Matt Baker’s half-sister Ruby turned to painting after a health condition forced her to stop work as a teacher.
Matt Baker paid tribute to his inspirational sisters in a heartfelt comment.
TV presenter Matt Baker’s half-sister Ruby had to stop working as a teacher after developing long Covid, turning to painting as part of her recovery. Former gymnast Matt’s wife Nicola shared Ruby’s story in 2021, explaining how she had found a creative outlet by painting salvaged and unwanted items. Ruby later set up an Etsy shop to sell her artwork, with Nicola among those buying her creations.
As Matt Baker: Our Barn in the Dales returns to More4, viewers are getting another glimpse of the presenter’s family life. But who are his sisters? Matt has one sister, Samantha, and two half-sisters, one of whom is Ruby. Matt and Samantha were raised by their parents, Mike and Janice, on a sheep farm in County Durham, having moved from Easington when Matt was 10, reports Wales Online.
His childhood on the farm helped prepare him for exploring rural life on programmes such as Countryfile.
Speaking to Hello!, Matt described his mother and sisters as some of the “most inspirational women” in his life, saying: “My mum has always been a big inspiration, as were my sisters and now my wife is.”
Nicola offered an insight into the family’s creative interests when she spoke about Ruby on Instagram in 2021. She wrote: “We’re all quite arty in our family – I love making and baking, Matt loves to paint, my mum knits and makes cards. We’re all often found doing something creative when we get the chance!”
Sharing Ruby’s artwork, she continued: “This was painted by my lovely sister-in-law @revivedbyruby! Ruby was a teacher until she got Covid a year ago and has been coping with long Covid ever since. Painting has really helped her recovery and she loves the challenge of breathing life into something that may otherwise be thrown away.”
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Nicola also revealed that Ruby had begun selling her work online: “She’s now started up her own Etsy shop with all her artwork that she paints on salvaged or unwanted items.
“I loved this fungi painting she did on an old book cover so snapped it up straight away – it sits perfectly in my writing room! Sometimes life takes you in an unexpected direction, it’s how you adapt to the change that keeps you moving forwards.”
In the new episode of Our Barn in the Dales, Matt and Nicola attempt to turn a dilapidated barn on his family’s farm into their new home. Their renovation hits a major obstacle when they discover the main barn’s end wall needs to be completely rebuilt.
The couple also join Matt’s mum Janice to help a distressed sheep give birth to an exceptionally large lamb, and reveal plans to bring a new sheepdog puppy onto the farm.
Matt Baker: Our Barn in the Dales airs on More4 on Tuesdays at 9pm
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