About Me...
My mother was a painter and I grew up with pencil in hand. When I was still at school I attended life drawing classes at Bournemouth Art College before going on to complete a Foundation Year at The Central School of Art and Design (now Central St Martin’s) with a view to eventually studying Stage Design.
However, I quickly realised that what I wanted to do more than anything else was paint and so I stayed on to do a degree in Fine Art. Since leaving college I
have painted ever since, and written and illustrated children’s’ books; worked as an interior designer, muralist and trompe l’oeil artist, and taught in various art colleges and societies. I have also run my own studio and workshops.
I paint still lives, interiors, gardens, seascapes, landscapes, buildings, animals
and portraits. I often work on commission. I mostly paint in oil because it is so rich and versatile and responsive – whether as a sketch on paper or sinking
into the surface of wood, gesso or linen.
My subjects reflect my life, and I am learning all the time.
Along the way I married and had three lovely children. Recently, my husband retired and we have returned to the West Country and I am now able to
concentrate on my painting.
~ CV ~
Upcoming
December 23 - Artizan Gallery: Winter Open Exhibition, Torquay
Education
December 2022 - Elected Academician, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts
1978 - Foundation & Fine Art Degree, Central School of Art and Design (now Central St. Martins)
Notable Exhibitions
September 23 - SCENE CHANGES: One-man-show, West Brompton Cemetery Chapel
July/ August 23 - SWAC: Sou’ Sou’ West Gallery, Bridport
May 2023 - SWAC at the Stables Gallery, Delamore
November 2022 - SWAC Annual Open Exhibition - Vandlys Award
November 2021 - SWAC Annual Open Exhibition
2020 - 'No Barking Art - World Without End' - Covid Exhibition
2016 - 2019 - Invited to exhibit with Mall Online Gallery on several occasions, showing paintings such as ‘Boys with Red Buckets’, ‘Still Life with Fennel’, ‘Nasturtiums in a Victorian Vase’, ‘Sprouting Garlic’ and ‘Beach Combing’
November 2019 - The Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, The Mall Galleries
‘Winter Walk’ chosen as one of two paintings to be printed as cards to mark exhibition
November 2017 - The Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, The Mall Galleries
November 2016 - The Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, The Mall Galleries
- One Woman Show, Heligan
- Dulwich Picture Gallery Summer Exhibition (‘Pretty Hen’ was “Highly Commended”)
- Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
- One Woman Show, The Laban Centre
- One Woman Show, The Reform Club
- Spirit of London Exhibition, Royal Festival Hall
- First one-woman-show Borlase Gallery, Oxford, while pregnant at age 24. ( Oxford Times Critic wrote “All this painting is immensely vigorous and well worth a special journey….”)
Artistic Residencies
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan, where I took part in book launches and signings, a one woman show and several public events such as ‘The Big Draw’. I was also included in their television documentary on “artists and gardens” for Channel 4
- The Laban Centre of Dance in the course of which I held running exhibitions at the Laban Centre and a one woman show at City University
- The Reform Club (Pall Mall), ending with a sell-out one woman show
Illustrator
- Two children’s books for The Lost Gardens of Heligan: ‘The Mud Maid’ and ‘The Giant’, in collaboration with poet Sandra Horn (published by The Clucket Press)
- Wrote and illustrated ‘Ellie’s Growl’ (published by Frances Lincoln)
- Several children’s books for Random House, Hodder and Stoughton and Red Fox Ballet Books including The Tattybogle Tree and The Little Swan Series
Teacher
2013 - 2021
- Formed “Pound Hill Painters” with supporting website to promote the work of my students
- Invited to perform a public portraiture demonstration, the inaugural Alresford Arts Festival
- Ran painting classes in my home studio
- Ran plein air workshops around Hampshire and West Sussex
- Oil painting and life drawing classes for the Alresford Arts Club.
1994 – 1996 - Taught Visual Studies at Lewisham College
1978 - Taught life drawing at Colchester Art College
