I was born in Zambia and I lived much of my life in Africa – Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. We left in 2000 to go to the UK where we spent the next seven years. In 2007 my Australian husband decided he would like to come home to Australia, and we are now living in Cairns.
Apart from a few courses here and there, I am self-taught, although I did have a very good grounding in art at school. In 1997, after many years of not doing any drawing or painting, I decided to take a course in pastels. I was instantly hooked! I love the immediacy of pastels – no washing brushes and a lot less clean-up! I use oils and acrylics too but pastels are my first love.
As a life-long vegetarian / vegan and supporter of animal rights, animals have always played an enormously important part in my life, and this is reflected in my paintings. My style is realistic, and I specialise in animal portraits. In addition to achieving an accurate likeness, it has always been my goal to capture the very soul of my subjects. I also paint wild-life, especially African and Australian, and on occasion I paint humans too!
