About me – 2024

In the days before mobile phones, I would sketch nearly every day: On the ferry, bus or train while travelling to work, in cafes, pubs, waiting rooms, friends or family gatherings, parks or just whenever I sat down for more than 10 minutes. But like most of us today I carry my mobile phone with me everywhere. I mostly use my phone to take photos while walking the dog, country walks and getaways. If I’m honest, life gets busy and it’s easier to take a snapshot of a scene or some object that I want to remember. I even take photos of grocery items I need.

The funny thing is, I prefer the physical act of drawing: It allows me to spend time getting to know, a subject and explore what has captured my attention. Drawing the image, taking the time to put it onto paper, makes the whole experience more meaningful to me. Although I still take photos, I remind myself of the benefits of drawing. 

Born in Germany I travelled extensively with my family until we moved to Australia in the early 1970’s when I was 7, settling in the inner suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. I enjoyed anything outdoors and my love of nature and sport was further enhanced during my time in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Here I was able to develop skills like camping, teamwork and lifesaving.

I have fond memories of ocean fishing with my parents, up at 4am and travelling two hours to Coalcliff, NSW and fishing off the rocks. The days were filled with fishing and exploring rock pools with all the beautiful sea creatures living in them. I remember dad teaching me how to prepare fishing lines with weights, floats and hooks, the night before, he was meticulous. When we needed to cool down in the summer sun, mum and I would take a dip in the cool ocean water, dive into the ocean reefs and swim between the low rock-out crops. It makes sense why my love of the outdoors and nature influences my art.

In my mid-teens my family moved to Perth, WA. I completed a business degree at Curtin University, WA, later working in advertising and then the computer industry. While undertaking post graduate business studies, I decided to take a term break to do evening studies at the Claremont School of Art, WA. This led me to undertake a full-time art degree which helped to establish my art practice, as well as developing new long-term friendships. I enjoyed several group and solo exhibitions in Perth and Fremantle, and later I travelled to Sydney, living near the sea, enjoying the art scene and urban life. This gave me the opportunity to be involved as a community artist, artist in residence and have a solo show at the Manly Art Gallery. After meeting my partner, we moved to Perth where I became involved in the local community developing and coordinating several art projects, successfully completing my first public art commission at the Peel Health Campus and then having an exhibition at the Mandurah performing Arts Centre.

In 2005, we relocated to the UK, settling in West Yorkshire where I continue to live, work and create art.

My work is included in private, corporate collections and public art commissions for the Peel Health Campus, WA and for NHS Bromley Trust, UK which is shown on www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings website in partnership with the Public Catalogue Foundation.