About

Creating has been part of my life from my earliest memories. I received the Senior Art Prize at school. I considered studying fine art at University, but lived in a regional area before the age of online study, and moving to a capital city wasn't an option at the time. I studied science, met my husband, and entered a career as an industrial chemist. 

 

However art and craft continued to be an integral part of my life. I attended all sorts of classes including night classes studying a Certificate in Visual Arts at NSW TAFE when our first child was only a few months old.  I would paint while I carried my baby daughter in a pouch - until her arms grew long enough to reach the canvas! 

​

Early on in my journey of home-schooling our 5 children, I started teaching weekly art classes to children. I immersed myself in researching, preparing, and teaching about the elements of art and art history. I played with every type of media, to bring a varied experience to the classes. At the same time, I took night classes in watercolour. 

​

Around 2016, I bought my first set of soft artist's pastels to attend a 3-day pastel workshop with Tasmanian artist and friend Leoni Duff at her studio in Launceston. I loved the immediacy and vibrancy of pastel and the fact that I could clean up by just washing my hands (no brushes to worry about - perfect when you have young children). My first subjects were those most familiar to me - my own children.

 

A few years later, I joined the Brisbane group of the Pastel Society of Australia, and through the demonstrations, workshops and opportunities to exhibit, grew in my mastery of the pastel medium. Leoni took on the role of my artistic mentor.  As my children grew older, I was able to paint more and I began to enter and win competitions. In 2024, I was awarded Accomplished Pastelist status and in 2025, I was awarded Pastelist of the Year. I have my work recognized in international pastel competitions and published in the Pastel magazine. 

​

After 18 years of teaching classes for children and teens, I was ready to teach adults. I realised that teaching gives me artistic energy, and fuels my own practice. I love experimenting and learning and helping others to develop their artistic voice. 

​

My current practice includes