WHILING away the hours staring out of a coffee shop window may sound like a luxury to most people but for one Stratton woman that is her job.

Artist Laura Fearn has sat in almost every window spot going in Cirencester, so that she can capture the character of the town’s streets in her animated paintings.

And if you are yet to spot Laura, 38, sketching away at her pad with a palette of watercolours and a dirty glass of water by her side, she may have spotted you.

As well as showing off the unique and wonky charm of various streets in Cirencester, she said, her work also features the hustle and bustle of people that have passed her window during the day.

The award winning former Usborne book designer has been drawing and painting since she was a little girl, when her dad used to bring home bundles of expensive pens and paper from his design workshop.

And after having two children of her own, aged six and two, she set up a baby portrait business called babysketches.co.uk from her art-filled home in Stratton.

Lately though it has been the busy streets of Cirencester that have been her inspiration. And for her next venture she said: “I’d really love to do the Christmas Market when it’s starting to get dark and sparkly.”

So, does anyone mind her hogging those coveted window spots as she sits for hours recreating the town’s streets on her paper? Laura says no. “I always get people coming over to see what I’m doing – they like having me there I think. And I tend to spend a lot of money on coffee and lunch because I can’t risk losing my space,” she said.

An exhibition of Laura Fearn’s pen and ink and watercolour pieces are now available to view and buy from the former Joya store at The Old Post Office by Swan Yard.

Prices range from £65 for limited edition mounted prints to around £400 for framed originals. For more information visit www.laurafearn.com or call 07594 302216.