Upon leaving school, I had no idea what i wanted to do, other than be an Artist. Being a professional Artist in the 90's was not an option for me and so I took myself off to college with the intention of enrolling as an Aerobics instructor, but came out booked on a Beauty Therapist course as the Aerobics course was full. I believe I was pushed towards my destiny that day, as my love for colours and creativity as a child encouraged a life long love for Make-up and I believe that it was the artistic side of me that  helped me follow this avenue for 8 years, running my own business for 5 years, and although I enjoyed making people feel good about themselves, I would spend the quieter hours painting very intricate designs on nails, including my own for a Def Leppard concert I was attending that night, and of which took me 3 hours to apply all the details.

I have not always had an interest in photography as a hobby - more of an appreciation for a good wildlife capture but in the last few years, being a Wildlife Artist, photography has become a secondary interest and a neccessity to my work.

As I use photographs for my Artwork I need good images and for this reason I attended a City & Guilds photography course at The Chesterfield College in 2008 of which I received a 'credit'.

Ever since then I have had an eye for a particularly good photograph and appreciate every single difficult capture for other photographers out there - it is not an easy subject and the equipment required is constantly updated....the costs can be immense.....however, photography is now a part of my life and I love it!

The two things that I could not live without hearing everyday are Birds singing and music playing!
Luckily I am constantly surrounded by both, although I cannot describe my birds as 'singing', more 'screaming'. I'm talking of my two boys, Casper the Albino Ring Neck Parakeet & Tiko the Cockatiel, who happily spend their days out of their cage, eating, making a mess, screaming and telling me when it's time to go off to the easel because they want to go to bed, but the fact that my life has always been full of animals and pets has helped create the 'patience and relaxation' that I need to be a Traditional Artist and the most important aspect of being an Art Tutor. In 2001, after giving up the Beauty business, I went back into retail to help subsidise my passion for Art but also to give me more time to create Art too, the job was intended to be a short stop on the way to becoming a professional Artist, but 9 years later I was still working in retail and not fulfilling my dream. 
Life turned on it's head in January 2009 when my mum, who had refused to go to the Doctors with pains because she needed to look after our very old dog Cindy. A few months later after Cindy had to be put to sleep, my mum was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer.
She fought for 18 months before it took her life 6 days before her 65th birthday. Had she have gone to the doctors months before, maybe she could have been saved, but I believe she forfeited her life for the love of an animal.  I have the same affinity for animals as my mum, which is why most of my Art involves them.  I know my mum would be proud of me and that is why I gave up my job to become a professional artist, to help and inspire others but most of all to follow a dream I've had for 30 years....life is too short!!