Born and raised in the UK I moved to Australia with my family in 2001. Iβve always loved drawing since I could hold a pencil. The gift of a paint by numbers oil paint set started me painting when I was 17. I paint and draw what moves me, what I feel passionate about, where I am in my life. My body of work is a pictorial autobiography, starting with my favourite musicals, Phantom and Les Mis. Portraits of friends, family and pop stars, Celtic, Indian and Hawaiian landscapes, ballet dancers, flamenco dancers, pregnant women, mothers and babies, the red Australian landscape, strong indigenous faces, boab trees, have all danced their way onto my canvas. Sometimes I use art as therapy, immersing myself in the creative process to cope with trying circumstances. When my third child was leisurely waiting to be born I got up every morning and, if there no twinges, trotted down to the art shop for another canvas and spent the day painting. My latest work is a return to my childhood passions. A trip to Japan inspired an interest in brush and ink painting and a bout of ill health led to me spending hours each day doing brush and inks from my favourite childhood books, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. My desire to share these pictures with a wider audience has led to my joining Bluethumb. I hope my pictures give you pleasure.