Hello… thank you for visiting. This is a new adventure for me, blogging . When I meet people at shows or they visit my studio, I am often sharing stories. They can be about the work I have done, what inspired it or why I made it. Everything has a story whether it’s an object, a person, or a place. I love delving into those details big or small. I thought I would start with my own personal story of how I got to here.
I grew up in Leicester, England in the 1970’s which was very multi cultural and progressive. The arts were really well funded in education, with access to free extra art classes and music lessons starting in primary school to woodworking and metal shop taught alongside domestic science, sewing and art in secondary school. This all helped add to my creative development. At home, as an only child I entertained myself by creating, making accessories and environments for my toys and clothes for myself with finds from the local jumble sales and fabrics from the market. My mum was an art and music teacher and she passed on many skills I needed and always encouraged me to be creative and resourceful. We traveled a lot to see friends and family overseas always taking the scenic route, as well as travelling with my dad on the cargo ships he used to work on. As I began my own travel adventures, I went far and wide before going back to study in Scotland and graduate Art School in 1992 which helped fund more travel around the globe for almost two years before settling in Canada twenty five years ago.
Here I have set up home, found a community to feel part of and had two daughters, with a newish very happy marriage and blended family to chalk up to experience. Through all these life experiences I have created and made work that has been shaped by the places, people and experiences I have had. I have always felt that my career path as an independent artist, designer and maker was the only option, I am passionate about what I do and have been lucky enough to have had enough opportunities to keep going, to make a career out of what I love to do most… create.
