about me

Biography

07/03/08
Born and bred in Liverpool, I am a local artist and a full-time mother.

As far as I can remember, I have always practised art. At secondary school I trained myself to draw and paint copies of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists paintings. One was put up in the school foyer but it was stolen the very next day!

After leaving school I had a few awful jobs then went on to be an au-pair in Switzerland. One of the parents was an art teacher and that inspired me to take up art when I returned to England.

I then went on to do a BTEC National Diploma in Art and Design at Knowsley Community College. My work was heavily influenced by South American Textiles and I found that I had a natural eye for colour.

Following Knowsley Community College I went to Liverpool Hope University to read for a degree in Design specializing in Textiles and Ceramics. Although I was interested in Textiles and Ceramics, it wasn’t what I really wanted to do. I completed my degree with honours and went back to my first love - painting.

Since University I have had paintings displayed in The Quarter Restaurant, The Blackburne House and The Peoples Centre – all in Liverpool, where I have sold various pieces. I have also done some commissioned work, one client being as far as Milan, Italy. My work is also being used as Christmas cards.

Most of my ideas come from sketchbooks and photographs, then I design and paint using mostly acrylic on canvas. I like to paint loosely first then add texture by making some interesting marks using a wide variety of brushes and knives, also twigs and ceramic tools (good to know they have come in handy). I also like to let the paint naturally drip and build up layers to acheive the final result I want.

The subjects of my paintings are mostly townscapes that remain romantic in every sense, sometimes extravagantly theatrical. I have a hunger for colour which is apparent in my paintings and is often exaggerated as I like to look back in nostalgia.

I would like my paintings to bring happiness, beauty and joy. It is my passion to produce paintings that stop people rushing around and make them pay attention to their beauty whether they want to or not. I would like my paintings to influence and light up any room.