beyond her art—it has been part of her life since childhood. She rescued rabbits, mice, and hamsters, cared for her family dog, and loved her loan pony, Dougal.

In adulthood, her love for animals continued. She worked as head groom for a professional show jumper before transitioning to an office career to achieve the financial stability needed to keep her own horses. While circumstances eventually prevented her from owning horses, she found fulfilment in animal rescue, helping countless dogs—including Labradors, Basset Hounds, Huskies, and Shar Pei’s—find loving homes.

Dee and her fiancé share a deep passion for reptiles, rescuing hundreds of snakes, bearded dragons, tortoises, tarantulas, and even a formidable water monitor. Their daughter continues the family’s love for reptiles by running an educational TikTok channel offering husbandry advice to fellow enthusiasts.

Their home is filled with love for the animals they’ve rescued and their cherished miniature dachshunds, Moomin, Raffles, Purdey, Bear and Mishka, who bring joy and companionship every day. Though they mourn the loss of their beloved husky, Bonnie, their commitment to giving rescues a loving home remains unwavering.

Looking Toward the Future

Through every challenge, Dee has transformed struggle into creativity and uncertainty into passion. Her art continues to evolve, embracing sculpting as her true calling while maintaining her connection to painting and drawing. With each sculpture, she aims to inspire, raise awareness, and celebrate wildlife in a way that resonates deeply.

For inquiries about commissioned sculptures, memorial pieces, or portraits, Dee welcomes messages via Facebook, email, or WhatsApp. She’s always happy to connect with others through her art and love for animals.