I trained as a teacher of 11 to 16-year-olds and later went on to study specifically Adult and Continuing Education, obtaining a post-graduate Diploma in Adult Education from Leeds University. Subsequently, I spent many years organising courses for adults including inmates in HM Prisons.

My life-long interests in Art and Crafts, particularly Pyrography resulted in me publishing three books on the subject. After a break of over thirty years from art and crafts, I took up my paint brushes once more, painting mainly still-life with some flowers and was made an Associate of the British Watercolour Society. Gradually, my love for painting flowers took over and I was selected to exhibit at the 9th International Exhibition of Botanical Art’ held at the Hunt Institute of  Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, USA.

My first Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gold Medal for Botanical Illustration was in 2006 when Kew Garden purchased two paintings from the series. In 2009 the RHS Lindley Library acquired two paintings from my second Gold Medal series, and again in 2011when they purchased the ‘Rheum’ from my third Gold Medal series.

Self-taught, I work mainly in watercolour with some graphite. I have exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. I have been involved in teaching all my working life and love the opportunity this gives me to share  my enthusiasm and expertise with others.