After leaving school with an A level in art, I completed a Foundation in art and design and a Diploma in Theatre production and design. I went on to work in theatre in various capacities within costume departments in London and on tour. After 15 years I retrained gaining a qualification in painting and decorating, after an apprenticeship and working for a local company I went on to have my own decorating business which included some mural work.
I now focus on my art, working from my home studio in Ringstead Northants. Nature has always been my great love as an artist. I enjoy painting landscapes and am always drawn (pardon the pun) to woods, forests and tree lined lanes.
I like to experiment with different materials on a variety of surfaces. Acrylic paint is a favourite as I am a fairly impatient artist and like to work quickly building layers, which this allows for. It is interesting to see how different mediums work together and then to add variety with brush, palette knife and pencils or pens on the same piece of work. Even though landscape is my favoured subject, I like to mix it up with still life, figurative work and the occasional abstract.
I adore colour, but sometimes challenge myself to create depth and atmosphere in a painting without colour or with a limited colour palette. In my monochromatic work I use a mix of charcoal, graphite, chalk, ink and white pens. The size of my work is also very varied, every now and then I will go miniature. Currently I am using pen to draw 5cm high figures and clothing them in pressed flower petals!
I take commissions and to date have completed specific landscapes, dog and cat portraits, houses and some more illustrative pieces. Ask me to paint or draw anything and I will do my upmost to create your desired piece of art (having said that, in portraiture I only do animals).
I also write and illustrate stories and rhymes for children. I have an ebook available on Amazon. There are many more stories and rhymes that I have written and illustrated patiently awaiting my attention. Watch this space!