by Grady Mitchell | When most people think of Taxidermy, they picture blood and gore and all kinds of sinister connotations. What Gabrielle Whiteley, owner of Owl & Windsor, does is pretty much the exact opposite. Whether it’s a series of iridescent butterflies in a bell jar or a mouse reclining in a rocking chair, she uses taxidermy to create unique pieces drawn from fairytales and folklore.

Gabbi grew up in London, and from the sounds of it spent most of her childhood in the hushed atmosphere of the Natural History Museum, long enchanting hours studying the elaborate dioramas of animals in their habitats. She remembers re-routing walks home to visit a taxidermy store with a life-sized polar bear in its front window. “That’s where it began,” she says, laughing. “A weird morbid fascination I guess…”

Although associations with her craft tend to be Gothic, the former Biology student’s pieces are anything but macabre. They’re rather lighthearted objects celebrating the beauty of life. “For me, it’s just so fascinating to see how things are put together.” University also gave her a foundation in art, and she considers taxidermy the perfect combination of the two practices. “Taxidermy is an art form,” she explains. “What taxidermy means is mounting an animal to make it look life-like. I guess what I do is more rogue taxidermy.”

The “rogue” part is where the artistry comes in. Gabbi won’t just make a mouse appear life-like, she’ll give it a pair of glasses and a scarf, set it in a rocking chair with a book to read. Right now she’s working on a commission for a client, building a scene of swirling butterflies in a Victorian bell jar.

“For me, it’s that you’re giving something that’s passed a new life, rather than it getting dumped and rotting away. I find real beauty in that.” Sourcing is essential for Gabbi. Her mice are feeders for reptiles and snakes. All her butterflies are from legitimate suppliers, and the proceeds go towards protecting the species and the conservation of their habitats. Other animals are found already dead. Her work is a way of acknowledging the inherent beauty of the world. “I think nature is the prime art piece, really.”

To see more, visit her site and stop by her booth at the Eastside Flea Market on March 22.

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