Biography
I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and grew up near Horseshoe Bay, where I learned to love the outdoors and the sea, and spent my childhood with a pencil in my hand. After receiving a BC District Scholarship for art in Grade 12 I attended the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC, where I received a BFA in Visual Art in 1983. I travelled frequently in Europe during those years, worked as a photo lab technician and attended the University of British Columbia where I got my teaching credentials (1987).
For the next thirteen years I worked as a teacher, both in British Columbia and in Greece. After an almost 18 year hiatus I decided that it was time I returned to my first love, and in 2001 I left teaching to start painting again. Since then I have participated in numerous exhibitions in Canada and the United States, won awards and built an impressive portfolio. In 2007 I achieved signature status (AFCA) with the Federation of Canadian Artists.
I live just south of Vancouver in North Delta with my husband, two teenage sons, dog, cat and
a bunch of bird feeders.
Statement
I have a passion for symbolic imagery, colour relationships, organic forms and patterns. Being lucky enough to live where I do, the inspiration for most of my paintings and drawings is rooted in the natural world but I like to combine imagery in unexpected ways to create pieces in a highly distinctive style. Using my camera (currently a Nikon D70) almost every day has taught me to see possibilities everywhere. I love tribal/ethnographic art and admire the elemental nature, strength and symbolism in its motifs and images.
