About the Artist
I was brought up in Hull, East Yorkshire. As a toddler (so I’ve been told!), I adorned a newly decorated wall with scribbles, and since then I have always enjoyed drawing and painting for relaxation, but it never played a prominent part in my life until relatively recently. At school I studied Art to Advanced Level. After leaving school however, I went to university to study German and after that trained to be a teacher. Strangely, Art was the one subject I never taught throughout the years, though I taught almost everything else! For a short time, whilst still at university, I attended evening classes at Birmingham College of Art, where one of the tutors told me I had the ability to become a professional artist before I was 30! I did not take him seriously and never even considered it a possibility.
During my early 20s, I became a Christian, and my Christian faith has been the major motivating factor in my life ever since.
I married Brian in 1964. We have 3 grown-up children, and are now proud grandparents of 3 grandsons and one granddaughter.
Most of our married life was spent in the Birmingham area, but in 1997-8, Brian and I spent several months in New Zealand, where the spectacular scenery inspired me to take up painting again. In early 1999, we “retired” to a beautiful area on the west coast of Wales where I found the opportunity to develop my painting more seriously
I am Secretary of the Aberdyfi Art Society and regularly exhibit paintings at their Annual Exhibition in July-August. I was also a founder member of the Tywyn Art Group.
In the years we have lived in Wales, I have been able to concentrate more on art and crafts, and I've lost count of the number of paintings I have done! I enjoy crafts of all sorts and run a Craft Club at the Baptist Church in Tywyn, where I am on the Leadership Team.
In 2009, a group of artists and craftspeople got together and formed a co-operative, so that they could display and sell their work. Thus the Dyfi Arts Guild was formed, of which I am a member. The Guild has a gallery and gift shop in Machynlleth.
To find out more about the Guild click here
I make greetings cards and notelets from many of my paintings, mainly local scenes. Cards can be purchased at the Post Office in Tywyn and also Aberdyfi, the Dolgoch Falls Hotel, and at the "Design a Kard" Unit at the Corris Craft Centre. Cards and notelets featuring Talyllyn Railway scenes can also be purchased from the Talyllyn Railway shop at Wharf Station, Tywyn. If you are not in the area, they can be ordered directly from me.
Cards, notelets and some original paintings can be purchased at the gallery at Y Plas, Machynlleth.
There is a small gallery of original paintings in "Hafan", the Fair Trade cafe on the High Street, Tywyn, and also in the cafe at Corris Craft Centre.
Each year I produce a calendar featuring paintings of the West Wales area.
I see my painting very much as an integral part of my faith, and I seek to show something of the beauty, wonder, fascination and glory of the creation around us in my work.
I am very happy to accept individual commissions. Contact me to discuss your requirements.
And finally.....
Many people have told me how much they appreciate their artwork, especially those for whom I have painted commissions. I include a few comments here to whet your appetite!
"The painting is lovely". Debbie, Birmingham
"There is so much more feeling and depth in the painting than any photograph could convey and it has captured exactly the spirit of a very important building for me and my family. It occupies pride of place in our living room and has been the subject of many admiring looks by friends and family." Tony, Lancaster.
"I am absolutely thrilled with my prints." Connie, USA
" I can honestly say that everyone that has come into our house and has seen the painting has said how good it is. It was definitely a pleasure planning and watching the painting "grow". I kept every picture you sent me as you added and accommodated (very patiently) my ideas. Thank you, you really did bring an image in my mind to reality on canvas." Rosemary, West Midlands.
"I am very pleased with the painting and so are family visitors. The painting has taken pride of place in our lounge for all to enjoy." Gwyn, Broughton, Flintshire.