About the Artist

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a scenic artist but my hopes were dashed by a careers’ officer at school who informed me that “girls don’t do that sort of thing” – this was 1970 and women’s liberation was still in its infancy and it was very much a man’s world.

So the nearest I got to it was to do a design/display course in London and become a window dresser at Selfridges for two years before marrying and having a family.

I am self-taught and in some ways I am glad I have not been influenced by the opinions of teachers or tutors as I believe I have a free and open spirit when it comes to art.  But, on the other hand, this may have limited my potential and scope, believing that the only thing I could paint was landscapes from photographs.

In 1992/1993 I joined an amateur dramatic group and began producing backdrop scenery and any other painting which required an ‘expert’.  This was good fun and fulfilled my ambition to paint scenery, but it never occurred to me that I could produce this sort of artwork on a smaller scale or commercially.  It was at this stage that I suffered my first severe depression and painting was the only distraction from the pain and agony of it but I still stuck to the rigid 'photograph' finish of landscapes.

Alas it was not until 2002/2003 that my artwork really took off seriously.  Once again depression hit me and I had 12 weeks off work. During this time I began painting my moods and emotions in a sort of visual diary. This has lead to me giving talks and presenting my artwork on the subject of depression  to help try and promote an awareness of the difficulties of mental illness. I have also written an article about this work which is featured in the Artists and Illustrator's magazine.

 As I started to experiment with the acrylic medium and a more liberated style began to emerge, a new world opened up for me and my expression onto canvas is now producing some unique paintings using vibrant, alive colours.

I have always had a versatile approach to art and am happy producing landscapes, still life, fantasy or abstract.  Lately I have produced two murals for a children's home through the charity NCH and, hopefully, another one in the future.  I don't stick to one subject in particular, but I do love the inland waterway canals and enjoy capturing the peace and tranquillity that the English countryside offers from a viewpoint other than the car. 

It never occurred to me to exhibit or sell my art; not until my friends and family started suggesting I should.  Through the depression expression diary I have begun to realise it is time I admitted that art is the only thing I feel confident at and want to do - I can't fail.  I have now sold quite a few paintings and get a tremendous buzz after doing a day of boring, administrative work and coming home to start creating in the evenings.  MAGIC. 

Now in my fifties, it's time I stopped hiding and started painting for real. Years ago as a young teenager at school I listened to the advice of an expert and accepted that as a girl I could not move forward in my chosen career.  Well I have finally proved to myself I can!

What the future holds, I cannot predict.  I would like to do more to promote mental illness and if I can do that through art, the better it will be for me.  I am just beginning on the bumpy road of art-land and so far am finding out lots of exciting, creative things. I would like to earn my living at it but am still in the dark as far as setting up and going forward. 

Chinese and Japanese art interests me as I practice Tai Chi and I am looking around for suitable tuition in my area (North West London).  I am prepared to learn more and do some art classes - perhaps in watercolour - a style that I have yet to master!