In 1995 I was introduced to the wonders behind the looking glass when I began working as an Artists model, sometimes trading my modelling fee for classes with David Briggs at Julian Ashton’s Art School.
I started doing some commercial art work in 1996 for Di Emmes Art Inc doing copy painting, mural work, aging paintings and gilding frames while continuing to model.
In 1997 I was accepted into the foundation year at the National Art School, studying painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, drawing, art history and art theory. By my final year of study, 1999, I felt I was starting to produce resolved work and began showing outside school shows and entering art competitions.
The next few years I work extensively on site on many different projects, including trips to Menindee Lakes, painting the Heritage boats at Rozelle Bay, The Hawkesbury River, and the amazing Sydney Harbour.
My first solo show at Hazlehurst Regional Gallery in 2002 was a successful showing of a combination of 2 series of paintings, On Site around Sydney and Fairy Paintings.
My second solo show late 2003 was at Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Camperdown, an exhibition of drawings and paintings from my travels with Stardust Circus, several months spent travelling(and working bloody Hard!) through the mining towns in outback Queensland capturing the nomadic show life, an experience that stays with me still.
Due to health reasons I had to move away from oil painting and its toxic mediums and spent some time re training and learning to use new mediums.
In 2009 I studied Figure Painting with Leyla Spencer at The Royal Art Society and in 2010 won their annual student prize and a scholarship for the next years study.
I have continued with my site painting in the city, on the coast and in the bush, now using mainly acrylic paints, sketching and watercolour.
I enjoy the challenge of catching a portrait with the personality of the sitter as well as a likeness, and in keeping it fresh and alive and interesting.
I paint and draw from the figure regularly with several sketch and painting groups including the old Brandling Street Crew (now Brandling Art Society, currently at Newtown and Marrickville.)
My love of animals has led to many commissioned pet portraits over the last few years as well as numerous sketches of Skippy and BoomBoom, my dog and cat.
I have been living in Glebe for the past 9 years and quite often be found somewhere near the foreshore, sketching the bridge or the city or the steam boats, or trying to catch the light and shadows of the bay.
Group shows and exhibitions have kept me busy, including being hung in the Mosman Art Prize, the Waverly Art Prize, The Glebe Art Show, Addison Road Gallery, the Watch House, the Tap Gallery and Foodarama and Seasons Cafe.