"It can be difficult to get the right shape for a tree, particularly since you cannot model it exactly in miniature as it looks wrong - overcrowded if you try to put all the branches on. By the same token it also looks ridiculous if it doesn't have sufficient foliage on it - much of which covers the branching structure that has been so carefully crafted. I love doing the research. Sometimes I visit places such as Kew Gardens or Osterley Park in order to complete a commission." she explains.

But there are limits to the amount of hands-on research that can be done.

"Of course, it doesn't work for such trees as Baobab where the commission doesn't allow me to fly to South Africa to research in person. Thus I may have to resort to books. This makes it much harder to get the shaping and coloration. You cannot get a 3D shape from a 2D picture, and often books are artist's renderings rather than photos and the color plate cannot be guaranteed to be a good match."

How did Jax become interested in sculpting her miniature tress and flora?

"About 30 years ago I made a railway layout (scale 1/76) for my boys and did the full scenery on it, including buildings and yes - trees. I discovered a certain talent for it. However, although a railway modeler himself, my husband actively discouraged me from modeling even though it made me happy to make trees for him and his railway club. So I did it the female way - I did chocolate modeling and made chocolates, which I sold to shops and at shows" she explained.

Then her life changed when her husband passed away.

"When he died in the early 90's I joined 'his' railway club. I made many trees for them and for personal layouts, charging only the cost of materials."

Although the loss of her husband was a life-altering event, it did mean that now Jax would put the chocolates away and follow the path of creating and sculpting what she enjoys most. It also set Jax on a course that would cause a change in her personal life as well.

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