At school it was her passion and a skill that others recognised as a great talent.

As a youngster though she never really divulged into the competition arena drawing only because it was what she liked to do.

“I drew at school but when I look back at them they look like cartoon drawings,” she laughs.

“At the time I thought ‘oh geez these are good’,” she said of her early beginnings.

With time and age the 27-year-old has really begun to shine and started to send her works into shows and competition and she’s getting results.

The mother of two’s win in the local section at this year’s Singleton Art Prize is her first big win and something that has inspired her to enter more competitions.

“It’s about time something happened,” she adds.

It was a photo of her son Jack on his horse, Honey, that won the Bulga local a blue ribbon and has given her confidence to do more.

Growing up at Bulga, where she still lives with her husband Kane, and her two children, Jack and Makayla, Jodie has a deep connection with the land and in particular horses.

While she may be known within her inner circle of friends and family as a talented artist she is just as handy with a horse particularly on the back of her beloved quarterhorses.

The magnificent creatures have long been her inspiration and what she has drawn most of her life.

These are what has caught the eyes of others who are always asking about her drawings.

“People always say to me you should put your drawings in to the art prize.

“Every year they say that to me and I say I will one day,” she said.

A self taught artist Jodie has never had formal training but when she picks up a pencil no-one would ever know.

“I’ve developed my own style, no-one else has taught me how, I guess that makes it a bit more special,” she said.

Despite the lure of other utensils she prefers her trusty led pencil.

“I like it more,” she said.

“I know painting with colour stands out but I like the led pencil.