I studied art and sculpture to A Level standard but when I left school I immediately joined the world of work upon which art had no bearing. I was always interested in gardening and interior design, in craftwork and needlework but it was years later when I joined a local art group and started to dabble in watercolour.
I was in my early thirties with two young children but life got in the way and it was only many more years later that I decided to join another group (Rugby & District Art Society) and take up watercolour again. It was here that I met Gisele who opened my mind to different forms of painting and art and inspired me to try new materials and techniques and who became my good friend and painting buddy.
We had a painting holiday at Mike Bernards home and studio in Devon and after watching him paint, I literally dropped watercolour, took up mixed media and never looked back.
I continue to experiment and learn, enjoy using new materials and techniques and find inspiration in the landscape, garden, photographs, everywhere and anywhere. In order to keep pushing the boundaries, I attend a weekly group/class at L'Atelier 11Gallery in Towcester, run by Iain Hodgkinson, printmaker, who continually inspires me with his knowledge, enthusiasm and encouragement.
Like many artists I aspire to work more loosely, more abstractly but when I pick up a paintbrush, my head says be realistic, be accurate and so instead of a brush, I pick up a bit of card, or a pipette filled with acrylic ink or a palette knife. Anything to stop me trying to paint a photograph.
