About Me

I was born in Liverpool in 1963 into a creative family with a mother who painted and had her own pottery. Living on the coast near Formby with a father keen on sailing, from a young age I developed a strong affinity with the sea.

However, this was all to change when at the age of nine our family moved to Leicestershire and the rich agricultural landscape of the East Midlands. During this time my interest in drawing and painting, particlarly animals, developed even more.

From the age of thirteen I was determined to go to Art college, after completing an Art foundation course at Leicester Polytechnic in 1981, I continued to study Art at Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology acquiring a B.A hons in fine art in 1985.

Whilst on foundation course I visited a travelling circus and became fascinated with these travelling people. Following in the footsteps of artists such as Dame Laura Knight, I visited circuses around the country and based my thesis and final Degree show on the visual world of the circus. After graduating I spent the summer and autumn at Blackpool Tower Circus, working as an usherette and painting on my days off.

This culminated in a solo show at Leicester Haymarket`s Theatre. Around this time having acquired a position as a part time teacher of art, I moved into the city of Leicester.

Though I enjoyed the job, city life was not for me, I really missed the open spaces.

Fortunately I settled in a small village close to the Northhamptonshire border, joining a strong artistic community. Here inspired by my surroundings I painted the rural landescape of the area, pastureland, animals and figures on the land and portraits of village characters and friends.

A four month trip to Australia in 1994 inspired paintings and ceramics based on the aboriginal rock art, the diverse and rich landscape particularly the bird life added to my inspiration.

On returning to England I moved north to Cumbria where I became a founder member of Green Door Studios.

In 2007 I became a member of the Lake Artists Society .

I now live in the village of Levens with my husband Brian and dogs Fin and Bridie.