I grew up in a house full of paintings, drawings and art books, where the smell of oil paint and turps drifted from the spare room my dad used as his studio.  Sunday afternoon trips to the Tate Gallery (when there was only one) were frequent.  I can't remember a time when I didn't paint or draw and I've never thought of myself as anything other than an artist - although I've taken a few detours along the way.

 

I read Spanish and South American literature and history at University College London, then worked in the City for a few years.  In my late 20's I trained formally in fine art, earning a 1st class degree in painting at WSCAD (Farnham) followed by a postgraduate year at Central St Martins in London.  I've had studios at Unit 21 in Camberwell, Pixley Street near Canary Wharf and, since 2007, at Oaks Park on the outskirts of London.

 

In the 1990s I started designing rugs and many of my designs are in residential, corporate and commercial premises in the UK and abroad.  My work has been included in major design and media events including 100% Design, ‘UK Now!’ (Melbourne), ‘Best of British’ (Canary Wharf) and ‘TGI Friday’ (Channel 4). I was included in Christopher Farr and Matthew Bourne's book 'Contemporary Rugs' published by Merrell in 2002.  I'm a member of South London Women Artists and many of my paintings are owned by collectors in the UK and overseas.

 

I look to all kinds of sources for visual nourishment, many types of painting and design, poetry, music and film too; when I connect with something it's a kind of benchmark that makes me want to make the best pictures I can : Bonnard's last self portrait is amazing, Ted Hughes' collection of poems "Birthday Letters", chronicling his relationship with Sylvia Plath, Prunella Clough's paintings and those of Peter Doig and Serge Poliakoff, "Someone Else's Hand" by Susan Rothenberg, Eduardo Chillida's graphic works, Phillip Larkin's poem "Aubade", Hugo Williams' collection of poems entitled "Billy's Rain"...