Desert Island Diva Painting

Born in Manchester, UK, I won a scholarship to the Manchester School of Art but decided not to enrol. Later, however, I attended adult art classes in Manchester as I was interested in drawing and painting the female nude. I now paint full time and I have appeared on Channel M, Sky TV twice and have had work in exhibitions in the UK and America. My work is in private collections all over the world. From the beginning, I was interested in art. It has been a life long passion. The sea, landscape and the female form are subjects I paint constantly. I studied under William Turner, whose work is now selling for five figure sums. He taught me to appreciate rich texture in applying paint thickly, without the need for linseed oil or thinners, one brush stroke at a time to the canvas; this has progressed to include palette knives in certain aspects of my work. I attended life class in the 70s and 80s under the tuition of the sculptor, Francoise Lewis and became interested in drawing and painting the human figure; in particular, the female form which I find challenging and rewarding. I also paint landscape and find the moors above Greater Manchester inspirational because of the stark beauty of the Pennines and the ever-changing weather conditions. Everywhere I go, I see something that inspires me to paint; a combination of colours; the way someone is standing; a sailing boat out at sea or a cloud formation in the sky. These are feelings I never want to be without and hope to share with anyone who appreciates art.