THE THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY

As a child growing up in New Zealand, I was able to run free, explore and to connect to the beauty and magic in nature. I was also blessed to have been brought up in a creative family and encouraged to express my creativity in many different ways.  I was given a camera at the age of 3 and began cruising the garden to see what I could capture.  This is where it all began……

MY ART

The beauty of flowers has always created a passion within me.  My first love as I began to paint flowers was inspired by the way the light created a translucency on each petal, revealing the delicate fragility within the flower.  I am completely captivated by the way the light can change the mood in a matter of minutes, giving me another opportunity to literally see the flower in a new light.

Another part of my inspiration came from the discovery that the life cycle of a flower relates very closely to our life cycle and there is beauty in every stage.

MY GARDEN

I love designing my garden.  Each year I look at my garden as an evolving series of art.   I love choosing the new plants each season and nurturing them as they come into bloom.  My garden is my sanctuary and my inspiration.  Just being in the garden creates a sense of peace and tranquility within me.  When I’m in my studio, as I paint, I take myself back to my garden, and infuse this feeling into my art.

CAPTURING THE BEAUTY

Inspired by light and beauty, the camera allows me to capture a fleeting moment in time.    In a matter of seconds I can have a multitude of perspectives, which I can use at any time, the mood strikes me.

INSPIRING OTHERS

It brings me great joy to be able to share my knowledge and experience with others. I love inspiring them to tap into their own creativity.  My purpose when teaching students is to help them find a way of expressing themselves in their own unique way.

MY TREASURES

I have always had a love for treasures mainly from the Victorian era.  I am always fascinated by the fact that they are so beautiful and  created for a useful purpose.  As I view my collections I always imagine what it was like when they were used as part of someone’s life.  For example, parasols, hats, china and even mail scales.  These treasures have also inspired my paintings.

MY HOME

My home is my nest.  It’s a place where I can be at peace and enjoy all the things I love in my life.  When I’m not painting, I’m spending time with my family.  Both my home and my family nurture my soul.  I am so grateful to have an inspiring and blessed life, surrounded by a loving family and friends and enriched by my art and my students.