IN recent years, all kinds places have had artists in residence. so it’s perhaps not so surprising to find one sketching away in a restaurant.

Since January, customers and staff at Jardine’s Cafe and Bistro, in Wivenhoe High Street have become accustomed to the sight of Colchester artist Mary Pullen at work there.

The former teacher started a second career as a freelance book artist, illustrator and bookbinder four years ago, after graduating from the London College of Communications.

She has plenty of professional irons in the fire, not least an exhibition of pictures from Jardines, which opened at the restaurant today.

She says: “The residency followed on from the work I did for a previous group exhibition in which I drew at a cafe in London.

“I was asked to do a show at the Wivenhoe restaurant and I then suggested I do the residency thing.”

Mary has been a frequent visitor at Jardines, drawing diners, staff and occasional events. She adds: “For instance, they host a Friday book club, as well as a poetry slam event.

“I went along to them, but I’ve also just sat and drawn people having their lunch or dinner.

“It has been really interesting and great fun. Jardine’s have been very accommodating in finding me a space to work and everyone has made me feel very welcome.

“I don’t think customers have found me at all intrusive.

“In fact, I think they’re quite looking forward to the exhibition to see how I’ve drawn them.”

Mary, 39, grew up in Braintree and went to Colchester County High School for Girls, before deciding to become a teacher.

She says: “In my late teens, I had a choice between languages and art and I opted for languages.

“I thought that would be the best path for me at the time, but even then, I thought I might come back and do the art one day.”

While teaching French, Spanish and German at a secondary school in Redbridge, Mary starter A-Level Art evening classes.

This, in turn, led to a part-time art foundation course and finally, a degree course in book arts and crafts.

Mary says: “For my final piece of work on the foundation course, I made a book, with pop-up designs, based on fiestas and celebrations, inspired by a trip I’d made to Barcelona.

“A friend saw the piece and gave me the leaflet for the book art and crafts course.”

Since graduating, Mary has been in demand as an artist and a bookbinder. She’s also led drawing workshops for the Guardian, the British Library and the House of Illustration.

She says: “The bookbinding is something I’m particularly passionate about. I see it as my mission to pass on those skills I’ve learned to as many people as possible.”

Mary has several projects on the go at present, including Tribal Quilt 2012, part of Essex’s Cultural Olympiad celebrations. For this, she has been working with several community groups, each of which will create a book on the theme of a journey.

She says: “Each book will be the same size, but with very different individual designs, using bookbinding techniques and materials.”