Manx born and brought up in the Isle of Man, my journey with art began as soon as I could hold a brush. My first success in art was (about age 5) having my picture of Bambi displayed on the ‘Take Hart’ wall. Even more proudly, I have had monoprints (and cards) displayed at The Manx Museum. I frequently show and regularly sell at local galleries and at the IOM Art Society’s Easter and Autumn exhibitions.

Inspiration

Constantly inspired by nature and our beautiful Manx surroundings, with its rich biodiversity and types of terrain. I am always amazed by the beauty, even in overlooked areas such as brambles, hedgerows & undergrowth. It can be found to host such a wonderful mix of textures, patterns, colours, light and contrasts. I try to capture a moment or flash of life or light, however small, in any scene. Creatures great and small (and their personalities and interactions, observed or imagined) make me keen to capture them somehow, wherever possible. Believing in Manx fairies as a little girl, had a lasting impact and having had two girls myself, I tried to pass a little bit of the magic on, in some of my artwork.

Influential Artists - a few of many!

Manx: Archibald Knox; Nancy Corkish; David Byrne; Catherine James; Paul Parker; Kate Jerry Fairies / other worldy: Arthur Rackham; Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. Flowers: Elizabeth Blackadder RA & RSA (and printmaking); Anna Mason; Shirley Trevena RA. Printmakers and painters: J. A. M. Whistler; Mary Cassatt; Hokusai; David Hockney; Livio Ceschin; Norman Akroyd RA Painters: Tom Roberts (Australian); Andrew Wyeth; Gustav Klimt; Fred Cuming RA; Ken Howard RA; David A Parfitt RI; Morten E Solberg; Drawings: Henry Moore; Maurice Sendak.

Past Courses / Art Education

·      Completed the Foundation Course Diploma in Art & Design at the IOM College in 1990. The ever enthusiastic and empowering positivity of Ian Coulson and Dave Fletcher taught me how to etch and explore artistic possibilities.

·      I won a coveted place on the BA (Hons) Fine Art & Printmaking Degree at Nottingham Trent (top choice that year for those disciplines).

·      Switched to a successful career in law for 7 1/2yrs, then left to travel (with paints and illustrated travel journals, and Art museum visits all the way), married and followed my heart to continue with art.  

·      Attended several watercolour courses with Paul Parker whose work I have always admired (through the IOM college at CRHS and at the Braaid)

·      Life drawing classes at the IOM College (and in Sydney Australia!)

·      Character drawing with Liz Brand’s wonderful and immensely talented group in Port Erin for a year or so.

·      Embarked on a series of Printmaking Courses with Ian Coulson whose ever encouraging input and support for my original prints spurred me on, at the IOM College in 2006 /7

·      Purchased my own etching press in July 2007 enjoyed producing many varied editions of drypoint etchings ever since.

Wonderful places that have displayed and sold my work

Exhibited at the Manx Museum in 1990 (as part of group show)

Regularly sold work through The Artist (prior to it closing), then the Art Gallery (prior to it moving),  Spill the Beans Coffee Shop for a year.

Regularly exhibit at the IOM Arts Society Easter and Autumn shows.

The Curator Art Studio and Coffee Shop (2019)

Currently sell art through ‘The Papered Nest’ Port Erin, ‘The Gaslight Shop’ Castletown and ‘Studio 42’, Port St Mary.

I am constantly developing ideas and creating new artwork, so please come back soon to the website and please do visit the wonderful shops above (if you can) to see my latest framed pieces!