My artistic journey commenced when I was a child helping my busy mum make most of the clothes for our large family. I have always dabbled in the fabric arts including teaching patchwork quilting for 10 years in Sydney and Brisbane.
After a few years of health issues, my life took a new direction and in 2004 I enrolled in a course called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" at the Relaxation Centre in Brisbane. At the end of the course, I was astonished to realise that I could actually draw and continued to do so for some months until I undertook a pastel painting course in Wynnum. At my first student art exhibition, I was awarded "Best in Show" for my still life painting "Anyone for Dressing" as judged by a member of the prominent Faber Castell Family. The prize was my very first easel.
When I married my husband, Stephen in 2007, we moved to Childers where I became a member of the Childers Visual Arts Group. With the encouragement and support of this dynamic group, I started experimenting with oils and acrylics.
I undertook an oil painting course with Max Wilks at the McGregor Summer School in Toowoomba in 2011. Apart from these pastel and oil courses, I am largely self taught and like to think that I have developed my own style which is somewhere between realism and impressionism. When using oils and acrylics, I use a very limited palette which includes 2 variations of each of the primary colours, white, raw and burnt umber and black. Not only does this mean that I have a studio that isn't overflowing with tubes of paint; it also means that I must create any colour I need, thus enhancing my ability to "see" the colours in any prospective artwork.
I have entered numerous art competitions in my region and have been the proud recipient of over 25 awards in these exhibitions.
I have held 9 solo exhibitions in galleries throughout south east Queensland and have had much success in these exhibitions. 6 of these exhibitions have featured works in my current obsession which is miniatures. My latest miniature exhibition was called "Little Darlings" and featured tiny works (each just 8.9 x 6.4 cm) of the Darling Downs region of Queensland . It was held at the Crows Nest Gallery in September and October, 2024.
My paintings can be found in private and public collections throughout Australia and overseas.
I enjoy commissions and have had a number of very satisfied customers with subject matter ranging from Architectural to Landscapes to Birds and Pet portraits.