Happy Birds Studio

Sonja Eckl-Riel

Sonja's Bio

My name is Sonja. I live on the Isle of Skye in Scotland where I ran a complementary health clinic for 21 years. I am also an Interfaith minister, passionately assisting people in life transitions, creating, and writing rituals and ceremonies. One of the main ceremonies I am holding are weddings for couples embracing the beauty of nature and landscape on Skye and I feel a deep gratitude to be able to live my life’s vocation.

In 2018 everything turned upside down as I discovered a health problem. Since then, I am battling various treatments, fear and hope, tiredness, and energy boosts.

When two wonderful ladies who work with frequency energy told me to find a tool to re-connect with my inner, joyful child during this process - painting came into my life.

With no prior experience or skills, I found myself some watercolours and started to explore. Little did I know that I had happy birds inside myself that made people smile instantly or triggered funny stories in other’s just by looking at those characters.

I experience utter joy drawing my little friends, naming, and dressing them, letting them interact and giving them happy colours. My happy birds’ studio time helps me to stay centred which gives me an inside into my internal landscape every day.

The beauty surrounding us, the people who love and care for us, the jobs that provide for us is nothing we can take for granted. Therefore, giving a little bit back for all the love and compassion I receive is a wonderful experience.

All my drawings are originals, no prints. I post them on Instagram and sell them in shops, privately and exhibitions in support of charities.