To paint animals truthfully and with life, you have to spend time with them, preferably in their natural habitats so you begin to know who they are - so I immersed myself in their world.
I grew up watching shows on George and Joy Adamson bringing up lions in Kenya, and always wanted to go there. I loved to spend time outdoors, and all this fuelled a passion for wildlife and nature. This led me to painting what I love, animals, and travelling to their natural habitats to see and study them. In Africa I volunteered for 7 different conservation organisations in 2 countries, including Na'ankuse in Namibia, and Makalali in South Africa.
I have always drawn and painted, but took it up seriously in 2000. Art school did not teach what I wanted to learn, so I found artists whose work I admired and studied with them - Regina Hona, Carmel Mahoney and Steve Powell. I wanted to express the life and truth of animals, and and am satisfied with a piece when it has the right feeling.
I kept painting and selling my work, but I also also wanted to dive deeper into zoology, inspired by the Africa trips....so in 2016 I graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in zoology with a genetics minor, and I worked at a zoo for 6 years.
My work has won many awards, and has been published in the book, 'Luminous Colour - Showcasing Australian Pastel Artists', by Linda Hibbs, and 'African Legend - White Lions and Leopards', by Michelle Stewart.