Alyson Sheldrake is the editor of Portugal Letter magazine, and the author of the Algarve Dream series of travel memoirs and the author/curator of the Travel Stories series of anthologies.

Her latest book, Kat the Dog, is a #1 bestseller on Amazon. A captivating and emotional story of survival and second chances, this multi award-winning book shines a light on the plight of abandoned animals and highlights the amazing work of rescue charities here in the Algarve.

Alyson was born in Birmingham in 1968. She has an honours degree in sport and has a PGCE (Secondary) teaching qualification in physical education, English, and drama. She has always loved art and painting, although she found little time for such pleasures, working full time after graduation. Alyson joined the Devon and Cornwall Police in 1992 and served for thirteen years, before leaving and working her way up the education ladder, rapidly reaching the dizzy heights of a Director of Education for the Church of England in Devon in 2008.

Managing over 130 schools in the Devon area was a challenging and demanding role. However, after three years, her husband Dave retired from the police, and their long-held dream of living in the sun became a reality. Alyson handed in her notice, and with her dusty easel and set of acrylic paints packed and ready to move, they started their new adventure living in the beautiful Algarve in Portugal in 2011.

She is now an accomplished and sought-after artist and author working alongside Dave, who is now a professional photographer. Being able to bring their much-loved hobbies and creative interests to life has been a wonderful bonus to their life in the Algarve.

Alyson has been writing features for the Tomorrow magazine for several years and enjoys promoting and featuring other artists and writers that live and work in this inspiring place. If she’s not busy painting or writing, you’ll find her walking their much-loved newly rescued Spanish water dog called Zara beside the river in Aljezur.