An artist and art studio owner has turned her hand to making face masks with her own designs.

Thuline De Cock, who owns Thuline art studio in Windermere, where she sells her vibrant animal portraits and products, decided to make the masks during lockdown.

“The gallery was closed for months and there was little online traffic. So with it being so quiet, I had plenty of time to look for new products,” she said.

“ It has always been important to me that when people see my artwork, it makes them feel happy.

“The face covering seemed perfect.”

Her face masks are triple layered and cost £10.

Ms De Cock said that although lockdown had enabled her more family time it has not been good for her business.

“It’s been lovely to have some family time, both my sons back at home, but the pandemic wasn’t good for business, the gallery has been closed and even the online sales have dried up,” she said.

“Thanks to a very nice landlord and a government grant, we have survived so far.

“We are always on the lookout for new products. The masks seemed the logical thing to move in to.

“It’s lovely watching the people in the window looking at the masks.

“Generally people are just excited when they see them.

“I suppose the face coverings are the newest fashion accessories.

“We all need something to smile about.

“Wearing the masks on the bus every day, people may not say anything, but you can see it in their eyes that they are amused.”

Thuline was able to reopen on June 15 and since further restrictions have eased trade has picked up.

“The gallery has been open since the 15th, but it is since the tourists are back (4 July) that we are starting to get busier,” said Ms De Cock.

“We’re still not as busy as we should be, but the masks are very popular.”

Ms De Cock recently featured in BBC show ‘Home is where the art is’.

Presented by Nick Knowles, three artists were challenged to create beautiful artwork for people they’d never met.

The artists had to work out the buyer’s style by exploring their home, with only one artist able to win the final commission.