'From childhood I have always been surrounded by paints and paintbrushes. Originally I wanted to go to Art School and indeed was accepted by Hornsea Art College to do an Arts Degree Course. Unfortunately my parents were not supportive of this so I trained as a dispensing optician to give me a qualification and subsequent freedom from parental control. During this time I only painted occasionally when a wall needed a picture! During my son's infant school days I joined an 'Am - Dram.' group and often painted scenery. Much later I joined Cobham players and for many years painted back cloths for their pantomimes. I promised myself that when I retired I would follow a water colour course and after painting my first picture I was surprised when a fellow student wanted to buy it! I then went on to join Molesey Art Society and then Oxshott Art and Crafts Society and have exhibited and sold many more paintings with them. I also make my own frames and in 2019 and 2021 joined Surrey Artists Open Studios. In 2021 I have been shortlisted to the Surrey Artists Open Studio ARTIST OF THE YEAR for which I am immensely proud. I work in several different media and like to experiment with both materials and subjects sometimes using resin to complete the painting.'