My mother was very good with sewing and needlework. On annual holidays to the beach, we would pack up our needles and threads to do embroidery, and cotton and hook to do the crocheted edging. My mother sewed all her clothes and all the children’s clothes, mending my dad’s work clothes. She made all our Scottish dancing outfits also. She was very talented. I continued in this way for many years as did my sister. In primary school at Childers State School, one of the teachers, Mrs Gertie Stockwell would take us for art after school, just drawing trees in the school yard. My greatest passion was sewing for myself. I made all my clothes, my wedding dress, going away outfit, all my nighties, all my honeymoon clothes. I loved doing this.
After a holiday in Asia, I came down very ill. I was diagnosed with post viral fatigue, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was bedridden for about 2 years, almost unable to walk or do anything. It was an extremely debilitating illness. After two years as I gradually gained some strength, my husband suggested that I do some art. I attended TAFE Enrichment class one morning a week, for about two years. This gave me a love for art. I really did not have any idea about all the different mediums that are available.
Then I went to TAFE full time in Ipswich, to do an Art course for one year. It was a lot of travelling for me, having to catch a train home from Ipswich to Indooroopilly, walk up the hill and catch a bus, and then walk from the bus stop home, up the hill. Because of this course, I was able to apply to Griffith University and was accepted into the Art course, firstly at Morningside College of Art, then when Griffith University was built at South Bank, we were the first students to move into the brand new complex.
I majored in painting, and doing the required subjects of Art History, Drawing etc. It was not easy for me because my classes were filled with just graduated Year 12 students who had been doing art for many years and they were very good. I was able to complete my Bachelor of Fine Art, in 2004, doing well and enjoying the course very much.
It was during my years at Uni that I met Geraldine and heard about Visionaries. I exhibited as I could with Visionaries most years.
I like to paint with oils and acrylic. But I also enjoy the other mediums, pastels, pen and ink, and drawing. My main interest is landscape paintings. I did a series of these when we travelled on The Ghan, to Darwin, for a show I had in 2016.