My earliest memories of drawing and painting are from primary school where friends often asked me to draw pictures of the latest pop stars. In secondary school, I painted images inspired by record covers on to the backs of Bomber Jackets and Parkers which was all the rage at that time.
When I left school, my mother encouraged me to use my skills and train to be a Technical Illustrator at Mid-Cheshire College of FE in Northwich. I enjoyed the detail and accuracy in drawing which I developed over the two years of study. After qualifying, I worked for a Manchester firm for clients such as Massey Ferguson and Rolls Royce and obtained experience and knowledge of working engines. Following redundancy, I found work as an illustrator in Congleton, Cheshire, where new technology meant that the drawing board became a thing of the past, so I adapted to using Adobe software to produce designs.
I had the odd freelance job and my proudest moment came when I was commissioned to paint the centre spread for a popular motorbike magazine. My best piece to date I still look at it now and think "I painted that!"
Family life meant that I barely picked up a pencil or paint brush up for 16 years as I brought up two children. When my daughter began her GCSE Art, I was inspired to start up again and eagerly experimented with new techniques and new media.
My previous work as a Technical Illustrator had been fairly constrained, I now want to break free and start creating colourful work to make a positive emotional response from the viewer. In 2010, I started a three year Foundation Degree in Contemporary Art Practice at Leek College in Staffordshire. I am loving the course and feel I am emerging from a cocoon - bringing all my creativity with me. I am inspired by the beauty around me which is reflected in all my work, looking at positive living as I continue to evolve as an artist.