A brief biography...
Born in Leicester (England), I grew up in an environment where art was always a part of my life as both my mother and grandmother painted. The love of colour and creativity remained with me, although I originally pursued a scientific career, obtaining a degree in biology. Over the years I took several evening classes in life drawing, painting and ceramics. I stayed home to raise our children and spent my creative energies on designing and making childrenswear for several years.
Whilst I raised a family, I decided to return to formal study and took a Scottish Higher in art at James Watt College, Greenock. After this I was accepted onto a one year Portfolio course at the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland. I then continued my studies in the design field, taking a two year H.N.D. in Stitched Textile and Fashion at Cardonald College Glasgow, completed in 2003. Throughout these courses, drawing in all its forms was emphasised and my horizons for experimenting with many different media widened.
In 2003, I followed my husband to North Carolina where his work commitments had taken him. Here I found the time to work on experimenting with textile and painting. Through the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh and the Fine Arts League of Cary I had the opportunity to exhibit in several group shows and was represented by the Michael Lecher Gallery, Cary NC.
In 2006 we returned to Scotland to live and I worked from my home studio in Kilmacolm. Being part of the Clyde Coast Spinners and Weavers Guild brought wonderful woolly people into my life and I was fortunate to learn many new skills from them. Galleries in Scotland continue to stock and sell my work (see stockist list).
In December 2014 we relocated to Petersfield, Hampshire. I am a member of the Petersfield Arts and Crafts Society and also the International Feltmakers Association.
I have also published several ranges of greetings card designs and enjoy applying designs to textile, available as tea towels and gift items. I spend a good deal of time in my garden studio painting with acrylic, sketching and using mixed media to come up with ideas for translating into felted pictures or applying to design projects. Special commissions are always welcome. You will also find some of my designs translated to needlepoint tapestry kits by Cleopatra's Needle who specialise in premium kits sold through many outlets including John Lewis.
I regularly show my larger paintings and wool art work in galleries and venues around the Hampshire/Surrey/East Sussex region and stock my cards and gift items further afield.
If you are an independent retailer looking to stock my cards please get in touch for trade prices and information.
