Every painting tells a story…
Connect with your own story through environment-conscious, thought-provoking, richly layered mixed media art.
My creative approach is playful and intuitive.
As a counsellor and facilitator of writers’ and creativity groups, I have experienced how creativity opens up new perspectives and helps us to process memories and emotions.
I find that creativity enables me to (re-)connect with the seen and unseen world.
Having retired from paid employment as a counsellor, I see the current season as my “rewirement”.
I am exploring how to use my varied interests to make a positive difference.
In addition to writing, painting, and photography, I enjoy walking, trying out new recipes, and helping others explore their creative gifts.
As a multi-disciplinary artist, I choose the medium that most effectively conveys my ideas: painting, photography, prose, poetry, or a combination of various elements.
Painting
I create experimental mixed media art that is thought-provoking and richly layered. I am a storyteller at heart. A painting may look abstract, but it will usually have been inspired by an experience or story. I hope my work sparks curiosity and invites contemplation and reflection.
I am conscious that my mark-making is influenced by my thoughts, mood and environment, so I have to disagree with the art teacher who insisted that we can and SHOULD exclude ourselves from the artistic process.
Although my work often contains autobiographical elements, it is open to a variety of interpretations.
When you as a viewer contribute your own narrative and perceptions, it enhances my understanding. I love to discover something I had not seen or thought of…
Photography
I use photography to gather references and inspiration for my future artwork.
I also enjoy “reflective” photography (pictures that display reflections and/ or invite contemplation) and showing nature or everyday objects from an unexpected angle.
I regularly capture snapshots of my creative process and experiments. Having a record of an artwork’s previous versions helps me to remain playful and curious, encouraging me to take risks in my painting process.
When I experiment with ephemeral materials, creating an archival print is a way of preserving the artwork. (I have found that some materials are so fugitive that they fade over time even in a closed sketchbook.)
I enjoy experimenting with hand-finishing prints to capture the texture and depth of an original piece of art.
Occasionally, I digitally alter photos to convey ideas in new and creative ways.
I am still using Photoshop Elements 6, which came out in 2007, supplemented by some basic Topaz adjustment filters. It is great to have some technology to enhance ideas, but I do not want AI to do the thinking for me.
Writing
I share life lessons and creative lessons via blogposts, booklets and books. In recent years, I have particularly enjoyed combining words and images.
To discover more about my work and my creative process, you can download a variety of free booklets from my Ko-fi page.
More than a decade ago, I published a book with my husband John about our experiences when attempting to climb Kilimanjaro. You can still purchase “How to conquer a mountain” on Amazon. All profits are donated to charity.
My climbing adventure ultimately inspired me to take up painting as a way of processing my memories and emotions.
Other people’s comments:
“… the print arrived today, carefully packaged and of a pleasing thickness and presents the texture really well, even though the print is flat. It looks lovely.” (Martin, UK)
“I absolutely LOVE your artwork and can feel a continuity in all of the pieces with there being a definite core in each one!” (Angie, UK)
I wanted to share that the print has arrived! … I just wanted to let you know it is breathtaking! I was drawn to it online, but it is even more powerful in person.” (Cathy, USA)
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