I have always worked as a professional artist, initially as a theatre designer, creating scenery and costumes for productions all over the UK. As my love of drawing and painting grew, I started to focus more on illustration. I began with craft and lifestyle books, working on how-to diagrams, decorative borders, and details in pen and ink and watercolor.
I also worked on books related to gardening and natural history, and the latter subject started to fascinate me more and more. In 2009, I decided to enroll in the Distance Learning Course with the Society of Botanical Artists, which greatly developed my observational and painting skills. In 2011, I graduated with a distinction and won the Award for Excellence. The society accepted me as a Full Member in March 2013.
I am now a drawing tutor on the Distance Learning Course, and my best-selling book, ‘Botanical Drawing– A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Flowers, Vegetables, Fruit and Other Plant Life’ (Search Press 2018), is a set text. I also lead botanical drawing workshops.
I have exhibited regularly in London, South-West England, Frankfurt, Madrid, and my Dorset studio. In 2014, my painting ‘Grape Hyacinth’ was on loan to the Museo Centro de Gaias in Santiago de Compostela.
I work in watercolor and graphite pencil, creating images that are botanically accurate and visually pleasing. My prize-winning collage work involves cutting and layering plain papers in a complex, subtle way to achieve an effect reminiscent of 1930s silk screen prints, but with strong contemporary appeal. Although I enjoy working in various mediums, graphite work is my first love, and I enjoy sharing the techniques and skills needed for this demanding but very satisfying medium. The natural world, particularly the glorious Dorset countryside, is a constant source of inspiration for me, and I love to share it with others.
