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Born in Manchester one of ten children I grew up in Beswick where I used to spend my time drawing in chalk on the flagstones.

 

I had my first holiday when I was sixteen visiting my husbands family in Dorset where I started to paint the landscape.

I finally made it to Art College at the age of 29 and graduated in 1980. I then went travelling and lived in Hong Kong where I painted the crowded streets, markets and people and held three very successful exhibitions.

 

On returning to Manchester I began teaching for Manchester Adult Education Services and also became a member of the Stockport Art Guild and have been involved with the running of the Guild over the last 20 years as secretary and Chairman. In 2000 I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

 

I would say that I paint what I see and love to paint from life, my preferred medium when painting outside is pen, ink and watercolour and I prefer to mix on the paper rather than on the palette to create clean mixes of colour. I draw in pen rather than pencil and use a continuous line contour drawing technique, if I draw the 'wrong' mark I simply ingnore it and draw another, and if my drawing looks like a battlefield, so much the better.

 

My work is evolving through my love of the city, landscape, people and colour,
The tactile quality of the painted surface and a personal language of mark-making to express the vagaries of light, movement and form are important to me.
I am inspired by the Impressionist painters, Constable's oil sketches and Edward Seago's work.

 

1980
BAhons in fine art at Manchester Polytechnic Following 3 years living in Hong Kong painting the busy streets, markets and people. Group exhibition in Queens Road Gallery with 3 other women artists. 2 solo shows in the Wanchai Arts Centre.

 

1985/2007
Part time lecturer in art for Manchester Adult Education Services, private Tutor, demonstrator and Hon. Secretary/Chair of the Stockport Art Guild

 

1992
North West winner of the Laing landscape painting competition.

 

2000
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.