No ordinary country girl

Serendipity is a wonderful thing and I have trained myself invariably to surrender to it. So when I chanced to read a report on The Great Yorkshire Show, with rave reviews on Alison O’Neil’s “Wool is my Bread” collection, I thought it was high time we met because this was not the first occasion I had come across her... And besides, I mean, how intriguing is that; wool is my bread?? Especially since I too am a shepherdess; equestrian; smallholder; yoga teacher; in short: an advocate of the holistic and sustainable lifestyle that Alison O’Neil seems to stand for. Within me was a seed of certainty that this woman was someone I needed to meet. Someone whose path I was destined to cross. So I called her. And we chatted for almost an hour. And it was done. I had taken my lead from serendipity and the connection was made, and I smiled. With my whole being.

The Shepherdess brand was born from grit and determination, fuelled by a passion for the land and the desire to live a life dreamed of, and forged by triumph in the face of adversity. The remarkable story of this one woman farm manifests a collection that is beyond unique. Every thread of the cloth, every detail of craftsmanship in the leather, is infused with soul and intrinsically Shepherdess. Sporting my Herdwick tweeds I am wearing more than just clothes. Provenance and heritage are the hallmarks of this collection and it is impossible to step out in it without also carrying that same authentic celebration, that same reverence, for the life and the land whence it was wrought. Not surprisingly, Alison is the epitome of her brand. But by the time we met I already knew that would be the case...

Alison’s latest offering, and the main subject of this review is the “Shepherdess” book, a collaboration with photographer Ian Lawson, spanning several years. Beautifully bound and with care and attention to every detail of production, the “Shepherdess” book is an indulgently tactile volume that is a pleasure to hold and to handle, and an exquisite piece of art in its own right. On turning its pages I am immediately struck by the breathtaking photography. But this book is not just about the artistic endeavour of Ian Lawson, and neither is it about sheep, or tweed, or wool or land, or even about Alison O’Neil. This book, it seems to me, is a door into the timeless world of an ancient way of life, facilitated by Ian’s stunning photography and the deeply resonant prose of Alison’s story, as both engage in a dance with heritage and tradition, harmoniously interweaving the joys and the sorrows throughout the seasons of the shepherding year. In all its multifarious splendour, “Shepherdess” is a story of passion, and the power of the soul to fulfill its deepest longing; to find and give shape to its dreams.

The “Shepherdess” book is more than the sum of its parts and it will bring your senses alive with wonder if you allow its magic to wash over you. And the magic is ever more potent because this story touches that fundamental desire that is deep within all of us; the quest for fulfilment of our life’s purpose. That daring to dream and then going out and making the dream a reality.

So meet this book with an open heart, and it will move and enthral you at the same time.   And let it. All the best stories have pages dotted with tears. As an object d’art, this book is a beautiful thing to have in your home; but what lies between its pages, is a beautiful thing to have in your heart...

www.shepherdess.co.uk