About me
As a young girl, growing up in London, I always wanted to be a potter. I had no doubt of my direction in life. There was no question that I would have an artistic career of some kind. Growing up I would draw continuously. Eventually this all led to me studing ceramics in London at the Central School of Art and Design to BA Hons degree level. After leaving college I ran my ceramics studio at the Cockpit Yard Studios in London, selling my work across the country via trade shows to various galleries and shops.
After some years I decided on a career change, taking a job in the film industry at the
Jim Henson Creature Shop where I worked as a freelance painter and art finisher. This involved colour mixing and matching, working with a variety of different paint systems and a multitude of other materials depending on the job requirements.
Over the next 27 years I worked in many Creature Effects, Prosthetic Make-up and Stop-Motion Animation departments becoming lead painter on a number of films.
It was a fascinating job which was always challenging and one which took me to many locations around the world. I enjoyed the range of work and the fine detail and finish which was required, as well as the fun of working with some very talented creative people. Credits inc. The Mummy, Gladiator, Mars Attacks, Harry Potter I,II,III.
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After leaving the film industry I moved to Cambridge, being there closer to my family, and subsequently got married. Whilst in Cambridge I returned to my own work, rediscovering the pleasure in independent creativity. There is nothing better than having the freedom to pursue my own artistic train of thought. In 2025 Nick and I made the big move to Frome, in Somerset. It's an exciting new chapter, a bigger garden and bigger studio. From here I am continuing to develop my painting and to sell my work through galleries around the country.
New workshop still under construction !
In my current work I have returned to pre-loved themes which seemed long lost but feel personal for me. Figures and animals now appear in my landscapes and my work has taken on a more narrative quality. In past years my focus was landscapes and particularly allotments. I still find allotments fascinating because each plot becomes a tiny world shaped by its gardeners creativity. Many of the things that I love are coming together naturally in my current work. My paintings are a celebration of colour, movement, energy and joy. My painting style evolved over the years through experimenting with a huge variety of media.
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I usually work in a series on wooden panels. A series allows me to be less precious and keeps me moving in a more spontaneous way. I like the tough wooden surface as it allows me to layer, scratch through, and sometimes sand back the paint.​ Initially I build up layers of acrylic paint, without having a definite plan of where I am heading. It's a joyful stage which is really about enjoying the paint, colours I have mixed and mark making. As the paintings progress, I have to slow down and consider my composition, editing until I feel happy with the balance. Figures and animals appear and disappear. Beneath the final layer there is a whole other story! Colour has always excited me, the contrasts and the satisfying combinations. I work in a fluid way, responding to what I am seeing in front of me, rather than anything preplanned.
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Alongside painting in my studio I also love life drawing and still use sessions to develop my understanding of the figure as well as to experiment with different materials, from charcoal, to pastel, collage and paint. ​I enjoy working on prepared paper and in my concertina sketchbooks. I particularly love quick poses where the model can be more dynamic for a minute or two.​​​